Councillor's scheme ended 31/03/2014
From 1st April 2014, Councillors in England are no longer allowed to join the LGPS.
Councillors who were active members on 31st March 2014 may continue as active members until the end of their current term of office, or age 75 if that is earlier.
Continuation is not allowed beyond that point even if re-elected.
New Councillor and Elected Member Scheme 2026
The UK government has confirmed that councillors and elected mayors in England are eligible to join the LGPS from 11 May 2026.
This change means all mayors and deputy mayors of combined authorities together with councillors of all principal local authorities will be eligible to opt-in to the scheme. The new provision forms part of the government’s ‘Access and Protections’ improvements.
Membership will not be automatic, individuals must actively opt-in via the authority they serve from 11 May 2026 using the opt-in form. This form must then be sent back to that authority to enable them to start deducting pension contributions from the next available pay date which will be 1st June 2026.
Currently under the LGPS Regulations, neither mayors nor councillors are eligible for membership of the LGPS in England. This has been the case since 1 April 2014.
From May 2026, councillors in England will join the rest of the UK in being eligible for the LGPS 2014 Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme.
Eligible Councillors and Mayors are generally subject to the same regulations as other LGPS members, with the following key differences:
you must opt to join the Scheme - you are not contractually or automatically enrolled
pensionable pay is defined differently
you cannot aggregate deferred elected membership with non-elected membership or vice versa
you cannot flexibly retire
the rules on immediate payment of pension from age 55 due to redundancy or business efficiency do not apply (because you cannot be made redundant)
any transfer-in of final salary benefits from a different public service pension scheme will purchase CARE benefits
any transfer-in of remediable service will not be treated as remediable service in the LGPS and will not receive underpin protection
your relevant authority cannot contribute towards additional pension arrangements, except where the arrangement is a ‘qualifying additional pension arrangement’ (QAPA)
your relevant authority cannot contribute to a shared cost AVC (other than a salary sacrifice shared cost AVC)
your relevant authority cannot award additional pension or waive early retirement reductions.
The LGPS member website contains more information about the new scheme.