Lothian Pension
Fund (LPF)
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a
nationwide statutory funded scheme for local government employees. The Scheme
is administered locally by Lothian Pension Fund and the University.
Research, Technical and Support employees who are
on contracts of more than 3 months automatically join the scheme. Employees on
a shorter contract which is then extended to longer than 3 months will have the
opportunity to back-date their contributions to their start date with the
University.
Main benefits of the Lothian Pension
Fund Scheme
- Accrual rate of 1/49th, this means that 1/49th of
your pensionable earnings each year goes towards your annual pension. This is
revalued each year to increase by consumer price Index.
- Normal pension age linked to your
state pension age.
- Options to retire before your state pension
age, from age 55 with reduced benefits.
- Options to swap annual pension for a
tax-free lump sum (up to 25%) at retirement.
- Tax relief on your contributions.
- Employee contributions vary
from 5.5% to 11.2% depending on your pensionable pay.
- Employer contributions of 17.6%.
- Ill health retirement options.
- Life cover in form of a death grant 3 x
assumed pensionable pay.
- Pension for your
close eligible dependents.
The 50/50 Option
- The 50/50 Option has
been designed by LPF to support employees on a short-term basis perhaps at
certain times when money is tight or as an alternative to opting out the scheme
completely. The option allows you to pay half of the
contributions whilst building up half of the pension at an accrual rate of
1/98th (that’s half of the 1/49th of main scheme).
- As this is designed to be a short-term
solution, you would be automatically re- enrolled to the main scheme which
occurs every 3 years although you can also elect to re-join the main scheme at
any stage while in the 50/50 option.
Increasing your Pension Benefits
You can elect to increase your pension whilst
benefitting from tax free contributions, for more details see here : Making Additional Payments
Opting Out
Should you wish to opt out from the scheme, please
see details on the LPF website about opting out and complete
the Opt Out Form then forward on to payroll@napier.ac.uk
If you do decide to opt-out of the LPF scheme, but later change your
mind, you may apply to join at any time during your employment by
emailing payroll@napier.ac.uk
Edinburgh Napier University has discretion over
some pension regulations, information regarding this can be found in the Discretions Policy.
McLeod/ Remedy judgement
During the transition between the Final Salary pension scheme and the Career Average scheme (CARE), members within 10 years of retirement were given additional protections. This was ruled to be discriminatory in the McLeod judgement.
Protected members received the higher of either the Final Salary scheme or the CARE scheme benefits. As a result of the McLeod judgement, this now applies to all members with service between 1st April 2014 – 31st March 2022. No action is required from members as the higher amount will be automatically applied. For more information please see the LPF website.
For further questions please visit Lothian Pension Help Hub
Or log in to your MY PENSION ONLINE LPF members
can sign up here
You can contact Lothian Pension Fund direct:
Telephone: 0333 996 1900 (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday except public holidays)
By mail: Lothian Pension Fund, PO Box 24158, Edinburgh, EH3 1GY