Membership from 11 May 2026
The government has confirmed that councillors and elected mayors (elected members) in England can now opt to join the LGPS from 11 May 2026. As an elected member, you are eligible to join if you are under age 75 and meet one of the necessary criteria. To see the criteria and check if you are eligible, please refer to the National LGPS member website
Please note that town and parish elected members are not eligible for membership.
For further information regarding the scheme including key benefits and frequently asked questions please see the LGPS Elected members scheme leaflet on this page.
Elected members who join the scheme will receive pension benefits that are broadly similar to those available to other LGPS members. You can read about the elected members main differences.
For elected members pension benefits prior to 1 April 2014 refer to membership prior to April 2014.
How to join
Joining the LGPS is not automatic. Elected members who wish to join must actively opt to join by completing the Elected members pension option form, attached to this page, and sending it to the authority where they serve as an elected member.
If you receive a pensionable allowance or salary from more than one authority and you want to build up pension benefits in each role, you must complete a separate joining form for each authority.
After completing the option form and returning this to the relevant authority, you will be enrolled into the LGPS with effect from the first day of the next pay period. Once the relevant authority has notified us, a pension account will be created for you, and you will receive an official notification of your membership through the post.
You should check your payslip to make sure that pension contributions are being deducted.You can find more information about elected member contributions.
Links to useful documents