You may be able to transfer pension rights into your current LGPS pension account, including pension rights from:

 

• previous LGPS membership, including membership in the Bedfordshire Pension Fund
• a previous employer's pension scheme
• a self-employed pension plan
• a 'buy-out' policy
• a personal pension plan
• a stakeholder pension scheme
• an Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangement
• in some cases, an overseas pension scheme 

You cannot transfer a pension credit into the LGPS.  A pension credit is a share of an ex-spouse's or ex-civil partner's pension benefits, as awarded by a court under a Pension Sharing Order, or by a qualifying agreement in Scotland, following a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.

 

If you have any previous pension rights which you would like to consider joining to your current membership of the Fund, including membership in this or any other Local Government Pension Fund, you should complete our Previous Pension Benefits form. This form is sent to all new members of the scheme. 

 

Under LGPS regulations members only have the right to transfer previous non-LGPS pension rights within 12 months of becoming an active member.

 

For previously deferred benefits in the LGPS the situation is more complicated because, depending on the dates of membership, you must either elect to transfer within 12 months or elect not to transfer within 12 months.  It is very important that you tell us about all previous membership in the LGPS so we can tell you about your options. 

 

Please call Bedfordshire Pension Fund on 01234 228065 or email pensions@bedford.gov.uk if you would like more information on your transfer options or if you would like a copy of our Previous Pension Benefits form.  If you would like a copy of our Form of Authority - Transfers, please go to our 'Forms for members' page.