Can I pay more?
Can I pay more to increase my benefits?
APCs
You can decide to buy extra pension in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) up to a maximum of £8,344 (this figure increases each year in line with the cost of living). To do this you can make additional payments into the scheme’s Additional Pension Contribution arrangement (APCs)
You can buy extra pension by paying APCs regularly, over a period of time, or you can buy extra pension by paying in a one-off lump sum.
The amount it costs depends on how much extra pension you want to buy, the age you start paying the extra contributions and the length of time you want to pay them for.
The purchase of APCs does not provide for additional dependants’ benefits.
Shared Cost APCs
Shared Cost APCs cover the amount of pension “lost” during periods of unpaid additional Maternity, or child related leave or periods of unpaid authorised leave of absence.
Shared cost means that if you want to cover such a period, the cost of buying the “lost” pension is shared between you and your employer, with your employer meeting 2/3rds of the cost (provided you make an election to buy the “lost” pension within 30 days of returning to work).
Shared cost APCs can be a one off lump sum or regular amount over a period of time.
Please print, complete and return this form to the Pension Section if you wish to make an enquiry:
Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) quote request form (PDF, 109kb)
Prudential AVCs
You can also choose to pay contributions into the In House Additional Voluntary Contribution arrangement (AVCs) with Prudential.