Opt for the 50/50 section
Opt out form
Auto-Enrolment
Scheme Benefits
As an alternative to opting out, or at times when money is tight, there is an option to stay in the Scheme but pay a reduced contribution. This option is commonly called the "50/50 option".
You can elect for this at any time and it means you pay half of the contributions you would normally pay but you only build up half of the pension during the period you pay the reduced contribution.
If you have more than one job in which you are a member of the Scheme you can pay the reduced contribution in one, some or all of those jobs.
By paying the reduced contribution you do not affect the survivor's benefits or death in service cover you have in the Scheme.
The 50/50 option is designed to be a short term solution only. You will be auto enrolled back into the main section of the Scheme in line with your employer's automatic re-enrolment date, at least after three years. You will also be put back into the main section of the Scheme during any period of absence due to sickness or injury where you are receiving no pay. If you wish to continue to use the 50/50 option you must make a further election to your employer.
You can of course choose at any time yourself to move back to the main section of the Scheme and your employer will do that from the pay period following your written option.
If you are paying additional pension contributions then these will cease at the point you elect to take up the 50/50 option, unless they were to cover a period of absence from work.
For the 50/50 option fill out this form.
The current rise in cost of living may be making you feel like you can no longer afford to pay in to the pension scheme or you may be looking to opt out to access cash from your pension to pay essential bills. This is understandable however these scenarios carry risk.
Before making any decisions on opting out of the pensions scheme due to money related worries, please consider contacting the government-backed and impartial MoneyHelper service which could help you find another way forward.
If you are planning to opt out and transfer your pension elsewhere, please read the Transferring Out section of our website, in particular, the Pensions Scams Awareness section near the bottom of the page before making this decision.
It is important that you maintain payment of your pension contributions, when you are able to do so, as stopping payments could have a serious impact on your retirement living standards later in life.
If you wish to proceed with cancelling your membership you're free to opt out from your next pay period.
If you want to opt out you can do so at any time. You will need to complete the opt out form at the bottom of the page and return this immediately to your employer so that they can carry out the necessary actions to remove you from the Scheme. The choices you have depend on how long you have been a member. You can find details in the 'Leaving before you retire' section. You can ask your employer to cancel your membership any time after your request. Otherwise, they will just cancel it from the start of the next pay period. Please note, however, that any opt out form that has been completed before you commence your employment cannot be accepted and you will have to make a further election on or after the date your employment commences if you do wish to opt out.
You should be aware that in certain circumstances your employer may be obliged by law to re-enrol you into the LGPS at a later date, even though you have previously opted not to be in the Scheme.
Important: Apart from the main retirement benefits, you will lose out on extras, such as ill health cover. You may wish to get independent financial advice and can find details on the Help Hub page.
