Transferring previous non-LGPS pension

There are 2 types of public service pension transfers; known as a Club or Non-Club transfer.

Club Transfers

The Club is a network of public sector pension schemes which have agreed to pay and receive transfers on the same basis. This means the transfer will provide membership credits of roughly equal lengths when you transfer between them. 

Public Service Transfer Club pension schemes

• civil servants
• the armed forces
• teachers
• National Health Service (NHS)
• fire and rescue workers
• the police force
• the judiciary
• the LGPS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you transfer in a pension which is either partly or wholly calculated on a final salary basis, the final salary link will continue within your new employment as long as you don't have a gap of 5 years between periods of public service. 

Non-Club Transfers

• after a year of joining Wiltshire Pension Fund (if your employer allows it)
• if there is a gap of 5 years between the time you joined Wiltshire Pension Fund and left the previous public service pension scheme

This basis is less favorable, and unlike for the above, the final salary link will be lost as the transfer in will buy an amount of annual pension rather than amount of pensionable service.

However, the value of the transferred in annual pension amount will be revalued each year in line with inflation

All non-public service pension scheme transfers are calculated on a transfer value and will buy an amount of annual pension which will be revalued each year in line with inflation.

What can I transfer?

• a previous employer's pension scheme
• a self employed pension plan
• a pension 'buy-out' policy
• a personal pension plan
• a stakeholder pension scheme
• an Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangement

Transferring your pension rights is not always an easy decision to make, and it may or may not be in your financial interests. Therefore, you may wish to seek the help of an independent financial adviser (opens new window). 

You have only 12 months from joining the LGPS to opt to transfer your previous pension rights, unless your employer allows you longer.

Before we can look at transferring your previous benefits into Wiltshire Pension Fund we first need the transfer details from your previous pension provider.

Process for transferring in previous pension

1. Follow the instructions and complete the Transfer in online form

2. Send your previous pension provider the completed Transfer in form (transferring scheme) (PDF) [94KB] (opens new window)  

3. Your previous pension provider should then send you the transfer details

4. Send a copy of your transfer details to Wiltshire Pension Fund

5. Wiltshire Pension Fund will aim to provide you with an estimate of the pension that the transfer would purchase within 15 working days

6. Confirm or decline the offer to Wiltshire Pension Fund

7. If you confirm, we will request payment from your previous pension provider and upon payment received, a confirmation letter will be issued within 20 days of completion