Local Government Pension Scheme
Updated CLG statutory guidance by DCLG on ill-health retirements has been drafted with respect to LGPS 2008 and new guidance has been drafted for LGPS 2014.
The Supplementary Guidance was drafted with respect to LGPS 2008, but has not been updated for LGPS 2014. However much of it remains relevant, but in case of any doubt please use our contact form if you have any queries.
Statutory Guidance
Employers and Medical Practitioners must have regard to this guidance when carrying out their functions in relation to ill-health retirements for members of the Local Government Pension Scheme. The medical practitioners and staff members of scheme employers who are responsible for ill-health retirement procedures under the Scheme must have read and understood this guidance.
Supplementary Guidance
This guidance is issued jointly by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine to help medical practitioners who have been asked to make an assessment under the LGPS Ill-health retirement regulations. This guidance does not replace the regulations or CLG’s supporting guidance, but aims to clarify further several areas that have been drawn to the attention of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, Association of Local Authority Medical Advisers, the British Medical Association Occupational Medicine Committee and DCLG.
Narrative Template
This document is referred to in the Supplementary Guidance and provides a framework which may prove useful in setting evidence supporting the medical practitioner’s opinions in relation to eligibility for immediate payment of benefits on grounds of ill-health for active members or those with preserved benefits, and in related appeal cases.
Ill Health Benefits FAQs
This set of answers to frequently asked questions deals with the regulatory provisions of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2356). It aims to support LGPS practitioners and independent registered medical practitioners.
Employers should draw the attention of all companies whose services are used for assessment for ill-health retirement under the Local Government Pension Scheme and individual medical practitioners, to the updated guidance.
Death in service certificate
Understanding the process for tier 3 ill health
If a member retires on tier 3 ill health, their pension is paid for a maximum of three years. But It must be reviewed by you (the former employer) after it has been in payment for 18 months (and after three years).
To avoid the member missing out on any payments, it’s your responsibility to prepare for the 18-month review.
LPPA will contact you around three months before the review date, so that you can start to prepare the following information (which you will need to review the member’s case):
- A completed medical certificate for the member (see downloadable form below), following an up to date medical assessment from an IRMP (Independent Registered Medical Practitioner).
- Details of any gainful employment that the member has found since they started taking their ill health pension.
The aim of the 18-month review is for you to determine whether the member’s condition has changed based on the information above.
The member will either:
- Remain in tier 3 (and their pension restarts).
- Be moved to tier 2 (if their condition has worsened).
- Have their pension stopped (as they are able to return to work).
- An 18-month (and three year) reminder will be sent to you from LPPA, which includes the ill health certificate (you can also download the certificate from this page).
- Once you have completed the member’s ill health certificate, you must return it to LPPA.
- If you want the member to be uplifted to tier 2 ill health, you will also need to submit a declaration form (which will also be included in the pack).
- LPPA will then process the ill health certificate and send a confirmation letter to the member.
Ill Health Guide and Declaration Forms
The Ill Health Guide aims to assist employers when they are operating the ill health provisions of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
These forms are for completion by a suitably qualified medical practitioner and scheme employer where a member is being assessed for possible medical retirement. Because they are subject to frequent amendment to reflect changes in legislation, these forms should always be downloaded as required and not stored as hard copy by employers or medical practitioners.
Cumbria and Lancashire LGPS Employers only – To register your Independent Medical Practitioner (IRMP) with LPPA please download and send us the form below: