Breaks in service

Advice and guidance about breaks in service for buying back lost periods of pension, leave of absence and reserve forces.

Leave of absence

A member who is in the MAIN or 50/50 Section of the Scheme may choose to buy all (not part) of the pension lost due to absence in respect of:

  • Authorised unpaid leave
  • Unpaid additional child-related leave

The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Regulations 2013 require that an election to purchase lost pension has to be made within 30 days of returning to work in order for contributions to be repaid at the 'Shared Cost' rate - i.e the employer pays 2/3rds of the cost and the employee pays 1/3rd of the cost.