Local Government Pension Scheme for Northern Ireland
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) (LGPS (NI)) is a statutory public service pension scheme as defined by the Pensions Schemes Act (Northern Ireland) 1993 (1993 c.49) and the LGPS (NI) Regulations are made under section 1 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (2014 c.2).
Membership of the LGPS (NI)
The number of contributing, deferred and pensioner members, as at 31 March 2019, is as follows -
| Type of Member | Number of Members |
|---|---|
| Contributing members | 61,513 |
| Deferred members | 31,646 |
| Pensioner member | 36,788 |
| Total membership | 129,947 |
LGPS (NI) Employing Authorities
There were 171 employing authorities contributing to the LGPS as at 31 March 2019. These consisted of 11 councils, 1 education authority, 1 library authority, 49 associated bodies, 88 schools, 9 further and higher education colleges and universities and 12 other employers.
Governance of the LGPS (NI)
Responsible authority
The Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 establishes the Department for Communities as the responsible authority for the Local Government Pension Scheme (NI) (LGPS (NI)). As the responsible authority the Department has the power to make scheme regulations which contain detailed provisions for the LGPS (NI).
Scheme manager
Sections 4 to 7 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 also sets out a new governance framework for the LGPS (NI). The LGPS Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 make provision for the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC) to manage and administer the LGPS (NI) as the scheme manager.
Pension Board
Section 5 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 requires public service pension schemes to set up a Pension Board. The Pension Board’s role is to assist the scheme manager in securing the effective and efficient governance and administration of the LGPS (NI). Under regulation 116 of the LGPS Regulations (NI) 2014, the Department has designated the NILGOSC as the Pension Board for the LGPS (NI).
Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board
The Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board (the Advisory Board) is a body which was established in accordance with the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 and the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations (NI) 2014 (as amended by S.R. 2015 No. 77).
About the Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is responsible for providing advice to the Department for Communities, at its request, on the desirability of making changes to the LGPS (NI). The Advisory Board does not have responsibility for the administration of the LGPS (NI). This responsibility is the function of the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee (NILGOSC).
Composition of the Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is chaired by a senior departmental official at Grade 5 level. The chair is supported by four employer representatives, four employee representatives and two officials from NILGOSC.
Current membership of the Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is chaired by the Director of Local Government and Housing Regulation Division, Department for Communities.
Four employer representatives are invited from district councils, Translink, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Education Authority.
Four employee representatives are invited from the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions – current employee representatives are invited from - NIPSA, Unite, GMB and Unison.
Two officials are invited from NILGOSC.
Related documents
The Advisory Board – Terms of Reference
Minutes of the Advisory Board’s meetings
LGPS (NI) Valuation Documents
This is the report on the Local Government Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland) as at 31 March 2013, along with supporting documents.
The Government Actuary’s Department has completed its review of the actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2016 pursuant to section 13 of the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.
Consultation documents – current and past
Government Actuary’s Department - actuarial factors
The actuarial factors and guidance are under review.
The Department of the Environment (DOE) is mentioned throughout this guidance, however this function has transferred to the Department for Communities (DfC).
The relevant actuarial factors and guidance produced by the Government Actuary’s Department are published on the NILGOSC website.
Joint Statement on the McCloud Litigation
The statement can be accessed on the following link:
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/publications/statement-mccloud-judgement