Information for pensioners

As a member of the council's pension scheme, you were 'contracted out' of the State Second Pension (formerly the State Earnings Related Pension). You paid lower national insurance contributions.

Your council pension can never be less than the state pension. This is due to an overriding guarantee known as the 'guaranteed minimum pension'.

When you reach state retirement age, the Department of Work and Pensions will notify you and us of your guaranteed minimum pension.

Some or all of the pension increases on the guaranteed minimum pension will be paid to you directly by the DWP, not by us.

We, therefore, will pay pensions increases on your retirement pension minus the guaranteed minimum pension.

This does not apply if you're a married woman paying reduced rate national insurance contributions or if you started work after 6 April 1997.