Local Government Pensions Scheme - Employer Responsibilities
Last updated:The Buckinghamshire Council (BC) Pensions Team is committed to offering a high-quality, professional level of service to our Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) customers.
As an employer, the Council has a statutory duty to provide accurate and timely pensions information to LGPS. The employer responsibilities listed below are automatically processed on behalf of Buckinghamshire maintained schools when the school uses BC for payroll services.
Elements of the Local Government Pensions Scheme for BC Maintained Schools that purchase BC payroll |
Schools (BC Payroll) |
|
|
Notification to LGPS of new members joining the scheme |
Yes |
Notification to LGPS of a member leaving employment using form ‘Notification of Employee Leaving’ |
Yes |
Processing potential retirees using the form ‘Notification of Employee Leaving’ and calculation sheet |
Yes |
Notification to LGPS of amendments to a members contribution level (50/50 scheme) |
Yes |
Respond to requests from LGPS for service, pensionable pay and contribution information for individuals |
Yes |
Undertake and fulfill the duties of the statutory pension scheme and the assessment and enrolment activities required for compliance to Pension Auto enrolment (PAE). Including Re-enrolment activity |
Yes |
Processing of Opt out / Opt in notifications, for members who wish to join or leave the Scheme. Including the Opt out leavers form |
Yes |
Process and verify payroll reports at regular intervals ensuring that correct pension contributions are deducted |
Yes |
Arrange for pension calculations for redundancy/efficiency cases to be completed |
Yes |
Keeping schools up-to-date with changes to LGPS Regulations and Guidelines |
Yes |
Guidance available to individual members on pensions matters (including absences) |
Yes |
Provide support with queries regarding BC’s Employer discretionary Policy |
Yes |
Provide support with queries in respect of the LGPS Employer responsibility |
Yes |
Produce and upload to LGPS, details of the monthly IConnect report which gives information of each employee’s service, salary and contributions. Supply a summary to LGPS of the Monthly Contribution Breakdown paid over to LGPS by the deadline of the 19th of the month following deductions (or earlier if 19th is a non-working day), based on totals extracted from payroll |
Yes |
Payment of the contributions to LGPS is processed through the BC’s finance system |
Yes |
Produce the Annual Contribution Summary Return (SUP52) for Schools. This information is put into a format compatible with LGPS requirements. Once approved the return is submitted to LGPS by the 30th April deadline |
Yes |
Produce end of year totals via the IConnect report included in the final submission in March. The data is used by LGPS to update individual member records |
Yes |
Undertake and fulfill the duties of the statutory pension scheme and the assessment and enrolment activities required for compliance to Pension Auto enrolment (PAE). Including Re-enrolment activity |
Yes |
Deduction and payment of the members elected Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC) with the 2 sponsored AVC providers |
Yes |
Provide support and guidance on annual benefit statements queries. Primary point of contact for pension estimates from members |
Yes |
Employers consent required for the early release of Deferred Pension Benefits for members who have left the Authority |
Yes |
Request for Ill health retirement for deferred members or members already in receipt of an ill-health pension Tier 3 |
Yes |
Send LGPS Statutory Notices to members |
Yes |