The council offers access to an employer pension scheme for all employees.  These schemes operate slightly differently for teaching and non-teaching staff and further details on the provisions for both of these groups can be found below.  

Non-Teaching Staff

Pensions for non-teaching staff are provided by Lothian Pension Fund (opens new window)

By law, all staff are automatically enrolled into the pension scheme if earning over £10,000 a year (£833 per month), aged over 22 (and under state pension age) and employed on a contract of 3 months or more.  Even if you do not meet the criteria to be automatically enrolled, you may still opt to join the pension fund at any point by completing LPF New Entrant Form (opens new window).  The council is required to undertake a re-enrolment exercise every 3 years, therefore if you meet the criteria you will be automatically enrolled and you will be notified of this.  More information and opt out forms can be found at Lothian Pension Fund (opens new window)

Contributions to the pension scheme are made by both the employee and the council.  Employee contribution rates are banded according to salary and reviewed on an annual basis.  Detail of the current rates can be found here (PDF, 86 KB)(opens new window).  Employees have the right to appeal against the banding applied to them and further details on the process to follow can be found here (PDF, 98 KB)(opens new window) and the required form can be found here (Word doc, 32 KB)(opens new window).

If you are leaving the council there are 3 options available (depending on your length of membership).  You can (1) preserve your benefits, (2) transfer to another scheme or (3) obtain a refund of your contributions.  More information can be found at Lothian Pension Fund (opens new window)  If you are planning to retire you should give the council a minimum of 3 months notice to ensure that your pension is processed and payable at your retiral date.

Introduction of Shared AVCs

The council added to its range of existing employee benefits package by introducing a new salary sacrifice scheme from Friday 21 April 2023.

This new Shared AVC scheme provides Lothian Pension Fund members with the opportunity to save National Insurance Contributions ('NICs') in addition to tax, meaning you can increase your take-home pay, compared to paying AVCs in the standard way. Existing AVC members can transfer their AVC to the new scheme.

In order to join this new scheme, you will be required to share some personal information with My Money Matters (formerly AVC Wise) who will in turn notify the council's Payroll department. Full details of are made available in the associated Privacy Notice (PDF, 130 KB)(opens new window).

My Money Matters (formerly AVC Wise) will be responsible for facilitating this new benefit for the council and the AVC provider will continue to be Prudential. For more information and details on how to sign-up, please click here.

Teaching Staff

Pensions for teaching staff are provided by Scottish Public Pensions Agency (opens new window)

All new full and part time teachers, aged between 16 - 75 are automatically enrolled. Even if you do not meet the criteria to be automatically enrolled, you may still opt to join the pension fund at any point by contacting SPPA.The council is required to undertake a re-enrolment exercise every 3 years, therefore if you meet the criteria you will be automatically enrolled and you will be notified of this.

Contributions to the pension scheme are made by both the employee and the council.  Employee contribution rates are banded according to salary and are reviewed on a monthly basis.  Detail of the current rates can be found here (PDF, 134 KB)(opens new window).

If you are leaving the council there are 3 options available (depending on your length of membership).  You can (1) preserve your benefits, (2) transfer to another scheme or (3) obtain a refund of your contributions.  More information can be found at Scottish Public Pensions Agency (opens new window).  If you are planning to retire you should give the council a minimum of 3 months notice to ensure that your pension is processed and payable at your retiral date.