I note the Local Government Pension Scheme is consulting again about putting up employee pension contribution rates.
Should the proposals go through, rates will rise to a maximum of 10%. Someone on the receiving end of this would have seen their contribution rate increase by 65% since 2008.
The LGPS always seems to miss the elephant in the room. Why is making contributors pay more the only way to balance the scheme? What about giving pensioners less?
Under the new rules no one can retire until 55. Added years are virtually a thing of the past. What about the LGPS proposing a bit of retrospective equality? My idea would be to skim some pension off some of the people I knew years ago in the Southwest who had a fiftieth birthday party and leaving do at the same time (with six added years as a special gift). If the LGPS wants names, l could supply a list.
Tracking them down might be more difficult; most are probably living in the sun somewhere.
Philip Toni
Wolverhampton, West Midlands
