Change from 1 April 2026 – Child -Related leave
From 1 April there is a change to how unpaid child related leave is treated under the The Local Government Pension Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Member Benefits) Regulations 2026.
For maternity, paternity and adoption leave, up to 52 weeks will now be:
✅ Automatically pensionable
✅ Protected using Assumed Pensionable Pay (APP)
✅ Fully counted towards pension benefits, including any unpaid periods
This means there is no loss to a member’s pension during child related leave (up to 52 weeks).
The employer contributions must be made on Assumed Pensionable Pay.
The member must pay contributions on any pay received, using their normal contribution rate.
The employer will need to report APP as the member’s pensionable pay to DCPF for the period they are on child related leave. This is to ensure that there is no loss to the member’s pension from the child related leave.
A member in the 50/50 scheme of the LGPS must be moved back to the main scheme if they go onto nil pay.
“child-related leave” means-
| (a) | ordinary adoption leave; |
| (b) | ordinary maternity leave; |
| (c) | additional maternity or adoption leave; |
| (d) | paternity leave; |
| (f) | shared parental leave; |
| (g) | parental bereavement leave during which the member receives some pensionable pay or |
| (h) | neonatal care leave during which the member receives some pensionable pay |