Child-related leave
In the LGPS, child-related leave includes:
- maternity or adoption leave (usually the first 26 weeks)
- paid extra maternity or adoption leave (usually weeks 27 to 39)
- unpaid extra maternity or adoption leave (if it started on or after 1 April 2026)
- paid shared parental leave
- unpaid shared parental leave (if it started on or after 1 April 2026)
- paternity leave
- bereaved partner’s paternity leave
- paid parental bereavement leave
- paid neonatal care leave.
During this type of leave, your pension is usually based on something called assumed pensionable pay (APP).
APP is a notional pay figure. It helps protect your pension if your pay goes down while you’re on leave. This means:
- you build up your pension as if you’re working as normal
- it’s as if you’re still getting your usual pay.
50/50 section
If you’re in the 50/50 section and your pay stops during leave (for example, maternity or paternity leave):
- you’ll move to the main section automatically
- this happens at the start of the next pay period
- you’ll build up full pension benefits
- you don’t have to pay pension contributions during this time.
Unpaid leave rules
Some unpaid leave is treated the same as authorised unpaid leave in the LGPS.
The rules depend on:
- whether the leave started before or after 1 April 2026
- if it started after 1 April 2026, whether it lasts less than 15 days
- if it started after 1 April 2026, whether you choose to pay extra contributions within one year of returning to work.
