Previous pension arrangements
If you are a contributing member and have pension benefits built up in another pension arrangement, you may be able to transfer them into the Fund.
Arrangements include:
- A previous employer’s scheme
- A personal or stakeholder pension
You may only transfer benefits that you built up while you were not working for your employer and contributing to the Fund. You cannot transfer any benefits into the Fund which consist wholly or partly of Pension Credit Rights following a pension sharing order on divorce. The transfer payments received may credit you with additional pensionable service in the Fund.
If you have an Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) plan with another provider that you wish to transfer, the value can be transferred into the Fund’s AVC plan.
If you would like to investigate a transfer, you should read the Transferring In Benefits guide, which explains the process and what you need to do. You can download a copy from the document library below.
It is recommended that you take appropriate independent financial advice before making a decision to transfer benefits from previous pension arrangements into the Fund.
Previous membership of the Fund
If you are a contributing member and have a deferred pension under the Fund you may elect to link this deferred pension to your current membership.
The link up enquiry form is available in the document library below.
Further details can be found in our Guide to Linking up Membership, available in the document library below.
Previous pensions
If you have a deferred pension with us and are rejoining the Fund, you can link it to your current membership.
Please see the Trustees' Link-up policy in the document library for more details.
Other pension schemes
If you are a contributing member and have pensions benefits built up in another pension arrangement, you may be able to transfer them into the Fund.
Arrangements include:
- A previous employer's scheme
- A personal or stakeholder pension
You may only transfer benefits that you built up while you were not working for your employer and contributing to the TfL Pension Fund. You cannot transfer any benefits into the fund which consist wholly or partly of Pension Credit Rights following a pension sharing order on divorce. The transfer payments received may credit you with additional pensionable service in the Fund.
If you have an Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) plan with another provider that you wish to transfer, the value can be transferred into the TfL Pension Fund's AVC plan.
If you would like to investigate a transfer, you should read the Transferring In Benefits guide, which explains the process and what you need to do.
You will need to complete the Transfer Information Request form and send it to your pension provider.
Lost track of benefits under a previous scheme?
If you have lost track of your benefits under a previous employer's scheme you can contact the Pension Tracing Service who will provide you with the address of the scheme administrators. They can be contacted at:
The Pension Tracing Service
Whitley Road
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
Telephone: 0845 6002537
Firstly it’s important to point out that for some members this might not be the best option, but for others it could be advantageous. You need to compare the benefits offered with those you would be giving up, and take appropriate financial advice to see whether it is best for you.
Please refer to our transferring benefits in guide for further information
Yes, you need to obtain details from the administrators of your personal pension so that we can provide you with an illustration of the benefits that could be secured in the Fund.
Yes, you need to obtain details from the administrators of your former employers scheme so that we can provide you with an illustration of the benefits that could be secured in the Fund.
You cannot transfer policies known as Free-standing AVCs or Money Purchase AVCs into the TfL Pension Fund; however you may transfer these into the Funds’ AVC arrangement. Any pension earned through a separate pension arrangement while a contributing member of the TfL Pension Fund cannot be transferred.
You may want and we suggest that you seek advice on a transfer. Unfortunately neither the Fund Office staff nor your employer can advise you. We can give you plenty of information, but you must decide yourself whether or not to transfer. You may wish to take appropriate independent financial advice before making a decision, as it is important that you make the right choice taking into account your own circumstances.
Once you have an illustration of the additional service credit the transfer value will provide for you under the TfL Pension Fund, you should compare the benefit this additional service will give you with the benefits under your previous scheme. You should consider:
- How your salary will increase between now and retirement compared to any increases that may apply to your benefits under your previous scheme
- The age at which the pension becomes payable
- Any reductions that would apply on early retirement
Firstly it’s important to point out that for some members this might not be the best option, but for others it could be advantageous. You need to compare the benefits offered with those you would be giving up and take appropriate financial advice to see whether it is best for you.