Your guide to scheme membership
While the Legal Aid (Scotland) Pension Scheme's pre-October 2010 Section closed to new entrants on 1 October 2010. After this point, only people whose membership was active on 30 September and 1 October 2010 remain in the scheme as well as deferred members whose benefits have been preserved.
If you're a deferred member you may still be able to rejoin the pre-October 2010 Section as long as you return within five years of leaving or opting out and you:
- are not age 75 or over
- have not received a refund of contributions from your last period of pensionable employment in the scheme
- have not transferred your benefits out of the scheme.
Membership of the scheme is voluntary and you may choose to opt out at any time. However, before opting out, it's worth remembering that membership of the scheme is a valuable part of your remuneration package providing a range of financial benefits including a pension in retirement, death benefits and ill health retirement options.