The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) has published guidance on gender pension gap reporting in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

The guidance sets out how administering authorities must measure and report gender-based inequalities in pension outcomes across the LGPS from the 2025 valuation onwards.

Analysis by GAD in 2023 revealed significant gender pension gaps in the LGPS.

The study found that in a scheme where around three-quarters of its members are female, women’s average accrued pension was 35 per cent lower than men’s in the post-2014 scheme, rising to 45 per cent in the pre-2014 scheme.

The new guidance presented a measurement framework to help drive change in this area.

GAD’s guidance uses information that pension funds already collect, meaning they can start reporting from March 2026 without extra data work.

It focuses on accrued pensions for active and pensioner members and asks funds to break the figures down by broad employer groups.

GAD plans to update the guidance ahead of later valuations to improve the quality and consistency of reporting.

The gender pension gap reporting guidance has been released in tandem with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) LGPS access and fairness reforms, and forms part of a wider package of reforms.

“This guidance demonstrates collaborative working across government and the pensions sector,” said GAD actuary, Jenny Bullen.

"We’ve worked in partnership with MHCLG and LGPS stakeholders to develop robust standards that provide valuable insights into gender pension gaps while being deliverable within the current valuation cycle."

GAD said it hoped the guidance will encourage wider gender pay gap reporting across the pensions sector and help tackle inequality before it becomes further entrenched.

The dedicated reporting sections in valuation reports will make gender gaps visible to all stakeholders.

GAD and MHCLG will continue to work together to monitor these reports and consider further options to promote pensions equity.

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