LGPS Scheme Amendment Analyzer

Purpose

Analyze Local Government Pension Scheme amendments to identify regulatory implications, compare against existing scheme rules, assess member impact, and flag required trustee actions. Uses PSPS Neo4j database and CMS Handbook for comprehensive analysis.

When to Use

• Reviewing new scheme amendments
• Comparing proposed changes against current rules
• Assessing impact on member benefits
• Identifying trustee notification obligations
• Checking compliance with LGPS regulations
• Preparing trustee briefing documents

Available Resources

Neo4j Databases

• PSPS: LGPS Regulations 2013, scheme rules, member benefits
• CMS Handbook: Trustee guidance, best practices, implementation advice

Archon RAG

• Documentation search for LGPS guidance
• Code examples for benefit calculations
• Historical amendments and interpretations

Amendment Analysis Workflow

Phase 1: Document Intake

Step 1: Load amendment document

# Read amendment document
Read(file_path="[amendment-document]")

# Or if in SharePoint/email
[Extract text from source]

Step 2: Extract key information Identify:

• Amendment reference number
• Effective date
• Regulations being amended
• Affected member categories (active/deferred/pensioner)
• Summary of changes

Phase 2: Regulation Analysis

Step 1: Search for affected regulations

# Search Archon RAG for regulation context
mcp__archon__rag_search_knowledge_base(
  query="LGPS Regulations [regulation number]",
  match_count=5
)

# Get full regulation text
mcp__archon__rag_read_full_page(page_id="[from-results]")

Step 2: Query current scheme rules

# Find existing rules in PSPS database
mcp__neo4j-psps__read_neo4j_cypher(
  query="
    MATCH (r:Regulation)
    WHERE r.reference CONTAINS $regRef
    RETURN r.title, r.description, r.current_text, r.effective_date
  ",
  params={"regRef": "[regulation-number]"}
)

Step 3: Compare old vs new Create comparison table:

Aspect	Current Rule	Proposed Amendment	Impact
[Topic]	[Current wording]	[New wording]	[Analysis]

Phase 3: Member Impact Assessment

Step 1: Identify affected member types

# Query member benefit calculations affected
mcp__neo4j-psps__read_neo4j_cypher(
  query="
    MATCH (b:Benefit)-[:AFFECTED_BY]->(r:Regulation)
    WHERE r.reference = $regRef
    RETURN b.name, b.calculation_method, b.member_type
  ",
  params={"regRef": "[regulation-number]"}
)

Step 2: Assess impact categories

Analyze impact on:

Active Members:

• Contribution rates
• Accrual rates
• Normal pension age
• Early retirement factors
• Death in service benefits

Deferred Members:

• Revaluation
• Early retirement terms
• Transfer values
• Deferred benefit calculations

Pensioners:

• Pension increases
• Commutation options
• Death benefits
• Survivor pensions

Example impact assessment:

### Active Members
**High Impact**: Normal pension age changes from 65 to State Pension Age
- Affects retirement planning for all active members
- Transitional protections may apply (check Rule of 85)

**Medium Impact**: Contribution rates increase by 0.5%
- Impacts take-home pay
- Employer contribution rates unchanged

**Low Impact**: Administrative changes to AVC processes
- No impact on benefits, process improvements only

Phase 4: Compliance & Trustee Actions

Step 1: Check trustee obligations

# Search CMS Handbook for trustee duties
mcp__neo4j-cms-handbook__read_neo4j_cypher(
  query="
    MATCH (g:Guidance)-[:COVERS]->(t:Topic)
    WHERE t.name CONTAINS 'amendments' OR t.name CONTAINS 'member notification'
    RETURN g.title, g.content, g.deadline_type
  "
)

Step 2: Identify required actions

Create action checklist:

## Trustee Action Requirements

### Immediate (Within 14 days)
- [ ] Review amendment with scheme actuary
- [ ] Assess impact on scheme funding
- [ ] Check compatibility with scheme rules

### Short-term (Within 1 month)
- [ ] Notify members of changes (if material)
- [ ] Update member literature and website
- [ ] Brief administration team

### Medium-term (Within 3 months)
- [ ] Update scheme booklets
- [ ] Revise calculation procedures
- [ ] Train administration staff
- [ ] Update ABS statement templates

### Ongoing
- [ ] Monitor implementation
- [ ] Track member queries
- [ ] Review at next trustee meeting

Step 3: Identify notification requirements

# TPR notification obligations
- Material changes to benefits: Notify TPR within 30 days
- Changes to scheme rules: Submit to TPR for approval
- Member communication: Within reasonable time of change

Phase 5: Historical Context

Step 1: Search for similar past amendments

mcp__archon__rag_search_knowledge_base(
  query="LGPS [topic] amendment history",
  match_count=10
)

Step 2: Review implementation lessons Look for:

• Implementation challenges from similar changes
• Member communication examples
• Calculation precedents
• Dispute resolution cases

Phase 6: Generate Analysis Report

Report structure:

# LGPS Scheme Amendment Analysis
**Amendment**: [Reference number]
**Effective Date**: [Date]
**Analyst**: Claude Opus 4.5
**Analysis Date**: [Date]

## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraph overview of changes and impact]

## Regulatory Changes

### Current Position
[What the regulation says now]
**Source**: LGPS Regulations 2013, Regulation [X]
**Effective**: [Date]

### Proposed Change
[What the amendment changes it to]
**Source**: [Amendment reference]
**Effective**: [Date]

### Rationale
[Why the change is being made, if stated]

## Member Impact Analysis

### Active Members
- **Impact Level**: [High/Medium/Low]
- **Affected Population**: [Number/percentage]
- **Key Changes**:
  - [Change 1]
  - [Change 2]
- **Financial Impact**: [Quantified if possible]

### Deferred Members
[Same structure]

### Pensioners
[Same structure]

## Scheme Funding Impact

[Analysis of impact on scheme liabilities and contribution rates]
**Recommendation**: Consult scheme actuary for detailed assessment

## Trustee Obligations

### Regulatory Requirements
- [TPR notification requirements]
- [Member communication requirements]
- [Documentation requirements]

### Recommended Actions
[Action checklist from Phase 4]

### Timeline
```mermaid
gantt
    title Implementation Timeline
    dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD
    section Governance
    Review with actuary       :2024-01-15, 7d
    Trustee decision         :2024-01-22, 1d
    section Communication
    Notify members           :2024-02-01, 14d
    Update materials         :2024-02-15, 30d
    section Implementation
    System changes           :2024-03-01, 60d
    Go live                  :2024-05-01, 1d

Compliance Assessment

Alignment with LGPS Regulations

• [✓] Complies with LGPS Regulations 2013
• [✓] Consistent with TPR guidance
• [✓] Aligns with CMS Handbook recommendations
• [?] Requires legal review: [Specific aspects]

Risk Factors

Risk	Severity	Mitigation
[Risk 1]	High/Med/Low	[Mitigation strategy]

Historical Precedents

[Similar amendments and lessons learned]

Recommendations

1. Immediate Actions

   • [Action 1]
   • [Action 2]

2. Strategic Considerations

   • [Long-term implication 1]
   • [Long-term implication 2]

3. Communication Strategy

   • [Member communication approach]
   • [Stakeholder management]

Supporting Documentation

Regulations Referenced

• LGPS Regulations 2013, Regulation [X]
• [Amendment reference]
• TPR Code of Practice [X]

Database Queries

• PSPS: [Node references]
• CMS Handbook: [Guidance references]

RAG Sources

• [Page 1 title and URL]
• [Page 2 title and URL]

---

Disclaimer: This analysis is based on publicly available regulations and guidance. Trustees should consult their scheme actuary, legal advisors, and The Pensions Regulator for scheme-specific advice.

Generated by: Claude Opus 4.5 via LGPS Scheme Amendment Analyzer skill Date: [Timestamp]

## Amendment Type Patterns

### Type 1: Benefit Changes
Examples:
- Normal pension age adjustments
- Accrual rate changes
- Early retirement factor revisions

**Focus areas**:
- Member impact quantification
- Transitional protections
- Contribution rate implications

### Type 2: Administrative Changes
Examples:
- AVC process updates
- Transfer procedures
- Nomination forms

**Focus areas**:
- Process improvement
- System updates required
- Training needs

### Type 3: Regulatory Compliance
Examples:
- GDPR alignment
- TPR code compliance
- Pension schemes act changes

**Focus areas**:
- Legal requirements
- Timeline constraints
- Documentation updates

### Type 4: Funding Changes
Examples:
- Contribution rate changes
- Deficit recovery adjustments
- Employer covenants

**Focus areas**:
- Actuarial input
- Employer communication
- Budget impact

## Key Regulations Quick Reference

### LGPS Regulations 2013

**Part 2: Scheme Membership**
- Reg 5: Eligible jobholders
- Reg 7: Opting out
- Reg 9: Qualifying service

**Part 3: Contributions**
- Reg 9: Contributions during employment
- Reg 10: Contributions during absence

**Part 4: Benefits**
- Reg 14: Retirement pensions
- Reg 30: Normal pension age
- Reg 31: Early payment of retirement pension

**Part 5: Death Benefits**
- Reg 40: Survivor pensions
- Reg 46: Death grants

### TPR Guidance References

**Code of Practice 14**: Governance and administration
- Section on scheme changes
- Member communication requirements
- Record keeping obligations

## Calculation Impact Examples

### Example 1: Normal Pension Age Change

**Before**: Age 65

Member aged 55, 20 years service Pension = £20,000 × 20/60 = £6,667 p.a. Available at 65 unreduced

**After**: State Pension Age (assume 67)

Same member Pension = £20,000 × 20/60 = £6,667 p.a. Available at 67 unreduced Available at 65 with early retirement reduction: £6,667 × 0.92 (approx) = £6,134 p.a.

**Impact**: £533 p.a. reduction if taken at 65

### Example 2: Accrual Rate Change

**Before**: 1/60th accrual

Member salary £30,000, 10 years service Pension = £30,000 × 10/60 = £5,000 p.a.

**After**: 1/49th accrual (Career Average)

Assume inflation-adjusted avg salary £30,000 Pension = £30,000 × 10/49 = £6,122 p.a.

**Impact**: £1,122 p.a. increase (but method changed)

## Cross-Reference Checks

Always check:

1. **Scheme-specific rules**: Does fund have additional discretions?
2. **Employer policies**: Different employers may have variations
3. **Transitional protections**: Underpin guarantees, Rule of 85
4. **Historical amendments**: Similar changes in the past
5. **Related regulations**: Connected changes in other areas

## Common Pitfalls

**Pitfall 1: Missing transitional protections**
- Always check if existing members have protection
- Rule of 85 particularly important
- Underpin calculations for CARE vs final salary

**Pitfall 2: Overlooking employer variations**
- Some amendments allow employer discretions
- Check all employers in multi-employer funds

**Pitfall 3: Communication timing**
- Material changes must be communicated promptly
- Don't delay member notification for "perfect" materials

**Pitfall 4: System readiness**
- Ensure administration systems can handle changes
- Test calculations before go-live

**Pitfall 5: Incomplete impact analysis**
- Don't focus only on active members
- Deferred and pensioner impacts often overlooked

## Integration with Other Skills

- **pensions-research**: For deeper regulation analysis
- **pension-calculation-validator**: To verify calculation impacts
- **regulatory-deadline-tracker**: To manage implementation timeline
- **github-workflow**: For version control of analysis documents
- **conventional-commits-uk**: If tracking changes in git

## Quick Commands

```bash
# Search for amendment in documents
grep -ri "amendment" ~/Projects/pensions/documents/

# Find regulation references
grep -Eo "Regulation [0-9]+" amendment.txt

# Extract effective date
grep -i "effective\|commencing\|takes effect" amendment.txt

Summary

This skill enables comprehensive analysis of LGPS scheme amendments by:

• Comparing proposed changes against current regulations (PSPS database)
• Assessing member impact across all categories
• Identifying trustee obligations (CMS Handbook)
• Generating detailed analysis reports
• Providing calculation examples
• Flagging compliance requirements

Always use Opus model for pension regulatory analysis due to complexity and high stakes.

The analysis ensures trustees have complete information to make informed decisions about scheme amendments.