The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2006 is a defined benefit contribution scheme. The scheme is now closed although if you were granted protection or tapered protection you will continue in the scheme until retirement.  If you leave the scheme and re-join, you will be placed in the 2015 scheme.

If you were a retained firefighter between 1 July 2005 and 6 April 2006, then the modified scheme may apply to you. 

The exclusion of retained firefighters from the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 1992 was challenged under the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favorable Treatment) Regulations 2000. As a result a settlement was reached allowing retained firefighters, with service between 1 July 2000 and 6 April 2006, to have “special” membership of Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2006 based on their employment during this time period.

To implement this settlement the Modified Scheme was created providing retrospective benefits for those eligible to join who elect for special membership, and who pay the appropriate contributions.

The 2019/2020 employee contribution rates for the Firefighters 2006 scheme are as follows:

The contribution rates for 2019/2020 Firefighters 2006 (Special Members scheme are as follows:

Should you take part in any strike action you should be aware that this may have an effect on your pension. If strike absence takes the form of complete days, then each complete day of absence will be omitted from your total pensionable service. If strike absence takes the form of lesser periods, for example one-hour strikes, the application of pension rules becomes more complicated.

In all cases you are able to pay the arrears of pension contributions to have your strike absence day reinstated as pensionable service.

For further information please see our Firefighters Strike implications on Pensions factsheet below:

• Firefighters Strike Implications on Pensions

Should you have any further queries regarding this matter, or wish to pay the arrears of pension contributions following a strike break then please contact your HR department.

If you do not want to be a member of the 2006 Schemes you can opt out at any time by providing us with a signed, written notice. The notice would take effect from the start of the following pay period.

If you have less than three months qualifying service at the time of the Opt Out, you would normally receive a refund of the contributions that you have paid. If you have three months or more you will have the option to transfer accrued rights to another pension arrangement or to take a deferred pension. However you cannot transfer out to a scheme offering flexible benefits or defined contribution schemes.  

This is because the Firefighters Pension Scheme is unfunded. Under ‘automatic enrolment’ your fire authority will periodically re-enrol members who have opted out back onto the pension scheme. You can opt out again if you wish.

If you wish to re-join the Firefighters Scheme after opting out you would need to complete a new member form.  This would then take effect from the start of the following pay period and you would be placed in the new 2015 scheme.

Your Annual Benefits Statement is a yearly statement detailing the value of your pension benefits at 31 March each year. This is an important document which allows you to see how your pension is growing each year.

Your 2018 statement, for membership to 31 March 2018, was issued to you by post on 31 August 2018.

We also provide you with a comprehensive explanation of your 2018 Annual Benefits Statement for the Firefighters’ pension schemes for both the Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire Fire Pension schemes, which can be found on our Forms and Resources page.