Thinking of Joining the Fire Pension Scheme?
What is the Firefighters 2015 pension scheme
There are three different variations of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme, these being:
- the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992
- the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006
- the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015.
The Retained Modified Scheme also exists as an annex of the 2006 Scheme for those Special Firefighter Members who were offered the chance to buy back previous service and convert this service to Special Modified membership.
The Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 is the open Scheme which new firefighter members will join. Also, on 1 April 2015 many members of the 1992 Scheme and the 2006 Scheme, were moved into the 2015 Scheme as they were not covered by protections.
However, the 1992 and 2006 Schemes are still available to those members who were granted Tapered or Protected Membership of these Schemes.
The Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 operates as a Career Average Revalued Earnings scheme, which is a form of defined benefit pension scheme. The pension a firefighter will earn each year is based on their pensionable pay in that year and is increased by a set revaluation rate, linked to inflation, for each year up to retirement or leaving. The final pension is calculated by adding together the pension earned in each year of membership
How can I join?
Membership is automatic for eligible firefighters and you should have been enrolled into the scheme when your employment started. If you have previously opted out and wish to rejoin, you will need to speak to your HR/Payroll team about eligibility and they will be able to help you enrol in the Scheme.
Once you have enrolled we will send you details of how to transfer in previous benefits and nomination forms for your death grant benefits.
How much will I pay?
Please find below the current Member Contribution Rates for the applying schemes for Firefighters', for historic rates please click on the relevant scheme:
Firefighters' 2015 Scheme Contributions Rates
Pensionable pay | Contribution rate from 1st April 2019 |
Up to £27,818 | 11.00% |
£27,819 to £51,515 | 12.90% |
£51,516 to £142,500 | 13.50% |
£142,501 or more | 14.50% |
Firefighters’ 2006 Scheme (Special Members) Contributions Rates
Pensionable pay | Contribution rate from 1st April 2019 |
Up to £15,609 | 11.00% |
£15,609 to £21,852 | 12.20% |
£21,852 to £31,218 | 14.20% |
£31,218 to £41,624 | 14.70% |
£41,624 to £52,030 | 15.20% |
£52,030 to £62,436 | 15.50% |
£62,436 to £104,060 | 16.00% |
£104,060 to £124,872 | 16.50% |
£124,872 or more | 17.00% |