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Breaks in service
In this section
Find out what happens to your pension if you take a break from work, or your pay changes.
Illness or injury absence
Continuing to build benefits
If you are away from work because of illness or injury, and receiving regular or statutory pay, you’ll continue to contribute to your pension and build up benefits in the same way as before your absence. If the amount you are paid varies, you would pay contributions based on the actual amount of pay you receive.
If you aren’t getting any pay during your absence, you can still choose to continue to pay contributions at the same level so you continue to build up pension. In this instance, contributions can be made by lump sum or in instalments from your salary (when you start getting paid again). Your fire and rescue authority will share specific details with you about how this works.
If your illness stops you from returning to work, you may be eligible for an ill health pension.
Change in pay
Contribution changes
If you have a change to your pay which moves you into a different contribution band, your fire and rescue authority will let you know how this impacts the contributions that you pay and when the change will take place.
Child-related leave
Continuing to build up benefits
Trade dispute or unpaid absence
Your options
If you have a period of authorised unpaid absence, you can choose to pay contributions at your usual contribution rate based on your assumed pensionable pay - this is generally the pay that you would have received if you hadn’t been absent.
You can discuss with your employer how payment can be made - this is usually within certain time limits, by lump sum or in instalments. Your fire and rescue authority may also ask you to make up any unpaid employer contributions.
Reserve forces service leave
Assumed pensionable pay
While on reserve forces service leave you would be expected to pay contributions on your assumed pensionable pay - this is generally the pay that you would have received if you hadn’t been on leave. This is unless you qualify for benefits under another occupational pension scheme during that time.
You will normally be provided with more information about your pension options when you receive your Ministry of Defence call-out papers.