Your pension may be reduced by an "earmarking" or a pension sharing order issued on divorce, dissolution of a civil partnership, annulment or judicial separation – see divorce and your pension.
Also, in certain circumstances an FPS 2015 pension can be reduced or withdrawn under forfeiture and "set-off" rules.
Your FRA may stop or reduce your pension temporarily or permanently if you have:
- been convicted for an offence of treason, or one or more offences under the Official Secrets Acts 1911 to 1989 (in the case of a dependant the offence must have been committed after the Scheme member’s death); or
- been convicted of an offence committed in connection with your employment which is certified by the Secretary of State either to have been ‘gravely injurious to the interests of the State’ or to be liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.
A pension is not payable to a dependant convicted of the murder of the FPS 2015 member whose pension rights the pension would come from (for example a firefighter's husband or wife who murdered the firefighter). If convicted of manslaughter of the member, the FRA has discretion to withhold all or part of the pension.
Forfeiture of benefits and/or "set-off" may apply if a scheme member has a "relevant monetary obligation" to the employer or has caused a "relevant monetary loss" to FPS 2015 in circumstances arising out of the member's criminal, negligent or fraudulent act or omission – in some cases in connection with their scheme employment. But if there is a dispute between the member and the FRA about the obligation or loss, the benefits cannot be withheld unless there is a court order or a similar determination following arbitration.
An FRA has the power to require a person who may have entitlement to a benefit under the FPS 2015 to provide supporting evidence of entitlement. Failure to do so may mean that benefits are withheld.
Pensions payable due to ill-health retirement may be reviewed and reduced or suspended.