Your statement explained – age discrimination remedy
In this section
The information on this page is for members who are affected by age discrimination remedy.
Your statement
Understanding the figures
Your annual benefit statement remediable service statement includes some important information and uses some assumptions to give you the best possible information.
This page explains some of the sections in your statement.
The information below is for members who are affected by age discrimination remedy, with benefits in the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 and one of the other sections of the firefighters’ pension scheme – for example 1992 or 2006.
Annex A
Current value of benefits
This is the total current value of your pension benefits in this employment if you left the scheme at the date of the statement. It assumes they would be paid at the deferred pension age which is shown below:
| - | Firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deferred pension age | 60 | 65 | 60 | State pension age |
Pension from the firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 and firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special)
The value shown is based on service up to 31 March 2022, to reflect being put back into your legacy scheme for the remedy period. This is divided by an accrual rate (shown below), multiplied by your final pensionable pay.
| - | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual rate | 1/60 | 1/45 |
Example
2006 - current value of benefits
Jo was an unprotected member of firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 and joined the scheme on 29 September 2008.
Jo was born on 4 April 1985 and is an unprotected member who moved into firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 on 1 April 2015.
On 1 October 2023, Jo was rolled back into their original legacy scheme (firefighters’ pension scheme 2006) for the remedy period and has final salary pensionable service of 13 years 184 days (29 September 2008 to 31 March 2022), with average pensionable pay of £31,767.
The deferred pension calculated at the statement date will be as follows.
(£31,767 ÷ 60 x 13 years 184 days) = £7,149.75
Pension from the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992
The value shown is calculated as a proportion of the double accrual pension you would have expected at normal pension age, which is age 55 or at 30 years’ service, whichever happens first, spread over years actually served.
This is known as the double accrual guarantee.
B x C÷D
B = notional pension
C = period in years of pensionable service
D = period in years of notional service
Notional pension and notional service is the pension and service a firefighter would have expected to receive if they had not left the scheme. The notional pension and service for firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 members remains unchanged and is the service and pension you would have expected to achieve at normal retirement age under the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 if there had been no reform to the pension scheme.
Example
1992 - current value of benefits
Ben is an unprotected member of firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, who joined the scheme on 1 December 1997.
Ben was born on 30 March 1972 and will retire on his 55th birthday (29 March 2027), having completed 29 years and 119 days.
On 1 October 2023 Ben was rolled back into their original legacy scheme (firefighters’ pension scheme 1992) for the remedy period. His final salary pensionable pay is £39,383.
Ben’s deferred pension calculated at the date of the statement will be as follows.
B = notional pension
The notional pension is calculated as the pension Ben would have received at age 55.
29 years 119 days service plus 9 years 119 days (double accrual) = 38 years 238 days ÷ 60ths.
38 years 238 days ÷ 60 x £39,383= £25,370.56
B = £25,370.56
C = Period of years of pensionable service in the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 (to 31 March 2022)
C = 24 years 121 days
D = Period of years of notional service
D = 29 years 119 days
(£25,370.56x 24 years 121 days ÷ 29 years 119 days) = £21,049.70
Pension from the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015
This value is your closing balance at the date of this statement. This is calculated using the closing balance from your last year’s statement, adding the increase for revaluation, and adding the pension built up in the current scheme year.
You can read more about how your pension in the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 is calculated in the Calculating your pension’ section of the website.
Annex B
Additional pension benefits
Long service increment is calculated as follows:
A + (B x 2) x £990
- A is the number in years (counting part of a year as the appropriate fraction) by which the pensionable service up to and including 30 June 2007 is more than 15 but less than 20.
- B is the number in years (counting part of a year as the appropriate fraction) by which the pensionable service up to and including 30 June 2007 is more than 20.
Additional pension benefit
An additional pension benefit stopped building up at 31 March 2022. You can find out how additional pension benefit is calculated in the relevant sections of this site:
- Firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 - additional pension benefit
- Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 - additional pension benefit
- Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) - additional pension benefit
Annex C
Retiring
Normal retirement
You can take your benefit at the following ages without reduction:
| - | Firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal retirement age | 60 | 55 | 60 | 60 |
Taking benefits from the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992
The earliest age you could take your pension from the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 is 50 (with 25 years’ service).
If you take your benefits from the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 at age of 55 or over, you can also draw your firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 pension early (although it would be reduced for early payment).
If take your benefits from the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, but do not take your pension from the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015, you would need to wait until your state pension age to receive the 2015 pension unreduced. This is because your benefits in the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 become deferred.
Early retirement from firefighters’ pension scheme 2015
If you take your firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 pension earlier than the normal pension age of 60, an early retirement factor will apply. You can find out more in the early retirement section of this website.
Annex D
Estimated value of FPS 2015
The estimated value of your firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 benefits is calculated based on the pension you had built up to the date of your statement, plus the pension you could build up between the statement date and your normal pension age (age 60).
The value of this estimate does not include any adjustment for future revaluation under treasury revaluation orders.
Example A
Member who chooses reformed scheme (firefighters’ pension scheme 2015) benefits for the remedy period
Sarah’s date of birth is 25 May 1972. Sarah will reach normal pension age (age 60) on 25 May 2032.
Sarah’s pensionable pay has been:
| Year | Pensionable pay |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 | £40,000 |
| 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 | £42,500 |
| 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 | £50,000 |
| 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 | £55,000 |
| 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 | £64,000 |
| 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 | £70,000 |
| 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 | £72,500 |
| 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | £76,300 |
| 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 | £80,115 |
| 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 | £83,820 |
Current value of Sarah’s firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 (at date of the statement):
| Scheme year | Opening balance | Revaluation | In-year build up | Closing balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
£670.02 (£40,000 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£670.02 |
| 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 | £670.02 | at 2% £13.40 |
£711.89 (£42,500 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£1,395.31 |
| 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 | £1,395.31 | at 2.6% £36.26 |
£837.52 (£50,000 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£2,269.11 |
| 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 | £2,269.11 | at 3% £68.07 |
£921.27 (£55,000 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£3,258.46 |
| 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 | £3,258.46 | at 2.8% £91.24 |
£1,072.03 (£64,000 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£4,421.72 |
| 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 | £4,421.72 | at 4% £176.87 |
£1,172.53 (£70,000 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£5,771.12 |
| 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 | £5,771.12 | at 2.4% £138.51 |
£1,214.40 (£72,500 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£7,124.03 |
| 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 | £7,124.03 | at 4.1% £292.09 |
£1,278.06 (£76,300 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£8,694.18 |
| 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 | £8,694.18 | at 7.7% £669.45 |
£1,341.96 (£80,115 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£10,705.59 |
| 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 | £10,705.59 | at 4.5% £481.75 |
£1,404.02 (£83,820 x 1 ÷ 59.7) |
£12,591.36 |
Estimated projection to normal retirement age (60)
The figure then assumes that Sarah remains in service from 1 April 2025 to 24 May 2032 - this is 7 years and 54 days.
This figure is used with her latest pensionable pay to estimate what pension she might build up between the date of the statement and the date she takes her benefits:
£83,820 x 1/59.7 * 7 years 54 days = £9,828.28
Total estimated firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 pension at normal retirement age (60)
Current value (£12,591.36) plus estimated projection (£9,828.28) = £22,419.64
Example B
Member who choses legacy benefits (firefighters’ pension scheme 1992) for the remedy period
Gary was a member of firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, whose date of birth is 15 July 1966.
He moved into the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 on 1 April 2022.
Gary will reach normal pension age (age 60) on 15 July 2026.
Gary’s current actual pay at the date of the statement is £40,633.
His service from 1 April 2022 to 14 July 2026 (last day of service) is 4 years and 105 days.
His estimated firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 pension is calculated as:
£40,633 x 1 ÷ 59.7 multiplied by 4 years 105 days.
This equals a total estimated pension of £3,403.69
Annex E
Estimated value of FPS 1992 or 2006
The firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 and firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) closed on 31 March 2022. This means that you will not continue to build up pension in these sections after 31 March 2022.
The figure shown assumes that you select to receive benefits from the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 and firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) for the remedy period (1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022).
The figure is based on your service up to 31 March 2022 divided by an accrual rate multiplied by your final pensionable pay at the date of this statement. The table below shows the accrual rate that applies to each of the schemes:
| - | firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accrual rate | 1/60 for the first 20 years 2/60 for years 20+ |
1/60 | 1/45 |
Firefighters’ pension scheme 1992
In the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, double accrual is applied. Read more in the double accrual section of this website.
Annex F
Survivor benefits
When you die, a survivors’ pension would be paid. Who this pension is paid to will depend on which scheme you are a member of:
| - | Firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husband, wife or civil partner only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cohabiting partner | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (if the scheme manager agrees) |
Death in service pension
Survivor’s benefits are based on future entitlement.
Death in service survivor’s pensions will be paid to eligible partners at 50% of the higher-tier ill-health pension that would have been payable.
If your husband, wife or partner is more than 12 years younger than you there would be a reduction of 2.5% for every year or part of a year over the 12 years, to a maximum of 50%.
Death in service - firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 members
Death in service survivor’s benefits for members of the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 with an equivalent firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 portion of pension are paid under firefighters’ pension scheme 2015, which means that if you are not married when you die, a cohabiting partner will still be entitled to half of the equivalent firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 entitlement as well as the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 portion.
Death in service lump sum
If you die in service a lump sum of three times your pensionable pay would also be paid from the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015. Members of firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 can fill in an ‘expression of wish’ form for beneficiaries to receive the death in service lump sum, though the final decision rests with the fire and rescue authority. Please contact your fire and rescue authority to find out how to access the form or make any amendments to a previous decision.
Death in retirement
How the survivor’s pension is calculated will depend on which pension scheme you were a member of at the date you retired. Generally, a survivor’s pension for a husband, wife or partner would be half of the pension that you would be entitled to when you retire.
| - | Firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 | Firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 (special) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional benefits | 50% of 1992 pension due to husband, wife or civil partner | 50% of 2006 pension due to surviving partner | 50% of 2006 (special) pension due to surviving partner |
| 2015 | 50% of 2015 pension due to surviving partner | 50% of 2015 pension due to surviving partner | 50% of 2015 pension due to surviving partner |
For members of the firefighters’ pension scheme 2006 and firefighters’ pension scheme 2015, if your husband, wife or partner is more than 12 years younger than you, there would be a reduction of 2.5% for every year or part of a year over the 12 years, to a maximum of 50%.
Death in retirement - firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 members
In the firefighters’ pension scheme 1992, a survivor’s pension is only paid to a husband, wife or civil partner. In firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 death benefits can also be paid to a cohabiting partner. This means if you are not married when you die, a cohabiting partner would be entitled to half of the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 pension, but not to half of any firefighters’ pension scheme 1992 portion of pension.
Death in retirement – lump sum
A death grant may also be payable from firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 if you die after retirement, and you have been receiving pension payments for less than five years. In these circumstances, the death grant would be the difference between five times the annual amount of pension and the number of instalments of pension paid. It is in effect a five-year guarantee of pension.
Members of firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 can fill in an ‘expression of wish’ form for beneficiaries to receive the death in service lump sum, though the final decision rests with the fire and rescue authority. Please contact your administrator to find out how to access the form or make any amendments to a previous decision.
Nominating who you would like to receive the benefits
Whilst there is no legislative requirement for you to complete a nomination for someone who you want a survivor’s pension to be paid to, we consider it best practice for members to record who they want a surviving partner’s pension to go to if they die. This will save a surviving partner from unnecessary administrative duties.
Please contact your administrator to find out how to access the form or make any amendments to a previous decision.
Annex G
Adjustments
Your pension may be adjusted by any of the following:
Actuarial reduction – the figures quoted may be reduced if you take them before the date that they would normally be paid. See Annex C.
Scheme Pays – if you have chosen to use Scheme Pays to pay an annual allowance charge from your pension scheme, this debit is usually included on your statement and the figures quoted would be reduced to meet the charge. If you are eligible for remedy the illustration should reflect the scheme pays rollback position.
There may however been circumstances where this has yet to be determined, and therefore the debit has not been included, or is included but at the pre rollback position. Your administrator will have confirmed this to you on either your Annual Benefit Statement or Annual Benefit Statement Remediable Service Statement (ABS-RSS) depending on which statement has been sent to you in 2024.
If you are affected by the annual allowance during the remedy period, for 2022/2023 tax year, or for 2023/24 tax year you will receive a pension saving statement by 6 October 2025.
This will be recalculated when you take your pension.
Pension sharing order – if a pension sharing order or earmarking order following a divorce or a dissolution of a civil partnership applies to your pension benefits, this debit is included on the statement and the figures quoted have been reduced to meet the charge.
The amount of the reduction will be recalculated when you take your benefits.
Two pension/ split pension – the figures on the statement do not take account of any adjustment that may be made when you retire to reflect a period at a higher pay.
If you are entitled to a two pension benefit, it will be calculated when you take your pension.
You can find out more in the two pension section of the website.
Annex H
Pension growth
Annual allowance
This is the amount your pension can increase by during the tax year without receiving a tax charge.
You can find more information, including an annual allowance checking tool, on the Government’s website or in the annual allowance section of this website.
Lump sum allowance
The lump sum allowance fixes the maximum tax-free lump sum that can be paid on retirement. Find out more in the tax section of this website.