Active firefighters

Scheme overview

The Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 (FPS 2015) is the primary occupational pension scheme for operational firefighters who:

• were appointed on or after 1 April 2015

or 

• have moved into the scheme from earlier versions such as FPS 1992 or FPS 2006

It is a career average revalued earnings (CARE) scheme, offering:

• annual pension build-up based on actual pensionable pay each year
• annual revaluation to maintain buying power in retirement

FPS 2015 is designed to provide a predictable, structured, inflation linked income throughout retirement. It includes:

• protection for family members
• access to ill health retirement
• opportunities to increase pension benefits during your career

Membership and eligibility

Operational firefighters automatically join FPS 2015 unless they have rights allowing continued membership in an earlier scheme. Membership begins from the date of appointment, and you accrue pension benefits from the first day of active service.

How your pension builds up

The CARE formula

The FPS 2015 uses a 1/59.7 accrual rate. 

Each year

Annual pension built = pensionable pay × (1 ÷ 59.7)

To keep the resulting pension in line with inflation, it is revalued each year using the average weekly earnings index.

Contributions

Your contributions

You will pay contributions at tiers depending on your pensionable pay. View the contribution rates table on the FPS website. Contributions apply to pensionable pay only and are deducted through payroll.

Employer contributions

The Fire and Rescue Authority contributes to your pension at a set rate determined by the scheme actuary and the Secretary of State. View the current rate.

Increasing your pension

You may pay additional voluntary contributions (known as added pension) to increase your annual pension in retirement. A maximum added pension limit applies and is reviewed each April. Added pension is revalued annually, just like normal CARE benefits. Find out more about increasing your pension.

Pensionable pay

Pensionable pay includes salary and certain duty related earnings, as defined within FPS regulations. Pensionable pay ensures your pension growth accurately reflects your actual earnings across shifts, duties, and overtime (where included under rules).

Retirement

Find out about your retirement options.

Leaving the scheme

When you leave employment or opt out:

• your pension becomes deferred and is payable at State Pension age (SPA)
• you may transfer it to another registered pension scheme
• you'll have the option of transferring your pension rights to another pension scheme if you want to
• you may request early payment from age 55 with actuarial reductions

If you leave the pension scheme with less than 3 months' membership, you're entitled to a refund of your pension contributions, minus tax relief deductions. Find out more about leaving the FPS.

Transfers of previous pension rights

FPS 2015 can accept transfers from:

• other occupational schemes
• qualifying overseas schemes
• personal pension schemes (time limits apply)

Transferring earlier service may increase your pension or provide additional credit in the CARE model. Find out more about transfers in. 

If you have benefits in one of the legacy schemes

Learn more about the legacy schemes:

• FPS 1992
• FPS 2006
• FPS 2006 (special)