Fire Pension Scheme

Ill-Health

If you have at least 2 years' pensionable service (or, if less, you are entitled to an award under the Compensation Scheme) and you are permanently disabled for the performance of the duties of your role, you may be considered at any age for an ill-health pension. There are two tiers of award; the lower tier and higher tier.

The lower tier award provides a lower tier ill-health pension only; a higher tier award provides a lower tier plus a higher tier ill-health pension. The lower tier award is made where the firefighter is permanently disabled for the performance of the duties of his/her role. A higher tier award is made where, additionally, the firefighter is permanently disabled for any other regular employment. Regular employment in this context means employment for 30 hours a week on average over a 12 month period.

If you have less than 5 years' pensionable service, the lower tier ill-health pension is calculated in the same way as an age retirement pension. If you have 5 or more years' pensionable service, the lower tier ill-health pension is calculated in the same way as a deferred pension.

This involves a two-stage calculation. The first stage assesses a pension including an enhancement of service; the next stage deducts from the resultant pension an amount equal to the lower tier pension. The difference is the higher tier pension.

The enhancement of a pension depends upon your length of pensionable service.

Your period of Pensionable Service The Enhancement Awarded
5 or more years, but less than 10 years each year of service will reckon as: 
2/60 x APP
10 or more years, but less than 13 years the formula is based on: 
20/60 x APP
More than 13 years the formula is based on:
pensionable service* + 7/60 x APP

*each year of service to 20 years = 1/60; each year of service after 20 years = 2/60ths

The resultant pension, however, must not be greater than the age retirement pension that could be achieved at the normal pension age of 55, or age 60. An age retirement pension must not be greater than 40/60ths of average pensionable pay.

Please Note

If you had a period of part time service, both the lower and higher tier pensions would first be assessed as if your service were whole time throughout. Part of a lower tier pension (but not a higher tier) can be commuted to provide a lump sum.