Thinking about retiring

In the short-term we're processing some retirement quotes using manual calculations so please be aware that your retirement quote may take a little longer to be sent to you.

That means it's important to try and give as much notice to your FRA as possible if you do intent to retire.

We are working with our software provider to update our administration software to carry out retirement calculations for in-scope members.

The normal age of retirement in FPS 2015 is age 60; however, you can voluntarily retire at any age between 55 and 75. 

If you choose to retire before age 60 your benefits will be reduced for early retirement. But if you retire after age 60 your benefits will be increased for late retirement. 

If you have been a member of another firefighter pension scheme (FPS 1992 or 2006) then you have some additional options to consider, including only claiming 'legacy' scheme benefits under the age of 60 and leaving your FPS 2015 benefits deferred. This is different to a partial retirement. You should discuss this with your FRA.

The option for 'partial retirement' comes once you reach age 55 if you wish to draw your pension but continue your employment as a firefighter without a break and accrue additional pension.

Your active member's account and any added pension account would be closed, and the pension held in those accounts would be put into payment (subject to an early payment reduction if you had not reached age 60).

A new active member's account would be opened for the pension you will accrue in your continuing membership. This second pension will become payable, on similar terms to your first pension, when you are ready to draw it

A firefighter who has not reached normal pension age (60) and who leaves because of permanent disablement, may be considered for an ill health pension.

If an ill health pension is awarded, their active member's account and any added pension account would be closed and a retirement account set up.

There are two tiers of ill health pension, lower tier and higher tier. A minimum of 3 months' qualifying service is required for a lower tier ill health pension and a minimum of 5 years' qualifying service for a higher tier ill health pension. The medical conditions which have to be met, for entitlement to an ill health award, are as follows:

• for a lower tier ill health pension, the person must be incapable of performing any of the duties of the role in which last employed, because of incapacity of mind or body which will continue until normal pension age (60);
• for a higher tier pension, the person must be entitled to a lower tier ill health pension and must also, because of incapacity of mind or body which will continue until normal pension age, be incapable of undertaking regular employment. Regular employment means employment for at least 30 hours a week on average over a period of not less than 12 consecutive months, beginning with the date on which the issue of the person's capacity for employment arises.

It is the authority that will determine whether a pension can be paid but, to do so, they must first obtain and consider the written opinion of an Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner ("IQMP").

If you decide to retire you need to tell your Fire Authority.

Once you confirm your decision to retire we will send you a retirement pack. The pack will include a form that you need to fill in and return so we can pay your pension benefits.

When we receive your completed pension claim form your pension will be paid on the next available payroll. You will receive your pension monthly, paid directly to your nominated bank account.

See our pensioner area for a list of all upcoming pension payment dates.

If you chose to have a retirement lump sum as well as a pension we will process the payment of your lump sum within 10 working days from the later of your date of retirement or date we receive your claim form. The payment may then take a few days to clear through to your bank/building society account. We can’t pay you your benefits before your official leaving date.

When you claim your FPS benefits you can choose to take some of your pension as a one-off tax free lump sum instead.

You will tell us how much lump sum you want when you complete your retirement claim form. You don't have to take a lump sum.

The lump sum your entitled to depends on the FPS schemes you have been a member. 

There are also overarching limits about lump sums called the lump sum allowance. Read more about the lump sum allowance here.

There are specific rules about re-employment in the FPS. You should discuss any possible re-employment with your FRA before accepting an offer of employment. 

The rules also vary depending what Firefighter scheme you were a member of, and which one you were in when you retired.