The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2007

Ill-health award

15.—(1) This article applies to a regular firefighter who is required to retire under article 11 (compulsory retirement on grounds of disablement) unless, immediately before his retirement, an election under article 59 not to pay pension contributions had effect.

(2) A regular firefighter who is entitled—

(a) to reckon at least 2 years’ pensionable service; or

(b) to an award under the Compensation Scheme,

becomes entitled on retiring—

(i) where paragraph (3) applies, to a lower tier ill-health pension calculated in accordance with paragraph 2 or 3 (as the case may be) of Part III of Schedule 2,

(ii) where paragraph (4) applies, to the pensions referred to in paragraph (5).

(3) This paragraph applies where, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner, obtained in accordance with article 65, the firefighter is capable of undertaking regular employment.

(4) This paragraph applies where, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner obtained in accordance with article 65, the firefighter is incapable of undertaking regular employment.

(5) The pensions are—

(a) a lower tier ill-health pension calculated in accordance with paragraph 2 or 3 (as the case may be) of Part III of Schedule 2; and

(b) a higher tier ill-health pension determined in accordance with paragraph 4 of that Part.

(6) A firefighter who is not entitled to a pension under paragraph (2), becomes entitled on retiring to a short service lump sum of an amount equal to the aggregate of his pension contributions.

(7) In paragraphs (3) and (4) “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 his capacity for employment arises.