EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order makes provision for a new pension scheme for and in respect of firefighters employed by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (“the new Scheme”). The new Scheme has effect from 6th April 2006 and replaces the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme set out in the Annex to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Order 2007 (“the 2007 Scheme”). Power to give the Scheme retrospective effect is conferred by Article 10(4) of the Fire Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1984, as continued by the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
Part 1 of the new Scheme contains general introductory provisions.
The new Scheme is available to all firefighters employed by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, whether whole-time or part-time and whether regular, retained or volunteer, who satisfy one of the eligibility conditions set out in Part 2 of the Scheme. Part 2 also deals with membership of the Scheme.
Part 3 makes provision for the payment of pensions to firefighter members. It introduces Schedule 1, which provides for the calculation of ill-health pensions.
Part 4 deals, in Chapter 1, with pensions for surviving spouses, civil partners and nominated partners and, in Chapter 2, with pensions for children.
Part 5 provides for the payment of death grants and post-retirement death grants.
Part 6 deals with pension-sharing on divorce.
Part 7 contains provisions relevant to firefighters who serve in the armed forces.
Part 8, to which Schedule 2 to the Scheme is relevant, provides for the determination of questions and appeals arising under the Scheme.
Part 9 deals with the review, withdrawal and forfeiture of awards.
Part 10 contains provisions about qualifying service and pensionable service.
Part 11 deals with pensionable pay, pension contributions and the purchase of additional service.
Part 12 provides for transfers into and out of the Scheme.
Part 13 deals with the accounting aspects of the Scheme, including the operation of the Firefighters’ Pension Fund for that purpose.
Part 14 provides for the payment of awards.
Part 15 contains miscellaneous provisions, including provisions about annual benefit statements.
The new Scheme differs from the 2007 Scheme in the following major respects:
(c) it is open to retained and volunteer firefighters as well as regular firefighters;
(d) pensions can be paid to a nominated partner as well as a spouse or civil partner;
(e) the normal retirement age will be 60; under the 2007 Scheme it is 55 (with some exceptions);
(f) the age at which deferred pensions will normally be paid will be 65; under the 2007 Scheme it is 60;
(g) firefighter members may request early payment of pension from age 55, subject to actuarial reduction;
(h) the Board may for economical, effective and efficient management reasons pay pensions from age 55 without actuarial reduction; under the 2007 Scheme, payment could be made in similar circumstances from age 50 provided that the firefighter had at least 25 years’ pensionable service;
(i) pension will accrue at 1/60th per year. A firefighter member will be able to accrue more than 40 years’ pensionable service;
(j) a firefighter member will be able to commute up to a quarter of his pension for a lump sum [and there will be a single commutation factor regardless of age or sex with each £1 of pension commuted providing a lump sum of £12];
(k) enhancements for the higher tier ill-health retirement pension will be based on a formula where accrued pensionable service is increased by 2% and then multiplied by the amount of prospective service to the normal retirement age. This will ensure that enhancements are more evenly graduated than under the 2007 Scheme;
(l) where a firefighter member is subject to a reduction in pay because of a change in role he will qualify for a split pension. At the point of reduction the first pension will be closed and therefore based on the higher pay rate and a new pension started. When the member retires both pensions will be payable;
(m) the death grant when a firefighter member dies in service will be three times pensionable pay at the date of death; under the 2007 Scheme it is two times pensionable pay;
(n) any pension paid to an adult survivor who is 12 or more years younger than the firefighter member will be reduced by 2.5% for every year or part year above the 12 years, up to maximum of 50%; there is no such restriction under the 2007 Scheme;
(o) the member’s contribution rate will be 8.5%; under the 2007 Scheme, for members who joined before 6th April 2006, the rate was 11%.
Service transferred from the 2007 Schemewill be transferred at a special rate during the first three months after the new Scheme comes into force.
A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this Order, as it has no impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.