Welcome to the website for the Firefighters' Pensions (England) Scheme Advisory Board.
The site holds information about the work of the Board and its three committees, as well as useful information and resources for Local Pension Boards.
If you have any comments about the site, please contact the Board secretariat at [email protected]
Latest news
30 November 2023
FPS Bulletin 75- November 2023 was published on 30 November 2023.
This issue provides important information relating to the Matthews second options exercise, including the launch of the GAD Matthews calculator, and further supporting documents. We have also updated some existing factsheets and guidance documents, and published the member Contingent Decision guidance.
31 October 2023
FPS Bulletin 74 - October 2023 was published on 31 October 2023.
This issue isn't quite as big as last month's, but is close. It contains further important information about the Matthews second options exercise, including updates to the supporting documentation, a Data Sharing Agreement template, GAD calculator: input and output specification, corrective action, pay assumptions, reference pay and more..... we have also published guidance on Age-Discrimination remedy - Contingent Decisions for Scheme Managers and a member claim form, accounting information and an update on the FPS adjustment in respect of 2021 and 2022 revaluation.
29 September 2023
FPS Bulletin 73 - September 2023 was published on 29 September 2023.
This issue is bumper packed, and maybe our biggest yet! It contains important information about the Matthews second options exercise, including template letters, guidance documents, and data sharing agreements, Remedy member videos, funding agreement, terminology updated Fire England GAD factors, the launch of the GAD contribution calculator, concurrent - interbrigade transfers, annual allowance factsheet, annual allowance 2022/23 note, firefighters medical appeal board tender outcome and much more..........
8 September 2023
On 8 September 2023, Government laid Firefighters’ Pension Schemes (England) (Amendment) Order 2023, which will come into force on 1 October 2023.
31 August 2023
FPS Bulletin 72 - August 2023 was published on 31 August 2023.
This issue contains important information about warm up communications for deferred members affected by remedy, Remediable Service Statements, the GAD contribution calculator, further information on the Secure Data Exchange Service and the Fire Pensions AGM.
17 August 2023
On 17 August 2023, Government laid The Public Service Pension Schemes (Rectification of Unlawful Discrimination) (Tax) (No.2) Regulations 2023, which will come into force on 14 September 2023
31 July 2023
FPS Bulletin 71 - July 2023 was published on 31 July 2023.
This issue contains important information about the Home Office collection of FPS forecasts for 2023-24 and 2028-29, Age Discrimination remedy consultation response and publication of the Firefighters (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023, Age Discrimination contributions calculator inputs, interest and tax, pension scams, warm up letters, ill health reassessment member outcome letters, Firefighters' Pension Scheme adjustment in Respect of 2021 and 2022 revaluation, GAD updated factors, Member benefit illustrations created by Barnett Waddingham for FPS Northern Ireland and the Welsh Government consultation on Pension entitlements for retained Firefighters' 2023.
19 July 2023
On 19 July 2023, Home Office published the government's formal response to the consultation on the draft Firefighters Pensions (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023 and policy intent to implement the retrospective phase of the McCloud/Sargeant remedy.
The Firefighters’ Pensions (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023 were published.
18 July 2023
On 18 July 2023, HMRC published their consultation on abolishing the pensions Lifetime Allowance.
This is designed to deliver the changes necessary to abolish the pensions lifetime allowance from the tax year 2024 to 2025 onwards, as announced at Spring Budget 2023.
The closing date is 12 September 2023.
30 June 2023
FPS Bulletin 70 - June 2023 was published on 30 June 2023.
This issue contains important information about the Home Office collection of FPS forecasts for 2023-24 to 2028-29, historic firefighter pay scales, a remedy readiness self-assessment tool, remedy member examples created by GAD and data conference Q and As.
31 May 2023
FPS Bulletin 69 - May 2023 was published on 31 May 2023.
This issue contains important information about the consultation on The Public Service Pension Schemes (Rectification of Unlawful Discrimination) (Tax) (No.2) Regulations 2023, updated data scoring guidance, IQMP template referral letters, updated GAD factors and a Scheme Advisory Board note on pensionable pay remedies.
28 April 2023
FPS Bulletin 68 - April 2023 was published on 28 April 2023.
This issue contains important information about the Revised commutation on retirement factors, proposed changes to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) 2006 , Revised commutation factors, Annual Benefit Statement templates and a number of other communication items.
3 April 2023
On 3 April 2023, the Government Actuaries Department published revised Commutation on retirement factors following the announcement of the revised SCAPE discount rate on 30 March 2023. The revised factors only apply to the 1992 Firefighters Pension Scheme and are to be applied with immediate effect.
31 March 2023
On 31 March 2023, the Home Office launched their formal consultation on Retained Firefighters' Pensions: Proposed Changes to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (England) 2006
This consultation focuses on the government’s commitment to provide further remedy to those individuals who were employed as retained firefighters between 7 April 2000 and 5 April 2006 inclusive by providing access to the modified section of Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2006 (referred to as ‘the modified scheme’). It contains the proposed amendments to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) Order 2006 and the Firemen’s Pension Scheme Order 1992 to achieve this outcome. This consultation document seeks views on proposals for achieving this outcome, and whether the proposed amendments achieve this policy intention for all eligible individuals.
The consultation will close on 9 June 2023.
31 March 2023
FPS Bulletin 67 - March 2023 was published on 31 March.
This issue contains important information about the Firefighters' Pension Schemes (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023, the SCAPE Discount Rate methodology consultation response and the FPS annual update 2023. Additionally it contains a farewell message from Claire Hey.
10 March 2023
On 10 March 2023, the High Court ruled that HM Treasury's decision to include the McCloud/ Sargeant remedy in the cost cap mechanism was not unlawful. The judge ruled in favour of HM Treasury on all grounds. The judge also refused permission to appeal, but the FBU and other parties are able to apply for permission to appeal directly to the Court of Appeal.
2 March 2023
On 2 March 2023 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issued a written ministerial statement announcing a reset of the Pensions Dashboard Programme (PDP) which will extend the delivery of pensions dashboards.
In the statement, the UK Government announced its intention to legislate to amend schemes’ connection deadlines, to provide PDP the time required to develop the necessary digital architecture. Guidance will be updated shortly to reflect the announcement and provide further clarity on the steps schemes should be taking to continue to prepare for the dashboard.
28 February 2023
On 28 February 2023 the Home Office launched a consultation on the Firefighters' Pension Scheme retrospective remedy on the amendments to the pension scheme regulations to enact the second phase of remedy in the McCloud/ Sargeant cases.
The consultation documents set out the background to the second, retrospective, part of the remedy and an explanation of legislative and policy changes required to implement it. The consultation seeks responses from interested parties on the amendments to the regulations needed to enact the second phase of the remedy, as set out in the PSPJOA 2022. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 23 May 2023
28 February 2023
FPS Bulletin 66 - February 2023 was published on 28 February.
This issue contains information about a new webpage on the FPS Member website, data collection for the 2015 remedy, confirmation of contribution bandings for 2023-24 and a Matthews pre-work factsheet for FRAs.
31 January 2023
FPS Bulletin 65 - January 2023 was published on 31 January.
The first issue of the new year contains information on a variety of topics including confirmation that the ill-health reassessment factsheet has been updated, details of template member consent letters for ill-health reassessment and information to help resolve queries regarding potential industrial action.