Frequently asked questions

You can opt-out, although it is important that you carefully consider the implications of opting out of the scheme. We would recommend you read the benefits of the 2015 scheme, and always take regulated, independent financial advice.

You will be re-enrolled into the pension scheme on the auto-enrolment date as required by The Pension Regulator.

No, the Pensions Team cannot legally provide you with pension financial advice.

They can provide you with information such as a transfer valuation or estimate of pension benefits.

If you need assistance with making decisions on your pension or planning for retirement, we recommend you seek the services of a regulated financial advisor. The Government recommends the Unbiased website to find an independent financial advisor.

This will be produced by the end of August, and you will receive this by early September (at the latest if received by post).

All Active members will receive it on Member Self Service – if you don’t currently have access you can request it from the team by emailing pensions@wmfs.net.

Yes, but the pension administration team are only required to provide you with one estimate every twelve months – if you request more than one estimate, we cannot guarantee that all will be delivered within statutory deadlines – i.e. two months.

It is worth noting that your Annual Benefit Statement, which you receive automatically, will provide you with information on your pension estimate.

Firefighter pension scheme

Before you retire please make sure you provide the pensions team (via pensions@wmfs.net) with contact details, including an email address, other than your service contacts, so we can continue to contact you as necessary.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Before you retire, ensure the West Midlands Pension Fund has up-to-date contact details for you personally (not your service email/contact number) so they can contact you when you finish service.

We always aim to start pension payments as soon as possible after you retire. However, when we are extremely busy, or your case is particularly complex, it may not be possible to provide your figures in advance of we may make your first payment sometime after you retire, once you have decided on your pension options.

Our intention is to get calculations to those leaving service as soon as possible, but due to high workloads and the complexity of calculations as a result of Remedy, we are sometimes not able to do so.

We are statutorily required to provide pension calculations within one month of retirement for those retiring at pension age, or two months if you choose to retire early, although we will always seek to do so sooner.

If a delay in payment is likely to cause you hardship, please contact the pensions team, as we can arrange an advance payment be made from your pension lump sum.

The sooner you can let the team know, the better, as this gives us more time to undertake the necessary calculations.

In the first instance, please contact the pensions team at pensions@wmfs.net so we can assist you with understanding your pension figures. If you still disagree with the way your pension has been calculated, you can raise a complained through the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure. More information and an application form can be found on the pension web pages.

If your question is not answered here, we would recommend you reach the information provided on the FPS Member website, which covers a wide of other topics.

Firefighter pension scheme members

If you have concerns about your pension, we first ask that you contact the pensions team directly to see what can be done to assist you.

If you wish to raise a formal complaint about a decision or action made by the scheme administration regarding your pension, this can be done through the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure.

More information and an application form can be found on the pension web pages.

If your complaint doesn’t relate to an action or decision by the scheme administration issue and don’t feel this has been addressed by the pensions team, you should raise this with us via our website contact form.

Local government pension scheme members

If your complaint relates to internal administration at West Midlands Fire Service, you should email pensions@wmfs.net.

If the complaint relates to the local government pension scheme itself, or its administration, please contact the West Midlands Pension Fund.