From 1 October 2023, eligible members of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme have choices about the benefits they receive for service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. This is the “McCloud” Remedy Period, and these choices are referred to as ‘remedy’.
What is the remedy?
In 2015, new laws introduced a new scheme for firefighters – the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 (FPS 2015). These laws included protections which meant that some members of the legacy schemes (FPS 1992 and FPS 2006) didn’t join FPS 2015 either straight away or at all, depending on their age. After a legal challenge, the courts determined that these protections were age-discriminatory.
Following consultation, the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 came into force on 1 April 2022 to remedy the discrimination. Following further consultation, the Firefighters’ Pensions (Remediable Service) Regulations 2023 were laid and came into force on 1 October 2023 to allow for retrospective remedy which covers the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022.
Who is eligible?
On 1 October 2023, if you are eligible, your pension for the remedy period was ‘rolled back’ to your legacy scheme. This will be either the 1992 or 2006 Scheme. you do not need to do anything – you have automatically had your pension for the relevant period transferred into the legacy scheme.
Not all members are affected by the remedy period. To be eligible you must:
Have been in pensionable service on or before 31 March 2012
Had pensionable service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022
Not have a gap in service of 5 years or more (known as a disqualifying break)
When will I hear more about the remedy?
If you are still in service and a member of the pension scheme, we are aiming to provide further information through a Remediable Service Statement (RSS) by the time of your next Annual Benefit Statement in August 2024, if this is not possible you will hear from us by March 2025. You don’t need to take any action now.
If you are a deferred pension scheme member, we are also aiming to provide you with your RSS by the time of your Deferred Annual Benefit Statement. The RSS must be sent to you by October 2024 if you are “deferred unprotected” or “taper protected” or March 2025 if you are “deferred protected”.
If you are in service but intend to retire before August 2024 when you tell us you are going to retire, we will provide you with the relevant figures to enable you to make your choice before you retire. Please provide at least 3-6 months’ notice to ensure your benefits are calculated and you can have a choice when you leave.
Where can I find out more?
The Firefighter Pension Scheme Member website has more information which will be updated regularly, which can be accessed via the link below.