As a member of the FPS 1992 you pay a contribution which is a percentage of your pensionable pay.
Current contribution rates for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2021/22 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay | Contribution rate 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 11.0% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 12.2% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 14.2% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 14.7% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 15.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 15.5% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 16.0% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 16.5% |
| More than £124,872 | 17.0% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2020/21 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay | Contribution rate 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 11.0% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 12.2% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 14.2% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 14.7% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 15.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 15.5% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 16.0% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 16.5% |
| More than £124,872 | 17.0% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2019/20 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay | Contribution rate 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 11.0% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 12.2% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 14.2% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 14.7% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 15.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 15.5% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 16.0% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 16.5% |
| More than £124,872 | 17.0% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2018/19 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay | Contribution rate 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 11.0% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 12.2% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 14.2% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 14.7% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 15.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 15.5% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 16.0% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 16.5% |
| More than £124,872 | 17.0% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2017/18 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay | Contribution rate 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 |
| Up to and including £15,454 | 11.0% |
| More than £15,454 and up to and including £21,636 | 12.2% |
| More than £21,636 and up to and including £30,909 | 14.2% |
| More than £30,909 and up to and including £41,212 | 14.7% |
| More than £41,212 and up to and including £51,515 | 15.2% |
| More than £51,515 and up to and including £61,818 | 15.5% |
| More than £61,818 and up to and including £103,030 | 16.0% |
| More than £103,030 and up to and including £123,636 | 16.5% |
| More than £123,636 | 17.0% |
In the case of a part-time firefighter, the pension contribution rate is assessed by reference to the pay that would have been received if whole-time. But contributions are then deducted on the part-time rate of pay.
Your fire and rescue authority pay an employer’s contribution and additional charges for ill-health awards plus the cost of exercising certain discretions allowed under the rules. Employees’ and employers’ contributions are determined by the Secretary of State on the advice of the Scheme Actuary who will have regard to the total cost of Scheme benefits. They are reviewed regularly.
The pensionable pay upon which the contributions are assessed is the amount determined in relation to the duties of your role and certain payments which the authority may, at their discretion, treat as pensionable for providing “Additional Pension Benefits”. If you are part-time, contributions will be deducted on your part-time pay. For anyone who first joined the Scheme after 31 May 1989 there was an “earnings cap” on pensionable pay, based on that imposed by HM Revenue and Customs.
Contributions for unpaid leave
During paid maternity, paternity or adoption leave you would pay contributions on whatever rate of pay you receive; if a period of additional maternity, paternity or adoption leave is unpaid, you will have the option to pay contributions on the rate you were receiving immediately before pay ceased (disregarding any “Keeping in Touch” days), if you wish to count that period as pensionable service.
If you have an unpaid period of absence for other reasons, you have the option to pay contributions based on the pay you would have received but for the absence in order that the period can count as pensionable service. But, in this case, you would be required to pay both the employee's and employer's contribution. (At their discretion the fire and rescue authority may agree to pay the employer's contribution for you.)
Contact the fire and rescue authority's pensions administrator if you require more information about these options.