As a member of the FPS 2006 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 range for an employment | Contribution rate 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 8.5% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 9.4% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 10.4% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 10.9% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 11.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 11.3% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 11.7% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 12.1% |
| More than £124,872 | 12.5% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2020/21 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay range for an employment | Contribution rate 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 8.5% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 9.4% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 10.4% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 10.9% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 11.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 11.3% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 11.7% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 12.1% |
| More than £124,872 | 12.5% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2019/20 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay range for an employment | Contribution rate 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 8.5% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 9.4% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 10.4% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 10.9% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 11.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 11.3% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 11.7% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 12.1% |
| More than £124,872 | 12.5% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2018/19 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay range for an employment | Contribution rate 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 |
| Up to and including £15,609 | 8.5% |
| More than £15,609 and up to and including £21,852 | 9.4% |
| More than £21,852 and up to and including £31,218 | 10.4% |
| More than £31,218 and up to and including £41,624 | 10.9% |
| More than £41,624 and up to and including £52,030 | 11.2% |
| More than £52,030 and up to and including £62,436 | 11.3% |
| More than £62,436 and up to and including £104,060 | 11.7% |
| More than £104,060 and up to and including £124,872 | 12.1% |
| More than £124,872 | 12.5% |
Contribution rates for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 are as follows:
| Contribution Table 2017/18 | |
|---|---|
| Pensionable pay range for an employment | Contribution rate 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 |
| Up to and including £15,454 | 8.5% |
| More than £15,454 and up to and including £21,636 | 9.4% |
| More than £21,636 and up to and including £30,909 | 10.4% |
| More than £30,909 and up to and including £41,212 | 10.9% |
| More than £41,212 and up to and including £51,515 | 11.2% |
| More than £51,515 and up to and including £61,818 | 11.3% |
| More than £61,818 and up to and including £103,030 | 11.7% |
| More than £103,030 and up to and including £123,636 | 12.1% |
| More than £123,636 | 12.5% |
The pensionable pay shown in the first column of the table above should not include any elements of pay over and above that determined in relation to the duties of the role, e.g. temporary payments and Continual Professional Development payments which would form the basis of Additional Pension Benefits. But, having established the appropriate contribution rate in column 2 by disregarding such payments, they are taken into account when contributions are assessed and deducted.
In the case of a part-time regular 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.
In the case of a retained firefighter, the amount of pensionable pay for the purpose of Column 1 is the firefighter's reference pay, i.e. the pay that would be paid to a whole-time regular firefighter employed in a similar role and with similar qualifying service.
For retained firefighters it is not possible to achieve total consistency with regular firefighters' pensionable pay but, generally, it will be the main "constant" elements of pay, e.g. annual retainer, disturbance payment, payment for work activity, and overtime. And any items of pay which would not be treated as pensionable for regular firefighters, for example certain reimbursements of expenditure, are treated as non-pensionable for retained firefighters, too. It is on the elements of pensionable pay that pension contributions will be assessed.
Where there is a permanent material change to the terms and conditions of a firefighter’s employment, which affects pensionable pay, from the date of the change the contribution rate must be re-assessed.
The 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 (APBS).
If you are part-time, contributions will be deducted on your part-time pay.
There is an “earnings cap” on pensionable pay, based on that which used to be imposed by HM Revenue and Customs. This means that contributions will not be deducted, and benefits will not be assessed, on pay above this HMRC amount.
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 (including authorised sick leave), you will 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. 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.)