Fire Service pension

HORUS

I will have completed 30yrs and be turned 50 next year I propose to retire from the Fire Service but I have been told that as from April 2010 the retirement age is being increased to 55. Can anybody confirm this or are the Fire Service with the Police and Armed Forces exempt.

EdInvestor

Yes, this is correct, applies to all schemes.

Andy_L

If the scheme gave you "unqualified rights" to retire at 50 in its rules before 2003 & (AIUI) you were a member before 2006 then it can still payout before 55.

By an unqualified right it means that you do not have to have the permission of the employer/pension trustees.

The current armed forces scheme has a NRA of 55, any "pension" payed before that is called the early departure payment say may not be a "pension" in the legal/tax rights & obligations sense.

Your best point of contact would be the FBU and/or the pension scheme administrators

Andy_L

Would you believe it, 30 secs later & I find this:

Certain schemes ... give their members a right to take pension and lump sum benefits below the normal minimum pension age. These schemes are

• The Armed Forces Pension Scheme
• The British Transport Police Force Superannuation Fund,
• The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme,
• The Firemen’s Pension Scheme (Northern Ireland)
• The Gurkha Pension Scheme,
• The Police Pension Scheme,
• The Police Service of Northern Ireland pension Scheme, and
• The Police Service of Northern Ireland Full Time Reserve Pension Scheme.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/rpsmmanual/RPSM03106050.htm