Fire brigade widowers pension

karenobrien123

Good evening,

I need some advice on a widowers fire brigade pension my mum has been receiving since my dad died please. They were separated before he died, but still legally married. When he died, the fire brigade pension department initially told my mum she was not entitled to anything. After some time, they said she could get just under a quarter of what his payments were. She's wondered if this is right, but knows they will not be forthcoming with the correct information, because it was like getting blood from a stone in the first place.
Is there anyone who would oversee them to double check she is getting the right amount? My dad used to receive nearly £1000 month and my mum as a widower only gets £160 a month from it. What are your thoughts on this?

Many Thanks,

Karen

kidmugsy

I'm mildly surprised: some schemes would either pay her as a widow (typically half his pension) or, if they decided that she didn't count as a widow, nothing at all.

But my state of surprise is irrelevant: it's the scheme trust deed that counts. Have you googled for info on the scheme?

karenobrien123

I haven't yet, thought I'd ask advice first, as they weren't very forthcoming when she spoke to them direct. Just wondered if anyone had had any previous experience or knew who would oversee them.

xylophone

https://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/human-resources-9-part-4-section-1-appendix-b-firefighters-pension-scheme.pdf

Old but Section 13 (page AB 31)may cast some light?

Do you have (or can you obtain) your late father's scheme pension booklet?

molerat

https://www.yourpensionservice.org.uk/firefighters/index.asp?siteid=5329&pageid=33845&e=e

There is a section about not living together which gives the calculation for the (much) reduced pension based only on service post 1978.

AB-21 in xylophone's link

karenobrien123

Thank you, I've looked it up and it does clarify things

System

Hi

First of all Eunice Heaney was the absolute authority on the FPS, legendary in fact, so her document is gospel.

The original award should have had some kind of letter, hopefully showing the calculations. The current award deserves no less.

If you want to calculate or contest the payment, then the date of retirement is important to get the service length.

From that it may be possible to work backwards and get some kind of value on the original amount, it may be listed on an old payslip.

So...