There are different scheme rules and levels of cover depending on:
- whether you are employed as a wholetime firefighter or retained firefighter
- the date that you became employed with the fire service/amount of service accrued
For firefighters in continuous employment which commenced before 6 April 2006 please see the Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme 2006 guide (1992).
For firefighters in employment which commenced on or after 6 April 2006 (and those who have a break in contract on or after 6 April 2006) please see the Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme 2006 guide (2006).
For retained firefighters in continuous employment which commenced before 6 April 2006 (calculations based on service as if whole time firefighter if injured before amendment order April 2014 – calculations since then based on pro rata service as below) please see the Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme guide for retained prior to 6 April 2006.
For retained firefighters in employment which commenced on or after 6 April 2006 (and those who have a break in contract on or after 6 April 2006) – if injured after amendment order April 2014 ( calculations based on pro rata service) please see the Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme guide for retained on or after 6 April 2006.
All of the following employees have cover for an injury award, (without being a member of any of the firefighter pension schemes), subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions for eligibility:
- A whole time or part time firefighter.
- A firefighter undertaking retained duties.
- A volunteer firefighter.
- Other employees of a fire and rescue authority in certain circumstances and at the discretion of the authority.
- A surviving spouse or civil partner or child of the above.
- A dependent relative of a firefighter at the discretion of the fire and rescue authority.
Cover is also provided for firefighters who are called up for Reserve Forces Service.
The Compensation (Injury) Scheme Order 2006 may (subject to qualifying conditions) provide a non-taxable injury pension (minimum income guarantee) and a lump sum injury gratuity.
The gratuity is calculated based on a percentage of your ‘average pensionable pay’. The percentage is decided according to your degree of disablement determined by the medical practitioner and is adjusted to reflect any part-time service you may have worked during your employment.
The injury pension is also based on a percentage of your ‘average pensionable pay’ according to the degree of disablement determined by the medical practitioner and in addition, the amount of service that you have accrued.
Similarly, it is pro-rated to reflect any part-time service you may have worked.
The injury pension award is then reduced by the following:
- 75% of your pre commuted annual ill-health pension, where applicable, paid as a result of your injury under the FPS/NFPS. If however, you have opted out of the NFPS, then the percentage deducted is 100%.
- Certain state benefits* that you are entitled to from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that relate to the relevant injury (currently Employment Support Allowance (replacing incapacity benefit) and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit).
*NB: The injury pension is an underlying minimum income guarantee which is payable to ‘top up’ any DWP benefits that you may be entitled to, ensuring that an employee receives the determined minimum income level.
In some cases, your DWP benefits will exceed the injury pension minimum guarantee, and therefore the injury pension will not be payable.
A claim for relevant DWP benefits must be made. If no claim has been made to which a member may be entitled, the maximum rate of benefit must be assumed and deducted in line with the Compensation Scheme Order 2006, unless written confirmation from the DWP is provided to confirm otherwise.