Regulation 2 Amendment to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015I1

In paragraph (2), after “scheme employment” insert “beginning with 1st April 2015 and ending 30th April 2026”.

after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A)

The contribution rate applicable to a scheme employment beginning with 1st May 2026 is as specified in the following table, with the contribution rate specified in the second column to be considered applicable to the band of pensionable pay specified in the first column into which the active member’s actual annual pensionable pay falls:

Pensionable pay range for an employment	Contribution rate beginning with 1st May 2026
Up to £36,130.99	11.71%
£36,131.00 to £45,407.99	13.21%
£45,408.00 to £66,908.99	14.71%
£66,909.00 to £190,691.99	16.21%
£190,692.00 or more	17.71%

”

for paragraph (3), substitute—

“(3)

The amount of pensionable pay of a retained or volunteer firefighter—

(i)

for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2) must be that firefighter’s reference pay for the period beginning with 1st April 2015 to 30th April 2026;

(ii)

for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2A) must be that firefighter’s actual annual pensionable pay beginning with 1st May 2026.”

for paragraph (4), substitute—

“(4)

The amount of pensionable pay of a part-time regular firefighter—

(i)

for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2) must be the amount of pensionable pay of a whole-time regular firefighter of equivalent role and length of service for the period beginning with 1st April 2015 to 30th April 2026;

(ii)

for the purpose of the first column of the table in paragraph (2A) must be that firefighter’s actual annual pensionable pay beginning with 1st May 2026.”

after paragraph (4) insert—

“(4A)

The figures in the first column of the table in paragraph (2A) are to be increased at the beginning of each scheme year starting with the scheme year 2027/28, if there is a relevant increase in the consumer prices index or, should the Department decide, any other index of the general level of prices in the United Kingdom, by the appropriate percentage for the scheme year rounded up to the nearest £1.

(4B)

For the purposes of paragraph (4A)—

(a)

there is a relevant increase in the consumer prices index, or any other index of the general level of prices in the United Kingdom, for a scheme year if the index for the month of September before that scheme year is higher than that for the previous September;

(b)

the appropriate percentage for the scheme year is the same percentage as any percentage increase in the consumer prices index, or any other index of the general level of prices in the United Kingdom decided by the Department, over the period specified by sub-paragraph (a);

(c)

the “consumer prices index” means the general index of consumer prices (for all items) published by the Statistics Board, a body corporate established by section 1 of the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007;

(d)

where there is a relevant increase after 1st April 2027, the figures to be increased on the relevant date are the figures applicable to the previous scheme year.”