Paragraph 6

In Part 14 (miscellaneous provisions), after rule 6 (death on or before 31st March 2007 of retained or volunteer firefighter employed before 6th April 2006), insert—

“Retained firefighter opt-out member

7.

(1)

This rule applies to a person who—

(a)

is a retained firefighter opt-out member or the spouse, civil partner or child of a retained firefighter opt-out member who is deceased, and

(b)

before 21 February 2026—

(i)

received an award, benefit, pension or any other payment under this Scheme or,

(ii)

in respect of a person who is a retained firefighter opt-out member, purchased or converted service under this Scheme.

(2)

Subject to paragraph (5), and notwithstanding any provision of this Scheme, a person to whom this rule applies may apply to the authority for an additional entitlement.

(3)

The additional entitlement must represent the period of the extended limited period during which the member or deceased member ceased to be a member of this Scheme.

(4)

Within two months of 21 February 2026, the authority must use reasonable endeavours to notify the person of their eligibility for an additional entitlement.

(5)

An application under paragraph (2) must—

(a)

be made in writing,

(b)

include such information as the authority reasonably requires to decide it, and

(c)

subject to paragraph (6), not be made after 17 September 2026.

(6)

Where a person did not receive a notification from the authority under paragraph (4), despite the authority using reasonable endeavours to notify them as required by that paragraph, an application under paragraph (2) may be made after 17 September 2026.

(7)

Where the authority decides that an additional entitlement is payable, the authority must pay the additional entitlement during the period of three months beginning with the date on which the application for the payment was received.”.