Firefighter Pension Calculator 2026 (FPS 2015 & 1992)

New firefighters who joined after 1 April 2015 are in the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015 (FPS 2015), a Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) scheme. Those already in service before that date were moved to FPS 2015 but may have legacy FPS 1992 service.

In FPS 2015, firefighters earn 1/56.5 of their pensionable pay for each year of service. This is multiplied by their pensionable pay in each year (with CPI+1.25% revaluation applied annually to build up the pension pot).

For FPS 2015: Normal Pension Age is 60 — the same as the State Pension Age in most cases. For FPS 1992: 50 if 25+ years' service for whole-time firefighters, or 55 otherwise.

FPS 2015 contribution rates range from 12.0% to 14.5% of pensionable pay depending on salary band. For example: earnings £18,001–£33,500 pay 12.6%; £33,501–£48,000 pay 14.2%. Employer contributions are higher (around 21%).

No. Unlike FPS 1992 (which had a mandatory 3× lump sum), FPS 2015 pays pension only. You can commute up to 25% of the pension's capital value for a tax-free lump sum (subject to Pension Commencement Lump Sum limits).

The McCloud case found the 2015 public sector pension reforms were discriminatory. Firefighters who were in service between 2015 and 2022 and were moved to FPS 2015 now have a choice at retirement: take their pension as if they had always been in FPS 2015, or as if they had remained in the legacy FPS 1992/2006 scheme (whichever is better).

FPS 2015 pensions are revalued each year during accumulation by CPI + 1.25%. In retirement, the pension is increased by CPI (minimum 0%). This provides meaningful inflation protection compared to a standard final salary scheme.

If a firefighter dies in service, a death grant (lump sum) is paid and a survivor's pension is payable to a spouse, civil partner, or nominated cohabiting partner. The death grant is 3× pensionable pay in FPS 2015.