Fire compensation scheme

Under The Compensation (Injury) Scheme Order 2006 injured firefighters may receive:

  • a non-taxable injury pension (subject to qualifying conditions) and
  • a lump-sum injury gratuity.

The decision whether to grant an award is made by the fire authority. These awards are not part of the Firefighters' pension schemes.

You do not need to be a member of the Firefighter Pension Scheme to be considered. The following could receive an injury award, subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions:

  • whole-time/part-time firefighter,
  • retained firefighter,
  • volunteer firefighter,
  • other employees of a fire and rescue authority ( only in certain circumstances and at the discretion of the authority),
  • surviving spouse, civil partner or child of a firefighter,
  • a dependent relative of a firefighter (at the discretion of the fire and rescue authority),
  • firefighters undergoing Reserve Forces Service

There are different scheme rules and levels of cover depending on:

  • whether you are employed as a whole-time firefighter or retained firefighter
  • the date that you became employed with the fire service 
  • the amount of service accrued.

Gratuity

A Gratuity is worked out based on a percentage of your ‘average pensionable pay’. The percentage is set, according to your degree of disablement. This is decided by an Independent Qualified Medical Practitioner (IQMP). It is then adjusted to take into account any part time service you may have worked during your employment.

The Injury Pension

An Injury Pension is worked out based on a percentage of your ‘average pensionable pay’. This percentage is set according to the degree of disablement determined by an IQMP and also, the amount of service that you've accrued. It is pro-rated to reflect any part-time service you have worked.

The Injury Pension Award is then reduced by:

  • 75% of your pre-commuted annual ill-health pension, where applicable, paid because of your injury under the FPS / NFPS. (If you've opted out of the NFPS, the percentage deducted would be 100%)
  • certain state benefits* that you're entitled to from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) that relate to the relevant injury. These are currently Employment Support Allowance and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

*Note: an injury pension qualifies as an underlying minimum income guarantee which is payable to 'top up' any DWP benefits that you may be entitled to. This ensures that an employee receives the determined minimum income level. If your DWP benefits are more than the injury pension minimum guarantee, then the injury pension will not be paid. A claim for relevant DWP benefits must be made. If no claim has been made, the maximum rate of benefit will be assumed and deducted in line with the Compensation Scheme Order 2006, unless written confirmation from the DWP is provided to confirm otherwise.

Injury on Duty

If you have sustained your injury whilst on duty, and the IQMP has certified that you are eligible for a duty related compensation you will receive:

  • a payment of 5 times pay plus
  • any other ill-health and injury entitlement. 

However, the following deductions will be made:

  • an amount or sum as considered appropriate if the injury was contributed to by serious and culpable negligence,
  • any compensation payment or damages received attributable to the qualifying injury,
  • any gratuities payable under the compensation scheme,
  • gratuities (lump sum by commutation) payable under the Firefighter' Pension Scheme 1992,
  • lump sums from Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006,
  • lump sums from Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015.

For further information, contact your fire authority.