Joining or rejoining the scheme
- How to join or rejoin
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You will be automatically enrolled in the 2015 Fire Pension Scheme when you start employment. If you have previously opted out of the scheme and you want to rejoin you can do so at any time.
To join or rejoin the scheme, contact your employer and ask them to start deductions from your pay.
Once you have started paying deductions, complete the relevant membership form and return it to Hampshire Pension Services.
Hampshire firefighters membership form
West Sussex firefighters membership form
If you are not a member of the scheme, every three years you will be re-enrolled in the scheme as part of your employer’s auto enrolment program.
If you have a previous deferred pension with the 2015 Fire Pension Scheme your benefits will be automatically joined together if there is no overlapping membership and the gap in service is less than five years.
- Contributions
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You contribute a percentage of your pensionable pay towards your pension. Your contribution rate is determined by your whole-time pensionable pay for the role that you hold even if you are part time or are a retained firefighter.
2024/25 rates (these rates have remained unchanged since 2018/19)
These rates are applicable from 1 April 2019.
Pensionable pay range Contribution rate Up to £27,818 11.00% £27,819 to £51,515 12.90% £51,516 to £142,500 13.50% £142,501 or more 14.50% Pension contributions receive tax relief which means that your contributions to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme are deducted from your pay and you are assessed for income tax on the remainder.
- Transfer in another pension
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A request to transfer pension rights from another public sector service pension scheme must be received by Hampshire Pension Services within 12 months of joining the scheme to ensure that Public Sector Transfer Club (“Club”) terms can be used for the transfer. If the request is received after the 12 month period, then non “Club” terms will be used. These are less favourable than “Club” arrangement terms.
A request to transfer pension rights from a non-occupational scheme (e.g. a private pension) must be received in the first 12 months of pensionable service and will always use non “Club” terms.
To start the process of transferring pension rights from another pension scheme follow the instructions in the Fire Transfer In booklet.
If you have previous membership of the Fire Pension Schemes with any Fire and Rescue Authority, complete the membership option form and return it to Hampshire Pension Services.