Firefighters RDS modified scheme
Death grant
If a member of FPS 2006 dies in service, a death grant would be payable. For special firefighter members this would normally be the greater of:
(a) 2 times actual (retained) pensionable pay at the date of death, expressed as an annual rate, or
(b) 2 times a proportion of the pensionable pay of a whole-time regular firefighter in a similar role.
In the case of (b), the proportion would be based on the total pensionable service credited to the special firefighter at the date of death, and his/her total qualifying service.
For example, if the firefighter had 5 years 291 days (5.7973 years) of qualifying service (the "calendar length" of Scheme membership) of which 1.6915 years counted as pensionable, and a whole-time regular firefighter in an equivalent role would be on an annual rate of pensionable pay of £28,000, (b) would be assessed as:
2 x 1.6915/5.7973 x £28,000 = £16,339.33
Apportionment would also be applied if the firefighter was covered by the "two-pension" option following a reduction in pay.
If a FPS 2006 pensioner member dies under age 75 having received a pension for less than 5 years, there would be a post-retirement death grant based on the difference between the amount of pension received and the pension that would have been payable over the 5 year period. Because all the adjustments for variable-time service will have been made at the time of a retained firefighter's retirement, no special arrangements are necessary. This would apply also where the pension in payment was a deferred pension, but no death grant is payable if a deferred pension has not come into payment.
The fire and rescue authority have absolute discretion as to whom to pay the death grant but you may nominate the person(s) that you would wish to be the recipient(s). The authority would take your wishes into account when making their decision.
