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As a member of the Firefighters Pension Scheme, your surviving partner, and children are entitled to survivors benefits in the even of your death. These benefits differ depending on which Firefighters’ Pension scheme you’re in.
You’ll find more information on Scheme Specific Death and Family Benefits below.
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FPS 2015 (CARE) Scheme Death and Family Benefits:
From the commencement of your employment within Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service you are automatically covered by the Scheme’s Life Assurance Benefits.
Pensions for Surviving Partners can be paid to:
· A legal Spouse; or
· A Registered Civil Partner; or
· A Nominated Partner with whom you have an exclusive long-term committed relationship of at least two years and upon whom you are either financially dependent or inter-dependent.
A Partner Nomination form is required to nominate a ‘Non-legal’ partner. This can be found on our website.
The benefits payable will depend on you circumstances when you die.
You should inform your Next of Kin or personal representative of the benefits that may be payable in the event of your death.
Survivor Pensions:
When you die, a pension will be paid to your surviving spouse, civil partner, nominated partner or child. The amounts payable would depend on whether you are a serving member, your pension is deferred or you’re already receiving a pension from the scheme.
Spouse’s or partner’s pensions are payable for life. Children can receive a pension from the scheme until they’re 18 – or until they’re 23 if they’re still in full-time education. Children are no longer eligible if they marry, form a civil partnership or take up paid employment. Children who are permanently disabled at the time of the firefighter’s death may be entitled to receive a pension for life. Full eligibility details are available from the BSO.
For serving members, survivor pensions are based on the higher-tier ill-health pension the member would have received if they’d retired on health grounds on the date of their death.
For people who have left the 2015 Scheme, survivor payments are based on the deferred pension entitlement.
For members who already receive a pension from the 2015 Scheme, survivor pensions are based on value of the member’s pension before any reduction for early payment but after commutation. (Commutation is giving up an amount of pension payable in retirement in exchange for a lump sum.)
In each case, the survivors are entitled to the following proportion of the member’s entitlement:
Spouse or partner: Half
Single child: Quarter
More than one eligible child: Half, shared equally between the children
If the spouse or partner is more than 12 years younger than the deceased, the spouse or partner’s pension will be reduced by 2.5% for every year (or part year) above the 12 years, to a maximum of 50%.
If the deceased leaves no eligible spouse or partner but there is an eligible child or children, an additional pension would be paid to the child/children equivalent to that which would have been paid to an eligible spouse or partner. If there is more than one child the additional pension would be divided equally between the children. This pension stops when the children are no longer eligible.
First thirteen weeks’ top up
For the first 13 weeks following death, the spouse’s or partner’s pension will be topped up to the level of the deceased’s pensionable pay (death in service) or the pension in payment (death after pension comes into payment). This top-up does not apply in the case of a deferred pension. If no spouse’s or partner’s pension is payable but a child’s pension is due, the top-up would be applied to the child’s pension.
Death grant
Scheme members who are actively paying into their pension when they die in service normally qualify for a death grant equal to three times their pensionable pay.
There are some exceptions to this including taking account of variable working hours. In this case, the death grant is the greater of:
3 x part-time rate of pensionable pay based on hours at date of death, or 3 x whole-time pensionable pay x pensionable service/qualifying service.
Similarly, if you have a split pension, the death grant would be the greater of:
3 x pensionable pay at date of death, or 3 x pensionable pay based on a proportion of the pensionable pay at the date at which the pension was split and at the date of death.
Although you can nominate who you would like to benefit, the BSO has absolute discretion as to who will receive the death grant.
Post-retirement five year guarantee
In the event of death within five years of a pension coming into payment, there’s a five-year guarantee. This means any balance between pension payments already paid and the total that would have been paid in the first five years of retirement, would be paid as a lump sum.
The method of assessment of this guarantee is to multiply the annual value of your pension (after any reduction for early payment but before commutation) by five, then deduct any lump sum payments and the total amount of pension that’s already been paid. Again, the Fire and Rescue Authority has absolute discretion as to whom the ‘guaranteed’ portion should be paid but they may take into consideration any person you have specifically nominated.
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FPS (2007) Scheme Death and Family Benefits:
From the commencement of your employment within Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service you are automatically covered by the Scheme’s Life Assurance Benefits.
Pensions for Surviving Partners can be paid to:
· A legal Spouse; or
· A Registered Civil Partner; or
The benefits payable will depend on you circumstances when you die.
You should inform your Next of Kin or personal representative of the benefits that may be payable in the event of your death.
Each of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme’s have nuanced benefit system. Please see the following information which relates to your scheme:
Survivor pensions
When you die, a pension will be paid to your surviving spouse, civil partner or child. The amounts payable would depend on whether you are a serving member, your pension is deferred or you’re already receiving a pension from the scheme.
Spouse’s or partner’s pensions are payable for life. Children can receive a pension from the scheme until they’re 18 – or until they’re 23 if they’re still in full-time education. Children are no longer eligible if they marry, form a civil partnership or take up paid employment. Children who are permanently disabled at the time of the firefighter’s death may be entitled to receive a pension for life. Full eligibility details are available from the BSO.
For serving members, survivor pensions are based on the lower and higher-tier ill-health pensions the member would have received if they’d retired on health grounds on the date of their death.
For people who have left the FPS 2007 Scheme, survivor payments are based on the deferred pension entitlement.
For members who already receive a pension from the FPS 2007 Scheme, survivor pensions are based on value of the member’s pension before any reduction for early payment but after commutation. (Commutation is giving up an amount of pension payable in retirement in exchange for a lump sum.)
In each case, the survivors are entitled to the following proportion of the member’s entitlement:
Spouse or partner: Half
Single child: Quarter
More than one eligible child: Half, shared equally between the children.
First thirteen weeks’ top up
For the first 13 weeks following death, the spouse’s or partner’s pension will be topped up to the level of the deceased’s pensionable pay (death in service) or the pension in payment (death after pension comes into payment). This top-up does not apply in the case of a deferred pension. If no spouse’s or partner’s pension is payable but a child’s pension is due, the top-up would be applied to the child’s pension.
Death grant
Scheme members who are actively paying into their pension when they die in service normally qualify for a death grant equal to two times their pensionable pay.
There are some exceptions to this including taking account of variable working hours. In this case, the death grant is the greater of:
2 x part-time rate of pensionable pay based on hours at date of death, or 2 x whole-time pensionable pay x pensionable service/qualifying service.
Similarly, if you have a split pension, the death grant would be the greater of:
2 x pensionable pay at date of death, or 2 x pensionable pay based on a proportion of the pensionable pay at the date at which the pension was split and at the date of death.
Although you can nominate who you would like to benefit, the BSO has absolute discretion as to who will receive the death grant.
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NFPS (2007) Death and Family Benefits:
From the commencement of your employment within Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service you are automatically covered by the Scheme’s Life Assurance Benefits.
Pensions for Surviving Partners can be paid to:
· A legal Spouse; or
· A Registered Civil Partner; or
· A Nominated Partner with whom you have an exclusive long-term committed relationship of at least two years and upon whom you are either financially dependent or inter-dependent.
A Partner Nomination form is required to nominate a ‘Non-legal’ partner. This can be found on our website.
The benefits payable will depend on you circumstances when you die.
You should inform your Next of Kin or personal representative of the benefits that may be payable in the event of your death.
Each of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme’s have nuanced benefit system. Please see the following information which relates to your scheme:
Survivor pensions
When you die, a pension will be paid to your surviving spouse, civil partner, nominated partner or child. The amounts payable would depend on whether you are a serving member, your pension is deferred or you’re already receiving a pension from the scheme.
Spouse’s or partner’s pensions are payable for life. Children can receive a pension from the scheme until they’re 18 – or until they’re 23 if they’re still in full-time education. Children are no longer eligible if they marry, form a civil partnership or take up paid employment. Children who are permanently disabled at the time of the firefighter’s death may be entitled to receive a pension for life. Full eligibility details are available from the BSO
For serving members, survivor pensions are based on the higher-tier ill-health pension the member would have received if they’d retired on health grounds on the date of their death.
For people who have left the NFPS 2007 Scheme, survivor payments are based on the deferred pension entitlement.
For members who already receive a pension from the NFPS 2007 Scheme, survivor pensions are based on value of the member’s pension before any reduction for early payment but after commutation. (Commutation is giving up an amount of pension payable in retirement in exchange for a lump sum.)
In each case, the survivors are entitled to the following proportion of the member’s entitlement:
Spouse or partner: Half
Single child: Quarter
More than one eligible child: Half, shared equally between the children.
If the spouse or partner is more than 12 years younger than the deceased, the spouse or partner’s pension will be reduced by 2.5% for every year (or part year) above the 12 years, to a maximum of 50%.
If the deceased leaves no eligible spouse or partner but there is an eligible child or children, an additional pension would be paid to the child/children equivalent to that which would have been paid to an eligible spouse or partner. If there is more than one child the additional pension would be divided equally between the children. This pension stops when the children are no longer eligible.
First thirteen weeks’ top up
For the first 13 weeks following death, the spouse’s or partner’s pension will be topped up to the level of the deceased’s pensionable pay (death in service) or the pension in payment (death after pension comes into payment). This top-up does not apply in the case of a deferred pension. If no spouse’s or partner’s pension is payable but a child’s pension is due, the top-up would be applied to the child’s pension.
Death grant
Scheme members who are actively paying into their pension when they die in service normally qualify for a death grant equal to three times their pensionable pay.
There are some exceptions to this including taking account of variable working hours. In this case, the death grant is the greater of:
3 x part-time rate of pensionable pay based on hours at date of death, or 3 x whole-time pensionable pay x pensionable service/qualifying service.
Similarly, if you have a split pension, the death grant would be the greater of:
3 x pensionable pay at date of death, or 3 x pensionable pay based on a proportion of the pensionable pay at the date at which the pension was split and at the date of death.
Although you can nominate who you would like to benefit, the BSO has absolute discretion as to who will receive the death grant.
Post-retirement five year guarantee
In the event of death within five years of a pension coming into payment, there’s a five year guarantee. This means any balance between pension payments already paid and the total that would have been paid in the first five years of retirement, would be paid as a lump sum.
The method of assessment of this guarantee is to multiply the annual value of your pension (after any reduction for early payment but before commutation) by five, then deduct any lump sum payments and the total amount of pension that’s already been paid. Again, the Fire and Rescue Authority has absolute discretion as to whom the ‘guaranteed’ portion should be paid but they may take into consideration any person you have specifically nominated.
-
NFPS (Modified) Death and Family Benefits:
From the commencement of your employment within Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service you are automatically covered by the Scheme’s Life Assurance Benefits.
Pensions for Surviving Partners can be paid to:
· A legal Spouse; or
· A Registered Civil Partner; or
· A Nominated Partner with whom you have an exclusive long-term committed relationship of at least two years and upon whom you are either financially dependent or inter-dependent.
A Partner Nomination form is required to nominate a ‘Non-legal’ partner. This can be found on our website.
The benefits payable will depend on you circumstances when you die.
You should inform your Next of Kin or personal representative of the benefits that may be payable in the event of your death.
Each of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme’s have nuanced benefit system. Please see the following information which relates to your scheme:
Survivor pensions
When you die, a pension will be paid to your surviving spouse, civil partner, nominated partner or child. The amounts payable would depend on whether you are a serving member, your pension is deferred or you’re already receiving a pension from the scheme.
Spouse’s or partner’s pensions are payable for life. Children can receive a pension from the scheme until they’re 18 – or until they’re 23 if they’re still in full-time education. Children are no longer eligible if they marry, form a civil partnership or take up paid employment. Children who are permanently disabled at the time of the firefighter’s death may be entitled to receive a pension for life. Full eligibility details are available from the BSO.
For serving members, survivor pensions are based on the higher-tier ill-health pension the member would have received if they’d retired on health grounds on the date of their death.
For people who have left the New Firefighters’ Modified Scheme 2007, survivor payments are based on the deferred pension entitlement.
For members who already receive a pension from the New Firefighters’ Modified Scheme 2007, survivor pensions are based on value of the member’s pension before any reduction for early payment but after commutation. (Commutation is giving up an amount of pension payable in retirement in exchange for a lump sum.)
In each case, the survivors are entitled to the following proportion of the member’s entitlement:
Spouse or partner: Half
Single child: Quarter
More than one eligible child: Half, shared equally between the children.
If the spouse or partner is more than 12 years younger than the deceased, the spouse or partner’s pension will be reduced by 2.5% for every year (or part year) above the 12 years, to a maximum of 50%.
If the deceased leaves no eligible spouse or partner but there is an eligible child or children, an additional pension would be paid to the child/children equivalent to that which would have been paid to an eligible spouse or partner, disregarding any age reduction. If there is more than one child the additional pension would be divided equally between the children. This pension stops when the children are no longer eligible.
First thirteen weeks’ top up
For the first 13 weeks following death, the spouse’s or partner’s pension will be topped up.
If the member dies in service, the top up will bring the level of spouse or partner’s pension up to the level of the firefighter’s pensionable pay. If no spouse’s or partner’s pension is payable but a child’s pension is due, the top-up would be applied to the child’s pension. In the case of death after retirement, or after a pension has been put into payment, the top up brings the level of the spouse or partner’s pension up to the weekly rate of pension being received by the retired firefighter at the date of death.
The first thirteen weeks’ top-up does not apply in the case of a deferred pension.
Death grant
Scheme members who are actively paying into their pension when they die in service normally qualify for a death grant. For special firefighter members this would normally be the greater of:
2 x actual pensionable pay at the date of death, expressed as an annual rate, or 2 x a proportion of the pensionable pay of a whole-time regular firefighter in a similar role. The proportion would be based on the total pensionable service credited to the special firefighter at the date of death, and their total qualifying service.
Post-retirement five year guarantee
In the event of death after a pension has come into payment, there’s a five year guarantee as long as the member is aged under 75 at the time of their death. This means any balance between pension payments already paid and the total that would have been paid in the first five years of retirement, would be paid as a lump sum.
The method of assessment of this guarantee is to multiply the annual value of your pension (after any reduction for early payment but before commutation) by five, then deduct any lump sum payments and the total amount of pension that’s already been paid. Again, the BSO has absolute discretion as to whom the ‘guaranteed’ portion should be paid but they may take into consideration any person you have specifically nominated.
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Notifying us of a Members Death
If your spouse/partner/relative has been receiving a Firefighters’ pension and they die then you need to notify HSC Pensions, to ensure that benefits and any death grant are paid correctly.
Please let us know the following details:
- Their name
- Their National insurance number
- Details of their spouse/partner/next of kin
- Contact details for those dealing with their estate
It is important that HSC Pensions is notified as the member’s estate will be liable for any overpayments made.
HSC Pension Fund can be contacted by calling 028 71 319 111
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Nominating a Partner
Introduction:
The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (2015) has provision within the scheme regulations for a “Surviving Partner”. These provisions are a form of Life Assurance should a Member or Pensioner of the scheme pass away.
What are the criteria for a Surviving Partner?
Under the scheme regulations a Surviving Partner is a “Person is a surviving partner in relation to a member if, at the date of the Member’s death, that person is –
1) The spouse or civil partner of the member;
2) Cohabiting with the member and –
· Is not married or in a civil partnership with that member, and
· Is not the spouse or civil partner of any other person, and
· Could enter into a marriage or civil partnership under the law of Northern Ireland with the member but has not done so,
· Is financially dependent on the scheme member, or is, with the scheme member, in a state of mutual financial dependency, and
· Is in a long-term relationship with the scheme member.
‘Long-term relationship’ is a relationship that has continued for a period of at least two years prior to the date of the members death.
If at the time of the members death if the member has the above criteria are satisfied and at the date of death the member has qualifying service of more than three months the surviving partner is entitled to a surviving partners pension.
The Surviving partner may also be eligible to receive a death grant equal to three times the members pensionable pay figure.
Then annual rate of a survivor’s pension is 50% of that of the deceased members pension benefits should the member have been granted higher tier ill-health retirement on the date of their death. Should the deceased member have pension benefits from a legacy scheme then half the amount of additional pension benefits is added to the annual rate of the surviving partner’s pension.
Members can download the Partner Nomination Form (PN1) or complete and submit the online form here. When the PN1 form has been completed it should be returned to BSO in order for your record to be updated.
The PN1 form must be completed and signed by the member and also signed by the nominated partner. At this stage we will not require evidence of financial interdependency. However, this will be required if the Nominated Surviving Partner claims a survivors pension in the event of the members death.
If the relationship with a Nominated Partner comes to an end the member should inform BSO for the purposes of updating your record and amending the Partner Nomination.
Brewster case – right of an unmarried partner to receive survivor’s pension benefits as those of a married partner.
On 8th February 2017 the Supreme Court ruled in relation to the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee that a surviving unmarried co-habiting partner should be afforded the same rights as surviving married or civil partners when ascertaining eligibility for a survivor’s pension. Access to the full ruling can be found at https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2014-0180.html
As a result of this ruling and from that date, it is no longer mandatory for unmarried Co-Habiting members of the HSC Pension Scheme to submit a PN1 form to nominate their partner to receive a survivor’s benefit in the event of their death.
HSC Pension Service recommends that as a matter of good practice and to ensure the prompt payment of survivor’s benefits that unmarried co-habiting members should still submit the PN1 form to nominate their partner to receive a Survivors pension. However, this is not mandatory.