Prospective

Amendment to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015N.I.

5.—(1) The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(1) which establish the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 shall be amended as follows.

(2) In Part 1 (Preliminary), in regulation 3 (Interpretation) at the appropriate place insert—

““early payment reduction” has the meaning given in regulation 69A (early payment reduction);”.

(3) In Part 4 (Pension Accounts), in regulation 55 (Retirement amount of deferred pension) in paragraph (4), before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)the early payment reduction (if any);”

(4) In Part 5 (Retirement Benefits)—

(a)in regulation 69 (Annual rate of retirement pension (deferred members)) in paragraph (2), before sub paragraph (a) insert—

“(aa)the early payment reduction (if any), specified in that account in relation to that amount;”.

(b)after regulation 69 (Annual rate of retirement pension (deferred members) insert—

“Early payment reduction

69A.—(1) This regulation applies when an actuarial reduction is to be applied when calculating the annual rate of pension to be payable to a deferred member who has not reached deferred pension age.

(2) A deferred member (D) may claim a retirement pension to be paid after D has reached normal pension age and before D has reached deferred pension age.

(3) The actuarial reduction to be applied in a case falling in paragraph (2) is in accordance with actuarial guidance which reduces the pension on the basis that D had not reached deferred pension age. The actuarial guidance must have regard to actuarial neutrality compared to the present value of a pension payable at deferred pension age, with future increases between the date of D’s early retirement and deferred pension age being in line with increases under the 1971 Act.”.

(c)omit regulation 70 (Employer initiated retirement).

(d)in regulation 75 (Early payment of retirement pension to deferred member) after “(annual rate of retirement pension (deferred members))” insert “without subtracting the early payment reduction”.

(e)in regulations 78 (Commencement of pensions), omit paragraph (3).

(5) In Part 8 (Contributions), omit regulation 128 (Employer additional contributions: employer initiated retirement).

(6) In Part 12 (Determination of Questions of Appeal), in Chapter 2 (Appeal to independent medical referee), in regulation 164—

(a)for paragraph (3), substitute—

“(3) On receiving a notice of appeal the Scheme Manager shall supply the independent medical referee, as appointed by the Department, with a copy of the notice and a copy of the opinion.”;

(b)omit paragraphs (4) and (5);

(c)for paragraph (7), substitute—

“(7) The independent medical referee shall provide the Scheme Manager with the time and place for every interview and medical examination and give not less than 28 days notice of the appointment. If the independent medical referee is satisfied that the appellant is unable to travel, the place shall be the appellant’s place of residence.

(7A) The Scheme Manager shall provide the appellant with the time and place of the interview and medical examination and give not less than 21 days notice of the appointment.”;

(d)for paragraph (14), substitute—

“(14) The independent medical referee shall supply the Scheme Manager with a written report of his decision on the relevant medical issues and the Scheme Manager shall supply a copy of the report to the appellant.”;

(e)in paragraph (23), after “his last known place of residence” insert “or sent to him at an email address which he supplied”.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 5(1)(4)(c)(e)(5)(6) in operation at 9.1.2025, see reg. 1(1)

I2Reg. 5(2)(3)(4)(a)(b)(d) in operation at 9.1.2025 with effect from 1/4/2015, see reg. 1(2)