Dear Brother/Sister
Pensions Immediate Detriment Claims Update
All Members circular 2022HOC0281MR issued 6 June 2022 detailed how members should lodge claims with the union in relation to “immediate detriment” cases – that is, members who have already retired and who have been paid their pensions and lump sums under the terms of the 2015 Firefighters’ Pension Scheme when they should have been paid under the 1992 Scheme terms. It also applies to members who will retire in the near future and who are likely to find themselves in the same position.
Following the issuing of the circular over 750 Fire Brigades Union members registered claims with the union. Claims are being drafted by Ivan Walker and his legal team, this work is well advanced. Members will appreciate that logistically this is a large task which requires the drafting of separate and individual pleadings for each claim. When reviewing the claims received it became apparent that a number of these claims related to members who had retired under the ‘Rule of 75’ in FPS 1992 which means that an ordinary pension is payable to an active Firefighter at age 50 or over with at least 25 years’ service, these claims are a lot easier to issue and are being issued.
Members should be reassured that claims are progressing.
Discussions with the Local Government Association (LGA) on a revised Immediate Detriment Memorandum of Understanding have reopened and an agreement is likely; the issue will then become getting each FRA to follow it, we will continue to issue claims against those that don’t.
Yours in unity,
Mark Rowe
National Officer
