Ill-Health Retirement

This Conference is concerned that many Fire Authorities are using the Disability Discrimination Act, and the amendments to The Firefighters Pension Scheme implemented in September 2004 to prevent our members retiring on ill health. Members who have no prospect of returning to operational duty are being forced to either return to work in unsuitable day duty positions, or are being faced with the prospect of resigning from the Service following prolonged periods on half pay, or no pay, with subsequent loss of pension entitlements. Conference instructs the Executive Council to carry out a national study into the scale of this problem and to produce a report within 6 months of the close of this Conference.