Special members of FPS 2006

Stakeholders will be aware of the category of members of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2006 (FPS 2006) known as “special members” who were introduced in 2014, following Matthews v Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority & others, which allowed retained firefighters employed between 1 July 2000 and 5 April 2006 to join the FPS 2006 with retrospective effect to 1 July 2000.

Following the introduction of the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000, a claim was made by a number of retained firefighters that they should receive equal treatment with full-time regular firefighters and thereby be able to access pension benefits under the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992 (FPS 1992). The claim proceeded through the Employment Tribunal and Court of Appeal before judgment was given in the House of Lords in favour of the retained firefighters.

Although, since 6 April 2006, retained firefighters have been eligible to join the FPS 2006, the House of Lords judgment allowed those who were serving during the period 1 July 2000 to the date on which they elected to join the FPS 2006, to have special provisions which generally reflect the rules of the FPS 1992. They could not be given backdated membership of FPS 1992 because that scheme is now closed. Consequently FPS 2006 was amended to introduce pension benefits for these "special" retained firefighters.

The relevant information relating to the two options exercise in 2014 and 2023 are shown on the relevant pages relating to each exercise.

The regulations for each exercise are within the drop down menu below: