All new recruits to the Fire Service become members of the Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 which is a Career Average Revalued Earnings Scheme (CARE).

A CARE scheme pension is calculated using a portion of your Annual Pensionable Pay each year and adding this to your CARE pension pot. The portion used is 1/59.7 and each year the pot is increased by inflation (Average Weekly Earnings index). There is also the option to convert some of your annual pension to give you a tax free lump sum.

Your benefits are based at age 60 but you can access these at 55 with reductions. For more information on the Firefighters Pension Scheme 2015 please see the section on the menu called ’2015 Scheme’.

10 Benefits of Membership

1. Free money from your employer – your employer shares the cost, and will contribute around twice as much as you do to the Scheme. You do not benefit from that money without participating in the scheme.
2. Tax free savings – tax relief on all your contributions, even on extra payments you make to top up your benefits.
3. Increased quality of retirement – start now for a bigger pension on retirement.
4. No investment risk – a pension based on your pay and length of service.
5. Protections and security – protections for you in case you have to draw your benefits early through ill health; and protection for your loved ones in the form of pensions for dependents.
6. Life cover, no medicals required – life cover of 3 years pay.
7. No hidden fees or charges – you simply contribute a percentage of your pay.
8. Tax free lump sum – can be taken in addition to a regular pension.
9. Pensions increased with inflation – the value of your pensions in payment is protected.
10. Saving for retirement is crucial – maintain your lifestyle in retirement.

West Yorkshire Pension Fund Election to Join

West Yorkshire Pension Fund Transfer In Factsheet and Forms

If you want to opt out of pension saving please visit the "Leaving" section of West Yorkshire Pension Fund's website to access the relevant forms, but before you do here are 10 great reasons to remain a member of the scheme.

1. Free money from your employer - your employer shares the cost, and will contribute around twice as much as you do to the Scheme. You do not benefit from that money without participating in the scheme.
2. Tax free savings – tax relief on all your contributions, even on extra payments you make to top up your benefits.
3. Increased quality of retirement – start now for a bigger pension on retirement.
4. No investment risk – a pension based on your pay and length of service.
5. Protections and security – protections for you in case you have to draw your benefits early through ill health; and protection for your loved ones in the form of pensions for dependents.
6. Life cover, no medicals required – life cover of 3 years pay.
7. No hidden fees or charges – you simply contribute a percentage of your pay.
8. Tax free lump sum – can be taken in addition to a regular pension.
9. Pensions increased with inflation – the value of your pensions in payment is protected.
10. Saving for retirement is crucial – maintain your lifestyle in retirement.

The Firefighters’ Compensation Scheme (England) Order 2006 came into force on 1 April 2006. It provides for the payment of compensation to members of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 1992 (or those who were entitled to be members but chose to opt out) who have suffered disabling injuries.

Pension Tracing Service (PTS) is a free service which aims to help people find pension schemes they have ‘lost touch’ with. This may have happened because of a change in employment or a company may have changed its name. Whatever the reason, Pension Tracing Service may have the required information.

They have access to a database of over 200,000 occupational and personal pension schemes and can be used to search for schemes and their up to date contact details. Pension Tracing Service, Room TB214, Tyneview Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1BA, tel 0845 6002 537.

To access the PTS online application form click here.

You may also find the following websites useful:

• West Yorkshire Pension Fund
• The National Association of Retained Firefighters
• The Fire Fighters Charity
• Department for Work and Pensions
• HM Revenue and Customs
• Pensionwise
• Money & Pensions Service
• The Pensions Ombudsman