Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Calculator
4 schemes · tiered by pay
FPS 1992, FPS 2006, FPS 2006 Modified, FFPS 2015
Calculate Your Take-Home Pay
UK firefighters have four pension scheme options depending on when they joined service and what protections they hold from previous schemes. All four are managed under the umbrella of the Firefighters' Pension Scheme (FPS) — administered locally by Fire and Rescue Authorities but with consistent rules across England.
FFPS 2015 (CARE) is the current scheme for all firefighters joining since 1 April 2015. It's a Career Average Revalued Earnings scheme — pension builds at 1/59.7th of pensionable pay each year, revalued annually by CPI.
FPS 1992 ("Old Scheme") and FPS 2006 (NFPS) are closed to new entrants. Members with protected service in these schemes retain their benefits for prior years; new service from April 2022 onward accrues in FFPS 2015 for all active members (the McCloud remedy unified all firefighters into the 2015 scheme).
FPS 2006 Modified ("Special") is the equivalent scheme for retained / on-call firefighters with protected pre-2015 service.
The banded structure is the feature most worth understanding, because it is unusual. In income tax, crossing a threshold only affects the income above it. In the FPS, crossing a contribution threshold raises the rate on everything. That means a small rise in pensionable pay just over £27,000 or £60,000 can leave a firefighter marginally worse off in take-home than before, which is the kind of thing worth checking in the calculator before agreeing to additional pensionable duties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which firefighters’ pension scheme am I in?
If you joined service after 1 April 2015, you're in FFPS 2015 (CARE). If you joined before, you have protected legacy benefits in FPS 1992 (joined before April 2006) or FPS 2006 (joined April 2006–March 2015). All new accrual from April 2022 is in FFPS 2015 regardless.
How much do firefighters pay into their pension?
Contribution rates are tiered by pensionable pay. FFPS 2015 charges 11% (up to £27k), 12.9% (£27–60k) or 14% (above £60k). FPS 1992 charges 12.47% / 14.9% / 16.25% at the same bands.
What is the FPS 2006 Modified scheme?
A variant of FPS 2006 for retained / on-call firefighters who became eligible to join a final-salary scheme. It uses the same contribution rates as FPS 1992 (12.47% / 14.9% / 16.25%).
Is overtime pensionable?
Yes. Pre-Arranged Overtime (PAO), CPD, FDS, and RDS retainer + activity payments all count as pensionable pay under FPS rules.
What does the McCloud remedy mean for firefighters?
Following a 2018 court ruling, all active firefighters were placed in FFPS 2015 from 1 April 2022 onward. Members with pre-2022 service in 1992 or 2006 schemes retain that service in those schemes; new accrual is in FFPS 2015 for everyone.
Are FPS contributions taken before tax?
Yes. The contribution comes out of gross pay before income tax is calculated, so £100 of contribution reduces take-home by about £80 for a basic-rate taxpayer. National Insurance is still charged on the full gross figure.
Are the contribution tiers marginal?
No, they are banded. Crossing a threshold raises the rate on all of your pensionable pay, not just the part above it, which creates small cliff edges where a modest rise in pensionable pay can cost more in contributions than it adds in gross.
Does overtime count towards my pension?
No. Pre-Arranged Overtime is not pensionable and does not affect your contribution tier. CPD payments and the Flexible Duty System addition are pensionable and do count towards it.
What about the 1992 and 2006 schemes?
Both are closed to new entrants but many serving firefighters retain benefits in them, and the McCloud remedy affects members with service either side of the 2015 reform. The calculator models current FPS 2015 contributions; legacy scheme benefits are a separate question.