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<p>It is not possible to introduce fitness regulations as part of the pension regulations
in the absence of an agreed and universally applied national firefighter fitness standard
in England. The statutory principles that we put in the Fire and Rescue National Framework
for England came into force on 12 January 2015. To underpin these the National Employers
have sought further discussion with the Fire Brigades Union in respect of additional
guidance relating to the position already agreed in principle within the National
Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services about the role fire authorities
will take in supporting operational employees to maintain their fitness. In addition,
the National Employers are looking to discuss with the unions, guidance on application
of the factors set out in Pension Regulations for fire authority consideration in
relation to Authority Initiated Early Retirement. Both approaches are expected to
provide reassurance to operational employees that fire authorities will continue to
treat their employees in a fair and consistent manner.</p><p>We will review the implementation
of the National Framework principles in three years time and consider then whether
further action is needed. In the meantime no firefighter will have to work beyond
their current expected retirement date until 2022 at the earliest. Our expectation
is that a firefighter of 55 or over who finds themselves in the situation of losing
their fitness through no fault of their own, is unable to regain their fitness, and
for whom there are no redeployment opportunities, should be offered an unreduced pension.</p><p>Where
underlying medical reasons have been identified that restrict or prevent an individual
from achieving the necessary fitness standards for undertaking their role as a firefighter,
the individual should be referred to occupational health, and must receive the necessary
support to facilitate a return to operational duties. The fire and rescue authority
should also fully explore opportunities to enable the individual to remain in employment,
including through reasonable adjustments and appropriate redeployment within the role,
where it appears the medical condition prevents a return to operational duties. In
those circumstances, where there are no such opportunities or suitable alternative
employment is unavailable, then the fire and rescue authority will commence the formal
assessment for ill-health retirement by referring the case to the Independent Qualified
Medical Practitioner. Where it is determined that a firefighter is permanently unable
to continue in their role as a firefighter they would become entitled to the immediate
payment of a lower tier ill-health pension. In addition to this, they would also receive
a higher tier ill-health enhancement if it was also determined that they could not
undertake any regular employment. The definition of ill-health is wide, and includes
both physical and mental conditions, including arthritis and post-traumatic stress
syndrome. It is important to note that, where a firefighter is deemed eligible for
medical retirement, the authority must pay the ill-health pension - there is no discretion.</p><p>Any
firefighter will continue to be free to choose to retire from 55 onwards should they
wish to, regardless of their fitness. In such circumstances, any benefits accrued
in the 1992 and 2006 firefighters' pension schemes would be paid in full, while benefits
earned in the 2015 scheme would be actuarially reduced by 21.8 per cent for a firefighter
retiring on their birthday at 55, and reduced on a daily basis thereafter. The actuarial
reduction of 21.8 per cent at age 55 compares very favourably with a reduction of
over 40 per cent applied to firefighters at the same age in the 2006 scheme. The 2006
scheme also introduced a normal pension age of 60. Overall, our measures give firefighters
one of the most generous pensions in the public sector and the strongest protections
available for any public sector workforce on fitness and ageing.</p>
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