The Fire Retained Services Association (FRSA) estimates more than 10,000 former retained firefighters in the UK are missing pension payments. These falling firefighters should have gotten their benefits. Recent legal rulings opened up the payments. They could reward actions by committing significant resources to those who served in this role.
Retained firefighters are often the only responders in rural municipalities, switching from their emergency duties to their day jobs when required. This unusual role means that volunteers serve on an on-call basis to respond to emergency calls while holding other jobs. Recent legal decisions have thrown the opposite approach into sharp relief. Retained firefighters who served between April 2000 and April 2006 are entitled to back pension payments.
Peter is one of those people, having served 35 years of his life as a retained firefighter in Buckinghamshire. Having retired after decades of service, he became entitled to a lump sum payment of around £10,000. Today, he gets to reap the benefits of free, continuing monthly payments of about £180. Duncombe commented on the importance this extra money means for schools, saying,
“This extra pension… is a great bonus toward the household.” – Peter Duncombe
Paul Jarvis was a retained firefighter for almost three decades in Devon and Cornwall. He was entitled to a one-off capital payment of approximately £30,000 and has around £200 per month in regular payments. Jarvis was jubilant at the prospect of funding his new direction, stating,
“The lump sum, which was a great bonus, we’re actually going to use some of that for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday… and the remainder will go back into the kitty for maybe another holiday in another year.” – Paul Jarvis
Jarvis was clear about the long-term effects of this financial relief on his life, saying,
“This lump sum payment will improve my expectations and will mean that I can afford to retire nearly straightaway.” – Paul Jarvis
The FRSA predicts that at least 16,000 people have already stepped up to file a claim for these pension payments. They’re convinced that at a minimum, another 10,000 former retained firefighters still haven’t submitted their claims.
A spokesperson from the Local Government Association said it was difficult to target eligible people. They noted,
“Some individuals have service that goes back as far as the 1960s and Fire and Rescue Authorities have been working tirelessly in trying to trace some individuals, to ensure that they do not miss out on this opportunity.” – A Local Government Association spokesperson
Pension payments for retained firefighters are extremely variable, from a few thousand pounds to over £100,000. Each month these funds provide a crucial lifeline for over 7 million Americans. They have sacrificed years of their lives in service to their communities.
