The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

The Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 (“ the Order ”) amends the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (Scotland) Order 2007 ( S.S.I. 2007/199 ) (“ the Scheme ”). The schedule of the Order makes various amendments to the Scheme relating to retained firefighters. These include amendments to introduce new awards which are payable following the death of a retained firefighter, to extend the deadline for their purchase of service during the extended limited period and to amend the eligibility criteria for some awards and conversions.

Paragraph 1 introduces the term “retained firefighter opt-out member” and amends the definition of the “extended limited period” for these members. Paragraph 6 allows a retained firefighter opt-out member, or the spouse, civil partner or child of a retained firefighter opt-out member who is deceased, to make an application for any additional sums that might be payable to them as a result of the change to the definition of the extended limited period.

Paragraph 2 amends rule 1A(8) (special member’s ordinary pension) of Part 3 to expand the categories of member to whom a lump sum is payable under that rule.

Paragraph 3 introduces the missed pension lump sum grant and the survivor’s missed pension lump sum grant. It includes details of restrictions to be applied in respect of both grants. It also changes the eligibility criteria in rule 1C (additional death grants) so that those eligible to join the Scheme under rule 6A (election to purchase service during the limited period or the extended limited period) of Part 11 (pensionable pay, pension contributions and purchase of additional service), in addition to those who elected to join it, will be eligible for the additional death grant. Finally, it updates the deadlines for applications for the death grant for the extended limited period and the additional death grant to 17 September 2026.

Paragraph 4 amends rule 6B (election to purchase service during the limited period or the extended limited period: supplemental provision) of Part 11 to update the deadline for making an election to purchase service to 17 September 2026.

Paragraph 5 amends rules 17 (converting membership from standard membership to special membership) and 18 (converting membership from standard membership to special membership – special pensioner members) of Part 12 (transfers into and out of the Scheme) to extend the categories of members eligible to convert their standard membership to special membership. It also introduces additional provision in relation to converting membership from standard membership to special membership and provision in relation to converting membership from standard membership to special membership in respect of special pensioner members who were previously special deferred members.

No business and regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for this Order as no impact upon business, charities, or voluntary bodies is foreseen.