Northern Ireland has signed off changes to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (S.R. 2026 No. 73), setting new member contribution bands from 1 May 2026. The Department of Health has updated the 2015 regulations to better reflect pay for serving crews.

For on‑call (retained) and volunteer firefighters, the band used to set contributions will be based on actual annual pensionable pay from 1 May 2026, replacing the reference pay used between 1 April 2015 and 30 April 2026. Part‑time regulars will also move from whole‑time equivalent to their actual annual pensionable pay.

From the 2027/28 scheme year, earnings bands will be uprated automatically if the Consumer Prices Index shows a rise, using the September‑to‑September figure. The numbers are rounded up to the nearest £1, and the Department may opt for another recognised UK prices index if required.

The regulation was made on 1 April 2026 under the Public Service Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2014, after consultation with affected representatives and with the consent of the Department of Finance. It was sealed by senior officials Jim Wilkinson (Health) and Patrick Neeson (Finance), with a report laid before the Assembly.

A new contribution table will apply from May pay onwards. Scheme administrators will match each active member to the appropriate band based on their actual annual pensionable pay, rather than historic reference or whole‑time equivalent figures.

For the period 1 April 2015 to 30 April 2026, the previous method stays on the record: reference pay for retained and volunteer firefighters, and whole‑time equivalent for part‑time regulars. From 1 May, the scheme’s wording moves decisively to actual earnings.

The Department’s note states no impact assessment was produced because no effect is expected on the private or voluntary sectors. The change is confined to public service members and scheme administration.

This regulation applies only in Northern Ireland. It does not alter firefighter pension contribution rules in England, Scotland or Wales, but chiefs across the North will likely compare the switch to actual pay as a marker for how schemes treat on‑call and part‑time staff.

Members should check their May payslip, confirm which band their actual annual pensionable pay falls into, and watch for the first CPI‑linked uplift due at the start of the 2027/28 scheme year, based on the September 2026 inflation reading.

According to the legislation published on legislation.gov.uk, any annual uplift from April 2027 is rounded up to the nearest pound, not down. For those close to a threshold, that rounding can make a small but noticeable difference.