The Fire Brigades Union Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme (PO-13339)

Ombudsman’s Determination

Outcome

Mr M’s complaint is upheld and to put matters right the FBU should pay him a lump sum equivalent to the difference between the lump sum he was paid at retirement and the lump sum he would have received had the appropriate commutation factors been available at the time.

My reasons for reaching this decision are explained in more detail below.

Complaint summary

Mr M has complained that his contract of employment stipulated that his pension provision should be comparable to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (FPS) but the FBU has declined to apply revised FPS lump sum commutation factors.