Firefighters' ill-health pension options limited
A new Order that came into force on 13 September 2004 will make it harder for operational firefighters to retire early on an ill-health pension if they are fit for non-operational duties and their employer can find them suitable alternative work.
Government's tough line on ill-health benefits
The changes to ill-health pension arrangements in the fire service reflect a wider government policy to reduce rates of early retirement in many areas of the public sector, and are mirrored by similar proposals for the police, armed forces and local government.