I thought I'd just write a few words explaining what the Forces Pension Society is and what we do.

National newspapers, television and radio have reported the Forces Pension Society’s campaign in its fight for fairness for the Armed Forces, serving and retired; in particular for those who will be hardest hit by the Government’s changes to Armed Forces pension schemes.

The Forces Pension Society is a not-for-profit organisation and is the only independent, authoritative source of occupational pension advice. Through our Pension Helpline we deal with hundreds of queries every month; many of them complex, many from widows and those with young families. And increasingly we deal with queries about when to exit (and when not to) and what future pension entitlements may be expected.

Forces Pension Society represents the interests of all ranks in all three Services. On behalf of the whole military community we promote the Unique Nature of Military Service and adherence to the Military Covenant. Every new Member of the Forces Pension Society strengthens our collective voice (now well over 40,000 Members).

In addition to our advisory service we also offer our Members a wide range of discounted goods and services, from holidays to healthcare, currency exchange to home insurance.

Membership for you and your partner is just £30 a year and if you join us online now, we will send you this holiday voucher worth £150 (conditions apply). Just quote promo code ARS2011.

Why not have a browse round our site and then, if you are interested, join us online at The Forces Pension Society and quote the code

I've been a member since 2004; excellent organisation who really know their onions.

do they know if we are gonna get fucked with Huttons little announcement made today?

For OP. Would appreciate a PM when convenient. I signed up to your organisation a couple of weeks ago (via t'internet) and have yet to receive any acknowledgement or a package through the post. I leave the regulars in a few weeks on completion of service.
Regards

We had a good look at the Hutton Report on Thursday when it was released and our General Secretary was on BBC radio by 3pm giving his first impressions.

Lord Hutton is recommending that a new pension scheme be introduced by 2015 featuring career averaging and a Normal Retirement Age of 60. Career averaging means that the pension built up in any one year is a proportion of pay which increases in line with pay or prices (he has left that for Schemes to sort out) rather than the year being counted as being at your final earnings. It is a design that doesn't favour high-flyers but is not bad for those who are promoted more slowly.

FPS will be working to ensure that whatever scheme is adopted, Service personnel get the best possible scheme.

Been a member of 15+ years already, so too late for my holiday voucher I guess!!

Good to see you here, and I recommend membership to anyone getting towards exit date [or even already gone!].

Originally Posted by Forces Pension Society

We had a good look at the Hutton Report on Thursday when it was released and our General Secretary was on BBC radio by 3pm giving his first impressions.

Lord Hutton is recommending that a new pension scheme be introduced by 2015 featuring career averaging and a Normal Retirement Age of 60.

Is there any indication whether 'grandfather rights' will apply?

I would be surprised if MOD had got as far as considering that yet. Probably still digesting the 217 report.

Where does MOD stand wrt employment law and changing terms of service outwith consultation? The law is quite clear but the MOD seems to ride roughshod every time - is this because we don't have a 'contract' as such and can't pursue action through ETs & the like?

MOD have to consult with the Central Advisory Committee on changes to the pension or compensation scheme, having first got their proposals past the Principal Personnel Officer for each of the Armed Forces, and the Forces Pension Society are on that Committee. I can tell you that, for AFPS 05, FPS were very involved in its design and some of the improvements in AFPS 05 (eg. dynamisation) were thanks to their pressure.