The short answer: 3.5% from April 2027
The firefighters' pension schemes follow the public service pension increase rules. The LGA's scheme member website puts it simply: the amount of the increase is based on the CPI rate in the previous September. The ONS published that figure on 21 October 2026, and it was 3.5% (series D7G7). That is the expected increase for April 2027.
The increase is applied in April, on the first Monday on or after 6 April. In 2027, 6 April is a Tuesday, so the first Monday is 12 April 2027. Because the increase starts part-way through the month, April's payment includes only part of it, and you see the full new amount from your May payment.
Until the Treasury makes the annual order, 3.5% is the expected figure rather than a confirmed one. In each recent year the April increase has matched September CPI exactly, as the table further down shows. Your administrator writes once a year to confirm what the increase is worth to you.
Free toolSee your own pension, in today's moneyProject your firefighter pension, the lump sum and early-retirement ages, and check whether you are on track. Free, no sign-up.Open the free pension calculator →What a 3.5% increase is worth
Because the increase is a straight percentage of the pension you receive, the cash amount depends only on the size of your pension. The table shows a range of annual pensions. It applies to the pension in payment, not to any lump sum you have already taken, which is a one-off payment and is not increased.
| Annual pension now | Increase a year | Increase a month | New annual pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| £10,000 | £350.00 | £29.17 | £10,350 |
| £15,000 | £525.00 | £43.75 | £15,525 |
| £20,000 | £700.00 | £58.33 | £20,700 |
| £25,000 | £875.00 | £72.92 | £25,875 |
| £30,000 | £1,050.00 | £87.50 | £31,050 |
| £35,000 | £1,225.00 | £102.08 | £36,225 |
| £40,000 | £1,400.00 | £116.67 | £41,400 |
Simple arithmetic at 3.5%. Pension income is taxable, so the amount you keep depends on your other income and tax code. If you retired during the year, your first increase is only partial.
Who gets the increase
Not everyone receiving a firefighter pension gets the increase straight away. The scheme member website says people already receiving a pension normally get it if at least one of these applies:
- You are aged 55 or over at the date of the increase.
- You retired on ill-health grounds.
- You receive a spouse, partner or child pension.
- You are not receiving a fixed-rate gratuity only.
Retired before 55
Many firefighters retire before 55 under the FPS 1992 rules. The member website lists being 55 or over as one of the conditions, so if none of the other conditions applies to you, check with your administrator how and when increases will reach your pension.
Deferred pensions
If you left with a deferred pension, it is increased each April too, so its value keeps pace with prices until it comes into payment.
Retired part-way through the year
If you retired during the year, you receive only a partial increase in that first April. The full increase applies from the following year.
How 2027 compares with recent years
The increase follows September CPI, so it moves with inflation. Over the last eight years it has ranged from 0.5% to 10.1%. A 3.5% rise is close to the recent average and a little below April 2026's 3.8%.
| September CPI (ONS) | Rate | Increase from April |
|---|---|---|
| September 2019 | 1.7% | April 2020: 1.7% |
| September 2020 | 0.5% | April 2021: 0.5% |
| September 2021 | 3.1% | April 2022: 3.1% |
| September 2022 | 10.1% | April 2023: 10.1% |
| September 2023 | 6.7% | April 2024: 6.7% |
| September 2024 | 1.7% | April 2025: 1.7% |
| September 2025 | 3.8% | April 2026: 3.8% |
| September 2026 | 3.5% | April 2027: 3.5% (expected) |
CPI rates from ONS series D7G7. The April 2027 figure is expected until the Treasury's order confirms it.
Still working? Revaluation is different
If you are an active member of the FPS 2015 scheme, the pension you are still building is not increased by CPI. In England it is revalued each 1 April using an earnings-based figure set by the Treasury (it was 4.8% in April 2026), as our FPS 2015 guide explains. The April 2027 revaluation figure will be confirmed by that order, so do not assume it will be 3.5%.
The September CPI figure matters to you later: once your pension is in payment, or if you leave with a deferred pension, it is CPI that keeps it in step with prices. The free pension calculator lets you set your own revaluation and inflation assumptions and shows the result in today's money.
The State Pension is expected to rise by more: 3.9%
The new State Pension rises each April by the highest of earnings growth, September CPI or 2.5% (the triple lock). The ONS earnings figure used is total pay growth for May to July. For 2026 that was 3.9% (series KAC3), higher than September CPI of 3.5% and higher than 2.5%.
If the government applies the triple lock as usual, the full new State Pension would rise from £241.30 a week to about £250.70 a week from April 2027, around £13,000 a year. The government confirms the rate in the autumn, so treat this as an expectation for now.
Firefighter pensions and the State Pension therefore rise by different amounts next April: 3.5% and an expected 3.9%. Both count as taxable income, and the State Pension starts at your State Pension age, not when you retire from the service. Our guide to the firefighter pension and the State Pension explains how the two fit together, including the contracted-out years many firefighters have.
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings growth, May to July 2026 | 3.9% | ONS series KAC3 |
| CPI, 12 months to September 2026 | 3.5% | ONS series D7G7 |
| Minimum | 2.5% | Triple lock floor |
| Expected rise (highest) | 3.9% | £241.30 to about £250.70 a week |
What this means for your retirement decisions
Inflation-linked increases are one of the most valuable parts of a firefighter pension. Each year's increase is built into the pension and carried forward, so your income keeps its buying power for life. That is worth keeping in mind when you decide how much pension to give up for a tax-free lump sum: the cash is fixed, while the pension it replaces keeps rising with CPI.
If you are approaching retirement, the lump sum calculator shows what taking the maximum costs you each year, and the pension and lump-sum report compares retirement ages and commutation choices side by side in today's money, using an inflation rate you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How much will firefighter pensions increase in April 2027?
The increase is based on CPI for September 2026, which the ONS published as 3.5% on 21 October 2026. That points to a 3.5% increase from April 2027, applied from the first Monday on or after 6 April (12 April 2027). The Treasury's annual order confirms it.
When will I see the pension increase in my payment?
The increase starts on the first Monday on or after 6 April, so April's payment includes only part of it. You see the full new amount from your May payment.
Do I get the pension increase if I retired before 55?
The scheme member website says increases are normally paid if you are 55 or over at the date of the increase, retired on ill-health grounds, receive a spouse, partner or child pension, or are not receiving a fixed-rate gratuity only. If none applies to you, check with your administrator.
Are deferred firefighter pensions increased?
Yes. The scheme member website says pensions in payment and deferred pensions are increased each April.
Is my lump sum increased each year?
No. The tax-free lump sum is a one-off payment. Only the pension in payment is increased each April.
How much will the State Pension go up in April 2027?
Under the triple lock it rises by the highest of earnings growth (3.9% for May to July 2026), September CPI (3.5%) or 2.5%. If the government applies it as usual, the full new State Pension would rise from £241.30 to about £250.70 a week. The government confirms the rate in the autumn.
Primary sources
- ONS — Consumer price inflation, UK: September 2026
- ONS — CPI annual rate 00: all items (series D7G7)
- Firefighters' Pension Scheme member website (LGA) — pension increases
- ONS — Average weekly earnings, whole economy, total pay, three-month average growth (series KAC3)
- GOV.UK — The new State Pension: what you'll get