Top queries

What are the types of cover?

The type of cover provided by the Fund depends on the cover that you have from other public sector superannuation schemes. Your coverage may be Full, Partial or None as described below:

Permanent firefighters

A permanent firefighter who is: Cover
  • a member of SSS or is a member of SASS and has Additional Benefit Cover (ABC) under SASS and who has elected NOT to be covered by the D&D Award; or
  • is aged 67 or over
 No cover
  • not outlined above as qualifying for no cover
 Full

Retained firefighters

A retained firefighter who: Cover
  • is aged 67 or over
 No cover
  • because of their primary employment, is:
    • a member of SSS, PSS, the LGSS or EISS Division D “Defined Benefit Scheme”, the JPS, PCSF, PBRI; or
    • is a member of SASS who has Additional Benefit Cover under that scheme or is a member of LGSS or EISS Division B “Retirement Scheme” with additional benefit cover
 Partial
  • is not outlined above as qualifying for no or partial cover
 Full

If you are unsure of your cover please contact us.

What are the contributions?

Contributions are based on the Deemed Salary which is based on the Qualified Firefighter salary. Contribution amounts are submitted to the Fund as per the table below:

Employment status Cover Contribution % of deemed salary Fortnightly contribution as at 26/02/2023
Permanent firefighter Full 0.8% $27.83
Retained firefighter Full 0.5% $17.40
Retained firefighter Partial 0.2% $6.96

Note: as the Qualified Firefighter salary increases so will the annual contribution amount. The above figures are based on the Qualified Firefighter rate as at 26 February 2023.

How does this impact my concessional superannuation contribution cap?

Contributions for Retained Firefighters and salary sacrifice contributions for Permanent Firefighters count towards the member's concessional superannuation contribution cap (in 2024/25 this is $30,000 per annum irrespective of age).

The employer contributes to the Fund on behalf of members in addition to the contributions advised above. The Australian Taxation Office may require these contributions to be allocated amongst the members as a superannuation contribution that counts towards the member's concessional superannuation contribution cap.

The additional amount of superannuation contributions allocated to members will be determined each year.

What are the definitions of TPI and PPI?

TPI means that the member is unlikely, by reason of ill-health (whether physical or mental) to ever again engage in gainful employment for which the member is reasonably qualified by education, training or experience.

PPI means that a firefighter is no longer fit to carry out the full range of his/her pre-injury duties within Fire & Rescue NSW.

What are the definitions of 'on duty' and 'off duty' injuries?

An on-duty injury means personal injury arising out of or in the course of employment as a firefighter and includes a disease which is contracted by a firefighter in the course of his/her employment as a firefighter and to which the employment was a contributing factor, and the aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any disease, where his/her employment as a firefighter was a contributing factor to the aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration but does not include a personal injury or disease arising out of or in the course of journeying to or from work subject to the proviso that a Retained Firefighter responding to an incident shall be considered to be on duty from the time of call.

An off-duty injury means any personal injury or disease which is not an on-duty injury.

What about PPI benefits?

PPI claims are administered by Fire & Rescue NSW. They can be contacted on (02) 9265 2800.

Complaints and Disputes

In accordance with government legislation, the Trustee has implemented an arrangement under which a member may inquire into or complain about the operation or management of the Fund. Information regarding making a complaint or dispute can be found in the attached information sheet.