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Proposals for fairer police compensation system
An overhaul of the police injury compensation system to target officers most in need of support and meet the demands of modern policing, were set out in a consultation launched by Home Office Minister Tony McNulty today.
Measures in a new review include extending survivor benefits when an officer dies in the line of duty to unmarried and same sex partners. Survivor benefits to bereaved spouses or partners will also be made payable for life, where previously financial support was stopped on remarriage or cohabitation.
The plans would simplify parts of the injury awards system for both administrators and officers, and would contain a new approach to considering injury awards. One proposal is for a new clearer definition of what qualifies as an injury, to remove any confusion and ensure the retention of valuable reassurance for officers knowing they are covered even when they have to make split-second decisions in the line of duty.
Policing Minister Tony McNulty said:
"I am committed to ensuring we have an injury compensation system suitable for the challenges of modern day policing which recognises the demanding and sometimes dangerous roles that police officers carry out.
"I hope the changes will provide peace of mind and assurances to police officers and their families, while ensuring the system is as effective as possible, administered consistently and targets help where it is needed most."
The consultation covers the criteria for eligibility for an injury award and the structure of benefits for officers and their families. It also examines changes which would help police authorities administer and monitor the injury benefits system more effectively.
Other key proposals include:
* Simplifying injury and survivor awards so they are easier to understand and apply. For instance, if an officer dies or is totally disabled within one year of an injury in the line of duty, financial support will as a matter of course receive five times their pensionable salary. Currently financial support is based on four times the officer's actual total salary if that worked out to be a lesser amount.
* Making injury and death payments fairer. The pensionable salary on which lump sum awards are based will be changed so that it is based on average pensionable pay. This will take account of a person's working hours averaged over his or her police career rather than simply the pensionable pay at the time the officer ceased to serve. This would make the system fairer for officers who have not worked full-time throughout their career or have reduced their hours shortly before the injury.
* Revising the eligibility criteria and clarifying the definition for injuries received in the line of duty. This clarification will mean officers will be specifically covered for injury benefits as a result of a terrorist attack and will focus benefits on those injuries received in the line of duty. Proposals will also include withdrawing cover for injury or death sustained on a journey to or from work where the cause was not related to police duty - to bring injury benefits for the police service in line with injury benefits for other public servants.
* Clearer definition of eligibility to apply for injury awards. In order to make a clearer link with police duty proposals include introducing a five year time limit for new post-retirement claims, except in the case of specified progressive illnesses and specified conditions with a long incubation period.
* Introducing an absolute cut-off for new claims at age 65 or State Pension Age at the time if over 65.
* Replacing injury pension reviews at age 65 (or the State Pension Age at the time if over 65) by introducing a new minimum retirement income guarantee. Previously officers injured early in their career could have suffered a large reduction in financial support in their retirement if the review took them to the lowest pay banding. The new income guarantee will protect them from this.
* No longer paying injury pensions in cases where a former officer has suffered only a very slight loss of earning capacity as a result of the injury. In cases where the loss of earning capacity is ten percent or less the former officer will receive a lump sum payment in recognition of the injury. This will allow benefits to be targeted where they are needed most.
Proposals announced today will not affect officers who have already retired at the point the changes are implemented. They will still be dealt with under the system as it currently stands, even if they have not yet applied for an award.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Police injury benefits are payable separately from the Police Pension Scheme to officers who have left the service and are permanently disabled as a result of an injury received in the line of duty.
2. The consultation will run for 12 weeks, ending on 18 November.
3. Key changes to the injury benefits system aim to be agreed by December 2008 so they can be implemented as soon as possible in 2009.
