The Matthews Remedy follows legal rulings under the Part Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000. These rulings first led to the Matthews First Options Exercise, which allowed certain retained firefighters with service between 1 July 2000 and 5 April 2006 to opt into the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme.
Later court decisions confirmed that, where eligibility criteria are met, retained firefighter service from the start of employment may be taken into account.
Eligibility for the Matthews Second Options Exercise is triggered by having retained firefighter service between 7 April 2000 and 30 June 2006.
Where eligibility is confirmed, members may be able to buy back pension service to the start of their retained employment.
As a result, the Fire & Rescue Authority is carrying out a comprehensive exercise to allow eligible retained firefighters to purchase this service as a special member of the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2006, with service backdated where applicable.
Work continues to progress on the Matthews Second Options Exercise. This progress is reflected in recent Board papers and highlight reports. These are regularly shared with the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Local Pension Board and published as part of the meeting papers. Members can refer to the January 2026 highlight report (see below) for the most up to date position.
Extension to the exercise
The government has confirmed a final extension to the Matthews Second Options Exercise, with a new closing date of 31 March 2027. This extension gives eligible members additional time to consider their options and allows cases to be processed carefully and accurately.
While there have been some limited changes to the scope of the exercise - including specific arrangements for certain groups, such as some deceased members - the original eligibility dates have not changed.
It is important to note that 31 March 2027 is the final deadline. All processes will need to be completed by this date and there will be no further opportunity to join the scheme after this date.
Contacting eligible members
Members who met the original eligibility criteria, where we are aware of them, have been contacted. If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria and have not been contacted, email fire.pensions@westsussex.gov.uk.
Those who are impacted by the recent changes to the scope of the exercise, will be contacted directly by the team. Where a member has passed away, contact will be made with their next of kin as appropriate.
Support available to members
A range of support materials is available to help members understand the exercise and their options, including:
- frequently asked questions on the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme Matthews Remedy website
- member guidance produced by the Local Government Association
- a dedicated podcast explaining the exercise and available options
Progress updates
Because of the complexity of the remedy and the differences between individual cases, we cannot provide progress updates for specific cases. Our dedicated team continues to review each case carefully. We prioritise accuracy and work through statements as quickly as possible.