Dear K T Soloman

 

FOI Request Reference: 000568/15

 

Thank you for your request for information, received 19/02/2015. I
apologise for the length of time it has taken to provide this response.

 

REQUEST

 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I wish to ask the following
questions in relation to the calculation process of Police Injury On Duty
Pension banding calculations. I ask this as there appears to be different
ways of calculating this throughout the UK.

 

a) Is a theoretical/notional earning figure (sometimes referred to as a
Police Earnings Assessment Matrix **PEAM**) used in the calculation of
Police Injury On Duty Pensions in West Midlands?

 

b) Is this figure which is normally a monetary value utilised in a formula
by the Selected Medical Practioner to calculate a banding of the injury
pension.

 

c) If this PEAM figure is used, at what part of the process is it used? Is
it used in the initial (first) part of the injury on duty pension
assessment to use as one of the multipliers or is this used

when a review of an IOD pension is taking place?

 

I ask this as I am aware some Police Services throughout the UK use this
theoretical earning figure at differing parts of the process of
calculating IOD pension bandings, some use it during the very first part
of the process at the very first IOD pension assessment and some only use
it at the point of a review instigated by the IOD pensioner or by the
Police Pension administrator.

 

It is clear that not using this theoretical earning figure at the very
first assessment will possibly result in a higher banding with solely the
SMP disablement percentage used for the banding i.e. 25% (band 1), 44%
(band 2), 75% (band 3) & 90% (band 4).

 

I ask, at which point do West Midlands Police IOD pension administrator
use this theoretical earning figure and could an example of the formula or
examples of the formulas be given. Is the theoretical figure used during
the very first part of the IOD calculation or is it only used during a
review process?

 

Is the use of this theoretical earning figure in such calculations lawful
and what law/ legistlation/ guidance is used. If it is lawful what
law/legistlation/guidance is followed?

 

I understand that under The Act I am entitled to a response within 20 days
working days within your receipt of this request.

 

If there any parts of this FOI that cannot be answered could a reason be
given for this, if my request is denied in part or fully I respectfully
request that a full explanation be given for this

and ask that any deletions are justified with reference to specific parts
of The Act.

 

Please acknowledge receipt of this FOI request and I look forward to your
reply in the near future.

 

 

RESPONSE

 

The West Midlands Police do not use a theoretical/ notional earning
figure. Pensions are informed by the level of disablement. The levels are
as follows; 25%(slight or less), 25 – 50 % (minor), 50 – 75 % (major),
over 75% (major). The disablement band is then used in conjunction with
years of service to determine the percentage of average pension-able pay
(best of the last three years) to be paid.

 

As recommended as good practice by the Information Commissioner’s Office a
version of this response may be published on the West Midlands Police
website.

 

For further information and data on West Midlands Police see our
publication scheme and disclosure log

 

[1]http://foi.west-midlands.police.uk/

 

Your attention is drawn to your right to request a re-examination of your
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date of this correspondence.

 

If you require any further information, then please do not hesitate to
contact me.

 

Yours sincerely,

Courtney Martin
Freedom of Information Unit

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