Consultation launched on Regulation 36 ill-health benefit provisions

The Home Office has published a consultation on proposed changes to Regulation 36 of the Police Pension Scheme 2015.

Regulation 36 allows a scheme manager to determine that a member is not eligible for ill-health retirement benefits because of a pre-existing medical condition. Where this applies, the member pays a lower rate of pension contributions and does not build up entitlement to ill-health retirement benefits.

Following a legal challenge, the Home Office has identified that Regulation 36 may be discriminatory. The consultation seeks views on proposals to remove the regulation so that all active members can build up entitlement to ill-health retirement benefits in the future. As part of this change, members currently subject to Regulation 36 would pay the full member contribution rate rather than a reduced rate.

The consultation also asks for views on whether removing Regulation 36 could have any unintended consequences or wider impacts across the Police Pension Regulations. A separate consultation on any retrospective changes for members previously affected by Regulation 36 may follow at a later date.

The consultation runs from 20 August 2026 to 17 September 2026. The Home Office is keen to hear from serving and former police officers, as well as anyone with an interest in police pensions.

You can read the consultation and submit your views on GOV.UK