The scheme is a result of the merger of 4 separate schemes - the Clerical (CO), Executive (EO) and Health & Welfare, Local Government, Education and The Civil Service, Professional, Technical and Service grades Schemes from 1st June 2022.

It is the culmination of two years of work, where we tested the market and tendered the brokers and insurers. The result is a Salary Protection Scheme that is packed full of new benefits and designed to give our members and their families a financial safety net should they suffer ill health or death.

Power of the collective – for Clerical and Executive grades

Had the Schemes remained separate, the indications in the market were that there would have been significant increase in rates for all the Schemes. The Scheme merger will stabilise the price and brings to fruition a key element of Fórsa which is fairness and equal access to all in the Fórsa community.

• Members of the Executive & Clerical constituencies will now have access to avail of the full suite of benefits that were available to their colleagues e.g. Life Cover, Specified Illness, Retired Members Life Cover. The new Scheme will represent hundreds of different grades, professions and occupations.
• It will also address certain practical administrative headaches for Clerical and Executive members. Before the Scheme merger, Clerical officers had to apply to transfer upon promotion to the Executive Grades Schemes.
• Existing Executive & Clerical Scheme members will be provided with the additional benefits like Death Benefit, Specified Illness and MyDoc for the first 6 months from the date of the review at no charge and can opt out within this time and maintain the Income Protection Benefit only @1.44% gross.

From 1st June 2022, all Scheme members will be covered for the below benefits:

• Disability Benefit up to 75% of salary*
• NEW Death Benefit of typically two times your annual salary
• NEW Specified Illness Benefit that’s a once-off lump sum of 25% of annual salary for 55 Specified Illnesses **
• NEW Partial Payment Specified Illness Benefit - a once-off lump sum of €12,500 or 12.5% of annual salary (whichever is less) for one of the 36 less severe, but still life altering, conditions
• NEW Children’s Specified Illness Benefit - an additional benefit of €15,000 if your child suffers a Specified Illness or €7,500 if your child suffers a Partial Payment Specified Illness
• NEW Fórsa MyDoc - an easy phone and online healthcare service for you, your spouse/partner and dependent family members living with you. Now you can book free consultations, get prescriptions, sick certs or referrals
• Terminal Illness Benefit - 25% of Death Benefit, Accidental Death Benefit - €15,000, Children’s Death Benefit - €5,000
• NEW Breast and Prostate Education and preventative programme run through Beaumont and Bon Secours hospital
• NEW Tax Return Service for claimants
• NEW Will Service for members

Change in cost of membership

Existing Executive & Clerical Scheme members will be provided with the additional benefits like Death Benefit, Specified Illness and MyDoc for the first 6 months from the date of the review at no charge and can opt out within this time to maintain the Income Protection Benefit only at 1.44% gross. Cornmarket, the administrators of the merged Scheme will write to members in due course to notify them of the changes. The cost of full membership is 1.99% of gross salary with effect from 1st December 2022. This means Scheme members can avail of the new benefits for 6 Months FREE!

In summary, and to be clear. the new scheme commences in June and all existing schemes members automatically transfer to it. Cover is automatic as set out above. In the period to 1 September 2022, all Clerical and Executive Grades members of the scheme can exercise an option to retain Income Continuance only at the lower rate of 1.44%. Until 1 September, the current rates will continue to apply for Clerical and Executive members of the scheme.

Cornmarket’s team are available to help you. To speak to a member of their team about a query or a claim:

• Queries and questions: (01) 408 6280 or spsadmin@cornmarket.ie
• Claims: (01) 408 4018 or spsclaims@cornmarket.ie

For the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, full list of specified illnesses covered, and the policy definition/criteria of each illness, a new Scheme summary booklet will be available at cornmarket.ie/forsa in due course.

*less any other income that you may be entitled to (e.g. half pay, Ill Health Early Retirement Pension, Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration, State Illness Benefit or State Invalidity Pension).** There is only one Specified Illnesses Benefit and one partial claim per member per Scheme)