Has anyone successfully applied for Ill Health Retirement? I have been diagnosed with fibro but also have a degenerative spine condition.

[clzee]

My health has deteriorated drastically over the last 12 months. The impact of fibro has stopped my ability to be able to work. Does anyone have any tips or pointers on what to put down as I am sure there are set criteria to meet for teachers

[wolvesguy]

I've never heard of I'll health retirement sounds interesting as I suffer from fibro and m.e and depression I've just been put into the support group of e s a

[Lruk]

I am a teacher and, like you, my health has deteriorated drastically. My LA sent me to their occupational health service due to my absence from work and it was they who suggested medical retirement as they felt it was unlikely I would return to full fitness in the foreseeable future. That was in November and the process is unlikely to be completed until May/June time.

To date I have seen the occupational nurse 3 times then the occupational doctor who recommended counselling as part of the treatment. I am seeing the counsellor later this week. Once the counselling is finished they have to submit a written report. My GP was also asked for an report. I then have to see the occupational health doctor again. He then compiles a report along with all the other reports and this then goes to some higher body who finally say yes or no. Given that I can access my pension later this year it is unlikely to be no as I also have lymphoedema and both that and fibro come under the equalities act which means they cannot sack me for being off a lot if there are some reasonable adjustments they can make to help me remain at work, which costs money.

Apparently there are 2 possibilities in terms of ill health retirement. I can get my pension as it stands or have it increased by half the time between now and when I should have retired if I was not ill. It is very unlikely I will get any extra, but who knows. I hope that helps a bit and good luck. Linda

[clzee in reply to Lruk]

Hi Linda

Thankyou so much for sharing this with me. I wish you all the best with your application.

[linlit]

I have just recived mine after 4 hyears of trying this was down to my old dr surgery being crap and sending wrong info i am just about to do a post for some advice about this

[clzee in reply to linlit]

Hi linlit

Really interested to hear more. Ive been turned down for dla as my Dr says I have no mobility issues even after repeatedly telling her I cant walk without being in agony on the days I can walk! She just thinks if she can cure my depression all the other symptoms will go.

[suffolklass]

Hello

I was lucky enough to get medical retirement because of fibro 10 months ago, so relieved. It took me over a year to get through the process. As with Linda I had to see occupational health, nurses, doctors. When they gave possible "cures", such as exercise programmes or CBT then I followed their advice but submitted further evidence to my progress. Or in relation to the exercise my lack of, or rather my worsening.

With the spinal problem you should hopefully have an easier route.

You should be able to find out the requirements for ill health retirement, union reps will be able to help you if you can't find it. Give details of your worst days, be totally brutal. I found that the hardest as I hadn't totally accepted it myself.

Good luck

Is x

[clzee in reply to suffolklass]

Thanks Is - your post gives me hope thank you

[suffolklass in reply to clzee]

Just don't give up and fight all the way to the end! X

[woodbon]

I had it given to me. After a long period off sick and then a return to work for about six months, then off again, I was awarded the same level of pension as if I had worked until 65. I was a carer, employed by the local County Council and paid into their scheme. Its not a lot, just over a hundred pounds a month, but it is something and I had worked there for 7 years. I had no choice though, I wanted to go back but the occupational health doctor together with reports from other doctors treating me refused permission. It was a heavy job, and my back was suffering, which can be a danger to other workers and patients. I don't think that schem is still around, now.

[woodbon]

My advice would be to get the support of your GP to write a report. Write down all the things you would not be able to do or would need lots of help with. Talk to your line manager about the difficulties and pain you are suffering at work. Thats it really, you can aslo ask other employees if your lake of health effects them in the job you do, ie give them more work and stress, and if they do find it hard to do their jobs when they have to keep stopping to help you and their health is effected , make sure they tell their line manager! Thats it really.

[TheAuthor]

Hi clzee

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I personally do not know of anyone who has, but I am sure that it must be possible? I was wondering if you have a union where you work? As this would probably be the first place to start?

If you haven't it may be worth talking to the CAB? The NHS also have a section on this on their website, I have pasted you the link below:

nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1308.aspx

Good luck with this and please keep us all up to date with how you get on?

Take care

Ken

[clzee in reply to TheAuthor]

Thanks Ken been terrible last few months with all the stress.

I do have a good union but they say it is a major undertaking to achieve. Its mad when you want to work but the difficulties with fibro make it impossible. I really appreciate everyones help here. This website is amazing. I suppose I have nothing to lose.

Thanks for the link Ken I will keep you updated

[TheAuthor in reply to clzee]

Thank you clzee

I know it is not easy to achieve, there have been several members just recently trying to do the same thing and finding it really difficult.

Good luck

Ken

[fibro]

Without seeing you in person it would be difficult to say apart from it depends on the individual rules of your pension scheme as to what the rules are for early retirement on health grounds. Every pension scheme is different. So first you need to Di some homework. Then obtain as much medical evidence from any consultants that you have seen with them confirming that you are unable to work dye to your conditions. But again what you need is to find out what you need to get pension but I do know they won't take the word if a GP. It can only come from a consultant. Plus you will be seen by their own occupational health doctor and most get turned down initially unless you are terminally ill. It can take a couple if years from start to finish by the time it goes to appeal. This is my experience of it. But then again everyone is different I guess. Good luck of you apply xx

[clzee in reply to fibro]

Thank you for your advice. I dont have much of an option as although I have a husband who works we rely on both salaries to survive. Such a worry.

[fibro in reply to clzee]

It isn't an easy decision. I know xxx

[Jeff1958]

I was retired by West Yorkshire Police , 10 years ago , I would suggest long term sick , so your doctor will endorse your sick notes , if its similar to me , I was sent for a private medical , and the doctor who did the examination put on the letter this man will never work again , it was great till I saw ATOS , and they said I was fit , no tears that they are going .

[clzee in reply to Jeff1958]

Thanks Jeff

[Anniekins1957]

Hi I'm 56 years old and managed to get my works pension at 51 on grounds of ill health. It wasn't easy though at first I was refused by first Doctor the local council sent me to as I worked in local government

I persisted and had a second opinion and got it.

Having said all of this I would have prob taken a different route had I have known what I know now.

I'm still on high rate incap and get a very small pension under a hundred pound a month.

I pay some rent bedroom tax and council tax it's been more hassle to have my pension than what it's worth tbh.

Also I'm waiting any day to be kicked of incap as when you have a medical it depends how you are on the day.

My life is up and down I've just had a good six months and now my ex who is the father to my twenty year old son has had a big heart attack ! I seem back to square one again and feel awful at the min.

Don't give up on your pension if this is what you want! If your pension is over a certain amount and you get incap then it's taxable after a certain amount. CAB very helpful for advice . Anne

[Maggiemay55]

I got ill health retirement at the age of 48 . I was a nurse and had several years of on and of sickness due to a shoulder problem which is now replaced with an artificial joint and still troublesome due to nerve pain. They saw that this wouldn't improve and I got the retirement on these grounds, I have since developed fibro. The main point I had to show that my problems would not improve in the future to enable me to work, my consultant gave a letter to the pensions agency supporting this and I'm sure that this allowed the ill health retirement to go ahead. I feel that this is something that has to be proved to enable ill health retirement to go ahead , so try to get as many of the Health care professionals that are involved in your care to support for application in writing to them. Good luck hope it goes as smoothly as mine did .