Ill health retirement

[NLBC]

Hello

Is anyone here retired because of fibromyalgia or lupus or any other illness and getting ill health pension?

If so how did you go about it?

Thanks 

NLBC

[Sorebones]

I was ill health retired at 50. It wasn't my choice. I had been off sick for a year and wasn't allowed to return by Occupational Health. It was osteoarthritis rather than Fibro that was (and still is) the main problem.

So I'm not sure how or if you can choose to be retired. Hopefully someone who knows about these things will give you details 🐸

[NLBC in reply to Sorebones]

Thanks sorebones

[Sniffer8]

Hi NLBC

I was retired owing to ill health last year after 6 months on sick leave.  In my case Fibromyalgia is secondary to my spinal condition.  I'd had 2 previous long periods on sick leave and so had a history of difficulties.  Adjustments had been made via Occ Health and it got to a point where despite everyone's best efforts I couldn't continue.  I made sure I had Union representation and had several meetings with line managers who made the application to Occ Health asking if I met the criteria for ill health retirement.  I worked for the local authority so had to meet their criteria which can award different levels of pension depending upon likelihood of working before retirement age.  I was aged 56 at the time.

[Shepypie in reply to Sniffer8]

Hi Sniffer8 did you get ill health retirement and if so what tier. Im going through the self same thing.

[peck]

I am from the US but I've been disabled from work since 2001 with depression, bi polar, and anxiety.I had to use atty.I wish you the best. Peck.😊

[Riedenise]

Hi I have just been medically dismissed from my job last month. I too have been off 4 months leading up to this but was also off 5 months last year, which I returned on reduced hours, reasonable adjustments put in place. Occ. Health from the company interviewed me and put basically told my employers there was no way He or they could do anything else to bring me back into work, my Gp wrote them a letter saying there was no likely of me recovering sufficient enough for me to continue working and supports my medical retirement. Unfortunately I didn't meet the pension criteria as my work place pension started too late to be considered, though I medically met all conditions of the panel. So ive been medically dismissed instead, I have everything down in writing so this will help I hope in me going forward to claim ESA, I already have PIP. Oh I forgot to say I have rheumatoid Disease, fibro,Osteoarthritis, secondary Sjogrens.    I think it depends on each companys pension polycies, and the criteria they set. Its wether You meet their criteria.

[TheAuthor]

Hi my friend,

My wife has just been retired due to her Multiple Sclerosis as it has deteriorated recently. Her HR department where she worked at a local college put her in for it. They organised and sorted it all for her.

I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck. 

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[releasethemagic]

If you have only worked for one employer, the pension scheme rules should tell you what you need to know. They will spell out the definition of disability for ill-health retirement and how you qualify for it.  If you have had previous jobs and have final salary or career average pensions with those employers that come into payment at age 60 or 65, you should read the rules of those schemes too. Many pension schemes will allow a deferred pension to be paid early for health reasons, if you satisfy their definition of ill-health. They may ask you to see an Occupational Health Doctor to assess this. If the pension is paid early, sometimes it is reduced because it is being paid for more years. It depends on the rules of the scheme. Many schemes do not reduce the payments.

Evidence you will need to claim an ill-health pension could include GP records, letters from Hospitals and Consultants, any medical reports on your health, benefit assessments for ESA, PIP or DLA, insurance reports on your health and so on. The onus is on you to demonstrate clearly that you meet the criteria for ill -health retirement.

If you have a defined contribution pension arrangement, the rules will differ. You can access it from age 55 in any case, regardless of health. To access it earlier, you need to meet the ill-health definition used by the provider of the scheme.