ILL HEALTH RETIREMENT

[HeatherAnne]

has anyone been granted ill health retirement with the condition Fibromyalgia/CFS etc?

[Hidden]

Hi HeatherAnne I retired in July from NHS with these conditions it took 2 attempts but I am told the pension company try it on to see if you will go away! if you need anything further just ask.

[HeatherAnne in reply to Hidden]

thank you so much - my gp says I cant work - the 1st OH doc I saw said the same and to apply for early retirement on ill health grounds - it was sent to an independent that just threw it out saying I could well get better before retirement age - I am 60 now!

Told work HCC I would appeal to their surprise - went for another apt 2 weeks ago and they have thrown it out again! says I could improve after my persistent pain course so that I could work 30 hrs/week! Dream on.

[Hidden in reply to HeatherAnne]

That,s utter rubbish, fibro/cfs Is chronic disease and does not improve to a level you could carry on working without exacerbating the problem. You could do with your consultant and g.p and a physio if you have one to put this in writing for you (it may cost you but its worth it) Try to find yourself a solicitor that offers free legal advise 1st apt to back your appeal.. Good luck.

[HeatherAnne in reply to Hidden]

Have had a phone call to say the HR lady wants a meeting arranged with me asap as SHE is going on holiday and she wants to get the ball rolling re me leaving - is advising a mutual agreement - how insulting

[Hidden]

I thought that's what pip was ?

[HeatherAnne in reply to Hidden]

PIP is personal independent payment - I was awarded that - this is obtaining my pension early due to sickness -

[Hidden in reply to HeatherAnne]

Ok thanks

[TheAuthor]

Hi @HeatherAnne

I am so genuinely sorry to read that your application has failed and I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[HeatherAnne in reply to TheAuthor]

thank you so much x

[loraine12]

Hi I applied for retirement on I'll health grounds two years ago, I was told' apply or we will dismiss you anyway'. They turned me down, I worked for 40yrs with only a few days sick leave in all that time. I am now awaiting the final appeal with specialists letters, pain clinic letter, psychologist report and proof of my PIP letter which granted me the top rate for mobility and care. I will let you know how I get on as appeal 4-6 woks ends at the end of this month. I should add that I couldn't pay pension contributions all my career so my pension is only enough to replace benefits which I hate being dependant on. Hope you get on better than I have so far, Loraine x

[HeatherAnne in reply to loraine12]

had all my letters and proof etc - still got turned down because haven't completed my pain course yet - and that could cure me miraculously to the extent I could work min 30 hrs/week! been turned down twice now

[loraine12 in reply to HeatherAnne]

I know its all wrong, I was told people recover from fibromyalgia and until someone says that I will never be able to return to my substantive roll then I don't qualify. I was an independent chair for child protection , now I struggle to remember this morning and they think I will recover!!! What a joke as if id rather have £100 a wk benefit rather than my £50,000 job. I'll keep you posted on my appeal x

[HeatherAnne in reply to loraine12]

believe me I am going to fight it if I can xx

[Elijah2014]

I want to leave work at 5yrs old and take my pension.. would love to retire on medical grounds..sick and tired of this blooming pain..x

[releasethemagic]

I got medical retirement with Fibro, both from a previous employer (BT) where I had a frozen pension, and from my most recent employer. BT put me through a medical examination with an independent occupational health assessor. My most recent employers had a pension scheme with an insurance company so the insurance company made the decision. They were as awkward as it is possible to be. In the end I spent £3,500 on a medical report from an independent pain management specialist. The insurance company relented and granted me the pension. I complained to them that their failure to assess the pension claim properly had forced me to spend the money on the report and I thought they should have paid for it. After some to-ing and fro-ing and the threat that I would go to the Financial Ombudsman for a ruling, they reimbursed me for the whole cost.

So do not give up. Use every avenue at your disposal to complain about the unfairness of not being awarded medical retirement, when you are too ill to work. If you are in a Trades Union, involve them too.