applying for I’ll health retirement

[redcharlie]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I was wondering if anyone has applied for ill health retirement. I have been off sick for over 2 years. I work in the NHS as a nurse. I have been encouraged by HR to apply. I was off sick with Long Covid and was then diagnosed with fibromyalgia in May 2022. I filled out the forms and sent to occupational health how had previously stated that they would support ill health retirement. However the OH doctor stated that there is not enough evidence to show that my condition will last until my retirement age of 60, I an 55 years. I know it is very didpfficult to get ill health retirement but I just don’t know what to do next. It’s so stressful if feel like just not bothering. It difficult to find any doctors to say how long fibromyalgia will last. Originally a different doctor from OH said that they would contact the Rheumatologist that diagnosed me, but this new doctor obviously is not going to do this. Not sure if I should contact the Rheumatologist myself, but I was discharged after diagnoses. At present I am having cognitive behavioural therapy and have been referred to a fibromyalgia clinic to help with symptoms. Has anyone had any experience like this. Many thanks

[CM1EDSUK]

Hi - sorry you're no longer able to work as a nurse. It can be difficult to get ill health retirement as you've found. There's some info here, which you may already know about: rcn.org.uk/Get-Help/RCN-adv...

and here: nhsbsa.nhs.uk/member-hub/ap... if you look at the first 2 pdfs under 'Ill health.'

Have you also considered whether to claim any benefits such as PIP or Universal Credit? There's also New Style ESA if you have made sufficient NI contributions in the last 2 financial years, i.e. up to April 2022.

You could try doing a benefits check here: benefits-calculator.turn2us...

[redcharlie in reply to CM1EDSUK]

Thank you for the info. I have already looked at this and much more. I'm thinking I need to try and get in touch with the rheumatologist myself and ask if he can do a letter stating that fibromyalgia is a life long condition.Thank you.

[CM1EDSUK in reply to redcharlie]

I managed to hit 'reply' too soon, but have edited to add a little more info, which 'may' help. It's a difficult situation for you.

[angelm54]

Could you just clarify a few things , you say retirement age at 60, retirement age is 66 and you won’t get a state pension till then, also what benefits are you getting now, if any or is it just sick pay, there are some things you could claim but without knowing more I can’t clarify what they would be.

[redcharlie in reply to angelm54]

Thank you for your post. I have an NHS pension which I can get at 60. I can also take it at 55 which I am now but will loose a percentage which I can not afford to do as you say I can not get my state pension until I an 67 which is 12 years away so I have to ensure I make the right decision for the long term I do get PIP and ESA at present but there is no guarantee that these will continue and I am concerned about the long term as I have been told that I will have fibromyalgia for life so don't know if I will ever be able to return to nursing as I suffer severe symptoms.

[angelm54 in reply to redcharlie]

ah ok, you would be better staying with ESA and PIP as long as you can then, having been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia , this will be on your medical records and all the proof you need to stay on this benefits for now, poor health retirement is much more difficult to get , hope this helps but other people will know more about getting it , good luck x

[R-OD]

Hi, I was given ill retirement from March 22 after occ health said I was no longer able to continue in my current role. I was an Estate Manager for Local Authority. My union suggested I write to my consultants and ask them to support the application. So you should definitely contact your Rheumatologist to write a letter of support. I was lucky that the medical officer agreed and reported back that I should be given tier one benefits, I am also 55. Getting ill health retirement is very stressful and I really feel for anyone going through it. Good luck with it 🤗

[redcharlie in reply to R-OD]

Thank you for the support. I hope to get started on the letter today.

[Jan1964]

I was successful taking NHS early retirement on ill health but also have a neurology restriction that is permanent. The OH doc had reports for both the neurologist and rheumatology. It was still a long and painful process and after a significant fall in work, (community nursing) they finally agreed. I was off on sick leave for almost three years, pay stopped after 18months so was desperate by the time they paid out. It was about two months after agreement that I finally got my pension. I would write to the consultant, or ask your GP for copy letters or the GP can write to the consultant. My Neurologist sent a harsh cutting letter, basically saying "who are you to question diagnosis. It's sad that the caring professionals are not supportive when staff are unwell. Good luck 🤞 xx

[redcharlie in reply to Jan1964]

Thank you. I will also write to my Gp. I feel that I have worked for the NHS all these years also as a community nurse. I caught covid at work ended up with long covid then diagnosed with fibromyalgia but feel that it is so hard getting any help or support especially with these sort of conditions x

[R-OD in reply to redcharlie]

Good Luck x

[Karry66]

Hi there , I was a nurse who went through ill health retirement , so I really feel for you and understand how stressful it is . I’m 58 now and I went through it about 6years ago. I have severe degenerative disc disease at multiple levels and fibromyalgia . I also had problems with one particular doctor , but you have the right to a second opinion , which is what I asked for , if you can , see if you can get an app with the original doctor who said he would speak to the rheumatologist you saw . You could also , as you said , contact the secretary of the rheumatologist you saw and explain the situation , they may put something in writing for you .Have you got a good relationship with your GP. I got a letter from them which cost me £20 , but it stated how bad I was and how this would affect my working again .I always thought that fibromyalgia was a permanent condition . How long were you nursing for ?Youve also had long covid and that can be really debilitating . Are you still having symptoms from that ? Your cognitive therapist could also put something in writing if you wanted them too . The first thing though is to get an occupational health doctor that will support you . I threatened to take it further if they didn’t find someone to support my application. I did lose a percentage but I had no choice and I got there in the end . The other thing is , do you belong to a union as they may be able to help . Hope this has been a bit helpful , take care , best wishes, Karry .

[redcharlie]

Hi Karry thank you for your message. I have been nursing for about 23 years with the same trust, I trained quite late. I do still have long covid and the symptoms are the same as fibromyalgia but I also have chronic breathlessness. Unfortunately as long covid us so new no one can say how long it will last so it leaves me in limbo as far as making long term decision and getting medical information so it more productive to go down the fibromyalgia root. I will send an email to my consultants and Gp myself to see if they can help. Thank you x

[redcharlie in reply to redcharlie]

Sorry I forgot to say that I do have a union which is the RCN i emailed my rep 3 weeks ago but had no reply so emailed again yesterday but got a generic reply saying that a reply will be held up due to the strikes x

[Malwimmy27]

Hi redcharlie, I'm sorry to hear you're having to go through this.About 7 years ago I was medically retired from the NHS ( nursing)

I asked the pain consultant at the pain clinic to write a letter in support of my retirement. She wrote the first letter, however my claim was rejected. She had not written that it's life long. Thankfully, she agreed to write a second letter. Explaining the changes in the brain due to fibromyalgia. Also wrote that it's incurable.

My application was successful after this.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck going through this horrible process.

[redcharlie in reply to Malwimmy27]

Thank you. I did have my first appointment with a pain consultant a few days ago and he did say that I wiil have fibromyalgia for the rest of my life and the only treatment is learning to manage symptoms. I'll write an email to them tomorrow. Iv only had one appointment so I hope he would be willing to do a letter. Thank you for the advice x

[Malwimmy27]

I really hope he writes a letter for you. I can't see why he wouldn't be able to. Good luck with your application. I'm sure you'll be successful. It's such a stressful process.

Sending gentle hugs. X

[Cannylass]

Ask your doctor to refer you to your local Pain clinic. I attended one when I was diagnosed and the advice on pacing myself and not doing too much on good days helps spread them out etc. Then again I had help over the phone where I got to talk with someone about my fibromyalgia and also a pain nurse who persuaded me to try and come off my morphine, something I have regretted as the dose went lower n lower and now my sciatica kicks in within 30-90 seconds of standing. So beware of any persuasion of coming off meds. The pain clinic can shed more light on your condition and could possibly help you with your retirement due to ill health process. They are more qualified to state that Fibromyalgia doesn’t go away and upsets in life just make it worse.