I have fibromyalgia and also suffer from anxiety. I have been out of work since the end of December and have recently applied for ill health retirement As I am no longer able to cope with teaching and the mountain of work outside of the classroom.
My application was turned down because they do not believe they have the evidence to say I can no longer teach. (I was dismissed from my job because I couldn’t keep up with it and was off work a lot.) They suggest that my health may improve enough for me to go back before retirement age, another 14 years.
I am told that I need to seek evidence, from my consultant or GP, that it is unlikely that the treatment I am currently receiving will make me well enough to return to teaching.
Most days, I can’t get dressed and leave the house, never mind get to work at 7am and work until 6pm in the building and then 3 more hours at home. In my mind, there is no possibility of me being able to cope with that anymore.
I don’t know how to go about getting the evidence as I only saw the consultant for a diagnosis and then was discharged back to my GP. My GP has already said on the application that she believes that the fatigue and anxiety I experience ever day would make it very difficult for me to learn new skills and that teaching was having a very negative effect on my health and well-being.
Has anyone had similar issues with accessing a pension early due to ill health or have any suggestions about how I might get some support from a specialist on my application.
Written by
Elifant
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I'm sorry to say that getting ill health retirement can be difficult.
Have you been able to discuss 'reasonable adjustments' with your employer, or contacted ACAS, as you mention dismissal? Please see: acas.org.uk/dismissals/type... scrolling down to 'Dismissal because of long-term illness.' Please also look at the link about 'reasonable adjustments:' acas.org.uk/reasonable-adju...
Also suggest looking at your pension provider's info as they need to be satisfied that you can no longer work in any capacity.
Others will have experience of going through this process, so can likely help.
I have already been dismissed. The head felt that there were no more adjustments that could be made. The governors agreed with her. They did support me by paying for counselling for the stress and anxiety and paid towards access to work suggestions - I have Spondylolisthesis. I’m not sure they could have done much more to be honest. The working week isn’t very flexible and my absences made it difficult for the children and the rest of the team.
Have you had an occupational health assessment? You are protected under The Equality Act 2010. If your employer has failed to go through the appropriate assessments and reasonable adjustments then they can be liable for constructive dismissal. I went down this route for my husband and won a considerable amount of damages for him, not for fibro but for another condition. Either way you are protected under the Act. If you have had an occupational health assessment did you produce it in support of your application for ill health retirement?
There are several legal firms offering no win no fee for such matters, but you may find your Union will represent you.
Good luck with taking it further and I hope you get the desired result.
Thanks for the advice. I sent in 3 occupational health assessments. I’m not sure I want to go down the legal route, I would be happy to just get my pension.
Hi ElifantI was retired on ill health 2 yrs ago, I worked in social services. My advice is don't give up it took me nearly 18mths to collect all the evidence I needed , the main thing you need it the GP to write that in his opinion you have tried all the medication and services available which has not resulted in any improvement and that it is their medical opinion that the condition is unlikely to improve significantly before retirement age. It may be worth looking at getting a private Dr who specialises in Fibromyalgia to complete an assessment for ill health retirement, it's not cheap but believe me it's worth every penny. An independent Dr arrange through occupational health has to make the decision, so making sure they get all the relevant information is key, including previous medication you've tried, as well as any pain management you've ever attended, injections, physio etc to show you have accepted anything offered to help yourself. Good luck .
Hi Please appeal this decision, a different medical officer will assess you. Ask for a copy of your schools ill health retirement policy. I worked in local government and was awarded my pension 13 years early, which was a big relief . Each sector is different but for tier 1 retirement the criteria was that I couldn’t do my current role for more than 30hours per week with adjustments. My union were very supportive. Good luck 🤞
I was a nurse for 25years & then took my Ill health retirement from nursing as just could not cope both physically or emotionally! I do have quite a few other medical issues as well as well as Fibromyalgia, ME & ulcerative colitis!
I had my RCN ( Royal college of nursing) Rep also to accompany me to meetings with management & HR.
I would suggest getting in touch with your uni rep & also ask GP for referral to your Rheumatologist & Pain service then you can get copies of clinic letters for evidence & hopefully they will be in support of you !
Also document everything ! all your sick days or when you have had to leave work early due to fatigue or pain as these will help as supporting evidence.
Hope this helps you , good luck & take good care of yourself!
Thanks for the support and advice. I have been supported by my union throughout. I sent in 3 occupational health reports and my GP filled in her part of the application. I didn’t try stepping down into a part time role as I didn’t know that was an option and even if I had have known, I think I’d have just had the same problem with focus and fatigue.
I see the physio regularly but it doesn’t help much. The pain is mostly under control although like everyone else, I have good days and bad days but the fatigue and brain fog make it impossible for me to function most days.
My school tried to get rid of me because of my short term absences...It was heartbreaking but I just couldn't manage working with the school demands on my body! Eventually I signed the forms before they sacked me...
Maybe I was lucky but I had no energy to fight and was already in hospital when they issued their last goodbye...
Luckily for me the HR doctor said my health would worsen if I returned to work and it could all exacerbate with devastating health effects...
After months of half pay I got retired on ill health grounds. It was too awful to be retired at 40 and I lay in a stupor for years with fibro implications and dire mental health decay...
Eventually I returned to teaching as a tutor from home or by visiting local families. I could continue teaching...
It's been stressful at times but worth it to carry on teaching...
Financially it was lean and I sold stuff to make ends meet!
My employer also got rid of me but waited till I went back to work full time. Obviously I was making mistakes due to brain fog and fatigue but at the time had no diagnosis or medical evidence to appeal with. Its a sad world we live in.
I'm 34 and had to stop working completely almost 2 years ago and was a teacher, too. I loved it, but the work load was ridiculous, the same as yours (I'm glad I'm not the only one who was working those hours, I thought maybe I was just not great at some parts of my job). I know how hard it can be. I had to leave and was hoping I'd be back after a short break, but every time I've had to stop working since having severe fibro symptoms 6 years ago it's been a longer and longer break I've needed, first 3 months, then 6 months, then a year, now almost 2 years. I miss it so much. Not that I'm any help, but I relate to your situation so much, and I'm sorry for what you are going through..💗 I was passionate about my job and good with the kids who needed the most support. It took me a while to get disability pension, which is the same amount as retirement age pension here in Australia (not enough to pay rent to be honest but better than nothing), and I was lucky to get approved for it especially with fibro because it's really hard to get approved for any support with fibro. I was as unwell as you when I was approved a year ago, and am still not well enough to work at all, but just able to look after myself some, if not most, days now. All the best, and I hope you manage to get the support you need❤
yes I did , I got turned down but I picked apart the statement all the incorrect assumptions ,,,if you have a letter of diagnosis the slightest bit of evidence even a prescription......explain that its unpredictable makes you unreliable and cannot plan a day due to this...and there if they bang on about improving ,that improvement will only be viable not in a workplace and the stresses and commitment that is needed that go with your kind of work....Fibro is classed as a disability ....my job was with DWP! Admin /adviser and I wasnt as ill as I am now and got my retirement All the best x
I retired just over twelve months ago on grounds of I’ll health. I also applied for PIP for my disabilities and health issues but scored only 2 points. A Year on I plan to try again due to being diagnosed with cervical spondylosis and Fibromyalgia.
Try not to give up the fight there is lots of support and advice available through this site. It has spurred me on to try again and challenge them if I get refused.
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Work and ill health retirement 
NHS ill health retirement process is so unfair and unjust.
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