Applying for retirement on medical grounds,wish me luck

[WonderingWanda]

First of all I would like to thank all of you in this community. You are such a supportive group and quite unlike any other forum out there.

I will be running out of sick leave pay later this year and as I am no further forward in real terms as far as the high cognitive functions are concerned I have taken to difficult decision to apply to retire.

I am fortunate that I am in my 50s at the time of injury and I thank the stars daily that I wasn’t still in the career growth period. But it’s a huge loss of a life that I had visualised and it’s taken a good deal of counselling to get to this point.

There are no guarantees that I will be successful in being granted early retirement. I do have the support of a Consultant Neurologist and the Neurorehabilitation team which is a huge help.

A new life new life awaits and I feel that I now want to get on with it. But it will take months and months to process so I need to continue with a daily routine of gentle exercises, dog walks, fatigue management and sleep routines etc.

Yoga has been such a help. Talking things through helps massively and finally I have found my sports watch a complete Godsend. It has a stress score, a sleep score and more importantly it has an incredibly useful “Body Battery “ which is designed to tailor your workouts to (I used to be a runner and a cyclist etc ) but now it’s main use is “ do I need to rest?”

I hope this year brings you personal progress. However small or big. This is still a good life and better to still be in it, even if it is different to what we thought it would be.

[catrabb1t]

Hello WW

You sound calm. You are doing lots of good things to find peace. You are doing the things I think about and do not do - but i Will!!

Interesting you raise early retirement in your 50s. I assume all pension schemes are different. I know mine had a very high criteria for early retirement so we decided to keep it deferred for now. If I defer it then I will get a bit more aged 60. We just have to manage till then...! It's good you have the Neuro people on board. I hope it goes well for you.

I too think about how lucky I am that I am this age when it happened. Not just for career but also my parenting responsibilities. When parents of young children write on here my heart goes out to them.

[Pairofboots]

I took early retirement age 46 but that was driven by occupational health, I didn't really have a say. Mine was or the grounds that I couldn't be employed in any occupation. If you are in a superannuation scheme then it can be reasonable. It does limit any future activities to do with occupation, even volunteering to the point it can be difficult. Something to be aware of. Good luck 🍀

[Hidden]

Good Luck, hoping you enjoy your new life 😀👍💪

[BadSkater]

All the best, thanks for the smartwatch tip.

[Leaf100]

I wish you the best of luck, Wanda.

Leaf

[Mads1975]

Best of luck to you! I was offered ill health retirement at the grand old age of 35. The fact that it’s a Defined Benefit Scheme pension meant the 2/3 reduction in pay was slightly easier to adjust to.

Enjoy your retirement 🥰

[Letsrock]

Hello I wish you all the best in getting early retirement as I failed and am in my 50's but they said i was too young and I can get another job. I can't get another job due to fatigue cognitive and blurred vision. HR seem to think they are good doctors as well as their OH Dr,'s 😀

At least you have a supporting neurologist were mine does not know what is wrong with me and diagnosed my having a functional neurological disorder 😅 I have had no help from anybody including psychologist whi cancelled all my appointments since Nov.

All the best and good luck!

[WonderingWanda in reply to Letsrock]

That sounds awful. I’m so sorry you do t have the support of the necessary people to make that possible.

I wonder if second opinions are worth requesting? Have you contacted Headway to see what other options you may have?

[Painting-girl]

I'm glad you're being supported in this Wanda, and I shall keep my fingers crossed for your early retirement to be approved. I'm older than you, and had no intention of retiring before my accident, but am still heartily relieved that I've been able to retire. Being able to build a new retired life focussing on what I can do rather than what I can't, and making new friends that only know the new me, has made a lot of difference to me, and I am still seeing cognitive and fatigue improvements.(Incidentally, don't forget that when you take a lower retirement income early, that it can often be better in terms of total income received (from your scheme) because you draw the lower income for more years - if that makes sense? It doesn't always seem apparent, but it is usually worth starting a pension income stream earlier rather than later, if you add up the total income received in the intervening years to your original retirement age)

[WonderingWanda in reply to Painting-girl]

It makes perfect sense to me. I was not expecting to retire for several years but I see the benefits and would like to be able to focus on what I can do, rather than all that is now not possible. I like that you have been able to build a new life.

My parents took early retirement themselves and are now in their 80s and still very active and engaged. They tell me that all their friends who worked until old age are now dead! Sounding more pleased about this than they should! But I know they are also rooting for me.

[Teazymaid]

hopefully you will get your retirement and can work in the new you 😊 it is so difficult how life can change in a blink of an eye .. I to am struggling with me at the mo and am attempting to deal with new issues I am having as I had continued to improve before but that has triggered off more pain and realised the anxiety of dealing with new people and new information etc I cant cope with this at all .. so this ha knocked me very hard but this group is what has kept me going since I joined 3 years ago . Very much wish you all the best with the new journey ahead Sue x

[TheiaR]

sounds like you’ve got things sorted. Can you tell me what the watch is please?

Thank you 🤗

[WonderingWanda in reply to TheiaR]

I use a Garmin forerunner. There are lots of different models like Fenix and Epix. I’m not sure if other makes have a body battery equivalent. It’s incredibly useful. Yesterday for example I had a busy morning but could see it would get too low if I carried on doing things. I had a couple of rests (nap and a breathing exercise) and these showed a small upward curve that then meant I had enough battery to have a normal evening. If I wake and it’s low I can change my whole days plan

[TheiaR]

That sounds amazing - just what I need! I’m so grateful for the information.🥰🙏🥰