40 working week!

[WonderingWanda]

I have been granted medical retirement but only with the limited money pot. There is a second tier of retirement that will add cash to your pot over years to come but I have not been granted that.

the condition for meeting the requirements for this second tier are being unable to work the same number of hours as contracted for. Doing something different.

they think I will be able to work 40 hours a week within the next 4 years doing a « menial » task.

currently I cannot manage a 40 hour week of being home.

How can I prove that I cannot and what would you advise my next steps be please ?? Anyone have any advice ?

[Hidden]

Are you a union member, if yes ask them to help you. If not go to the CAB and find out what they know and can do to help you. Another way is to go to your community solicitor, it's free if you have a disability, and ask what they can do.

[Butterfly28]

Hello -

As Pink Vision says, contact citizens advice for guidance but make sure you have the rules of the pension scheme to hand if you can. Who has made the decision about your situation? There should be a proper process.

it might be worth contacting any medical professionals helping you to see whether they could support your case. They might be able to provide written medical evidence why you are unable to work as required. They might charge - but if it helps get a better pension it’s worth paying.

Good luck

[WonderingWanda in reply to Butterfly28]

Thanks for this.

I have written back to my occupational therapist but had no reply yet. I discharged from her once it was clear I was not going to be able to return to my job.

I am ´lucky’ that I have a case pending and my solicitor appointed a neuropsychologist to assess and make a report for the court. Maybe I can request a copy to submit for the pension appeal ?

[Butterfly28 in reply to WonderingWanda]

It might be worth a conversation but I don’t think the solicitor can release it ahead of the court case. However I’m thinking the case might involve compensation? So shouldn’t the solicitor be aware of this impact on your pension as you’ve had to retire early? Be careful though - you don’t want the solicitor to get carried away.

[WonderingWanda in reply to Butterfly28]

He is aware. He advised I may need to try working to see if I can then once I fail it will be clearer. I don’t think I could get a job I knows I couldn’t do just to prove a point ! It’s why I am trying to get assessed first.

[Letsrock]

Know how you are feeling as going through the same just now. I have been offered tier 1, and I'll health compensation. This means you can find another job elsewhere. My union questioned this as the employer does only what their Occupational Health says. OH said in mine that I was unlikely to return to work, but there is nothing medical contradicting me going elsewhere? I have passed the DWP assessment that they do not require me to work again. That is a very hard test to pass but yet work still say no ill health retirement.

CAB are no use, they gave me no advice but to pass my case to my local mp and the Scottish legal aid board.

To prove your ill retirement you have to get that from the company Occupational Health.

None of this fighting is any good for our health.

I wish you all the best.

[WonderingWanda in reply to Letsrock]

Sorry you are going through this too.

I am going to appeal but I need to submit new evidence that was not part of my original application. That had the Occupational health consultant review of my neurologist report as well as the Neurorehabilitation team report.

None of which mentioned long term fatigue.

[cyclinghu]

I wanted to try some very light part time after my brain trauma but not possibly and little help as 'i should have got over it by now 😢

[WonderingWanda in reply to cyclinghu]

The point is that many of us never get over it enough to work full time.

Part time wouldn’t fulfill the criteria they need to refuse me. I struggle to think of a role I could do even part time that wouldn’t totally exhaust me and stop me from even having the daily life I have now doing nothing much!