Ill health retirement

[estpem]

Am considering applying for this. I am a teacher. Am only 42 but I feel I can't do it anymore. Wondered if anybody has experience of this?

[Wendy39]

Hello. I'm afraid I have no experience of taking ill health retirement, but I wanted to say that I know what it is like to give up a job because of not coping with this illness. I have left two jobs because of my lupus. I left my job as a Teaching Assistant last year. The opportunity of taking redundancy came up, due to two schools merging and horrific local authority cuts, so rather than apply for a new job and all of the stress that was all causing etc, I took the redundancy. I wasn't coping with my illness and my family (3 children now aged 13, 12 & 10) and work on top was pushing me over the edge. My husband and I discussed it over and over. I was very sad about it for quite a while. It feels like you are giving up part of yourself. I was only 41 years old. But now, a year on, it was the best thing I ever did for my health and my family. I do still wonder if I will ever work again. The most annoying thign was, being a mum, working at a school, with school hours and school holidays off, it was the perfect job for me. But it wasn't meant to be. I feel like I am coping much better now and I shouldn't tempt fate, but this is the longest I have been without a big flare up for years now. So I understand how making this decision feels and I emphathise with you. I hope it all works out for you. Best wishes. Wendy

[jayfer]

Hi, i retired through ill health from local council. I would advise you get your consultant behind you. I had to have a letter stating that I was unfit for work AND would be until I reached 65. My gp was behind me in principle but said how did he know how I would be in 5/10 yrs time. My consultant wrote the letter but as I did not have a definate diagnosis on the day I was finished I only got pension calculated from the day I finished, not as if I had worked until 65 (sorry can't remember terminology today ) Good luck, hope it goes well for you

[Leave-me-alone]

I was a lecturer, so can totally understand the pressure and stress of teaching. I am 38. I am supposed to be in a company training position overseas. When I first found out I had SLE and the flare up I was having I took six months off work and wasn't going to go back. But a different department manager really want to help me and understand my situation. He is willing to work around lupus. So now after six months off work I am giving it a go. Do also see how thus may affect your teaching pension too. That was one reason I never wanted to go part time.

[johare]

I was a nurse and loved my job. I tried reducing to three days a week but still found it difficult. I worked as a school nurse and dealt with a lot of child protection. I found I couldn't do my job properly as I couldn't concentrate or manage my case load.

I went to my occupational health team and the doctor was very supportive. He ask me to get reports from my doctors stating how my illness affected me. It was a long process. I would also advise that you take advice from citizens advice. Also from a financial point of view, you can claim statutory sick pay for six months. When your money drops, you can also claim ESA at the same time.

It took me a long time to accept I had retired and for long time I felt guilty. Now I realise that I would be very unwell if I hadn't stopped and I would not have be affective as a nurse, mother or partner.

All the best with your decision.

[sarahalice]

Hi.

I'm also a teacher, was diagnosed with SLE Easter 2015. Was head of faculty and loved teaching. Ended up having nearly a year off. Been back for a year now, But lost my all my responsibilities and work a 50% timetable. The impact on me and my husband has been life changing especially with the drop in wages, but there is no way I could do the job FT.

During my year off I was sent on a regular basis to occupational health, where I brought up retiring due to ill health. At the time I could barely walk and oh the pain. The doctor I saw was very honest and said with these sort of auto immune conditions they are very unlikely to allow for you to retire due to ill health. The condition can improve and you can go into remission blah blah blah. If I couldn't do my job then they would re assign me to a desk job in the school or in another sch!! I thought it was so funny, as I know people who have retired straight away with stress, which I know is a serious problem, but I needed help to get dress and was in constant pain. The drugs are kicking in and though I'm not in remission yet, hope to be some day. However I'm not yet 40, and i can't see how I can do this job for another 25yrs!

Do you think they have a cut off age for ill health? If we make it to let's say 48 with out dropping dead they would consider it? This whole experience has left me jaded, and after reading stories on TES about people in simular positions as well as reading up on the PIP application I haven't bothered taking either future. I wish I was in the position to walk away sometimes, even though I love my job but without a lotto win, Lol it's not possible. It is not a healthy line of work, as I'm sure is the same for you and all teachers with or without a illness!

Best of luck with it and I hope you have a better experience than me! If you go for it please update us on all the stages and your progress.

Xx

[jopo280886]

Hi there, I was also in the teaching profession and had to retire through ill health. It was a very difficult decision to make but now realise it was the best one! I was 52 when I retired and although the first year or so was really difficult (not having a routine / purpose) felt really sad that I had to give up a job that I loved but time heal as they say! I now have time that I can work around my good and bad days. I feel the benefit of NO stress. Taking early retirement was the best thing I have done for myself and my family! I do some voluntary work when I'm well my health and wellbeing has definitely improved. I hope you make the right decision for you. Take good care of you Best wishes.

Lesley

[Lorska1]

I'm 44 years of age and I've just gone on Ill health retirement this year. I'm really glad I did it and I definitely feel the benefit. I'm happy to help if you need help. Good luck whatever you decide xx

[creaky]

Hi, I retired through ill health at 50. I was a duty ward manager nhs.

It was a very difficult decision for me to make, as I loved my job, but the stress of just getting there every day and worrying that I was letting people down was making be worse. Also I was concerned about being exposed diseases with a compromised immune system.

My then Rheumatologist wrote a letter of support and so did the occupational health doctor. I got my pension.

I still miss work every day, but it was the right decision for me.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

[estpem]

Thanks for all of your replies. I think I need to go for it. I am actually the Head and love so much of my job but carry a lot of responsibility and stress and I just don't feel well enough to cope with it all. I also have 2 young children. To get a complete pension my consultant will have to agree that on the balance of probabilities I can't do 90% of any job - just hope he supports me. Am worried obviously about finances (am the main earner) and loss of identity x

[fabwheelie]

Hi I had to take medical retirement from the NHS when I was only 37. In hindsight it was the best decision for me but it was not an easy process. It was not easy to get and everyone such as my Drs, occupational health, personnel etc had to agree this was the best way forward. I also had to take it to appeal inorder to get it. Here is a link to a post I wrote in response to someone else asking advise a while ago .... healthunlocked.com/lupusuk/...

[estpem]

It’s all coming to a head! Got letters of support from my 2 consultants and also my GP. Occupational Health after too. My forms will be submitted next week. So anxious and just pray that I get it?