Has anyone taken early retirement due to having ET? I have an NHS pension and wondered if I would be eligible to take early retirement

[DENMOOR]

[Jo_L]

I'm in the civil service and I know that, for ill health retirement, it would depend on how the condition affected me. I was on sick leave for 9 months after diagnosis with PV and ET (I also have MS so my health is a little fragile anyway), went on to half pay after 6 months and had pretty much told myself that I would apply for ill health retirement if I got to the point where I was on no pay.

Early retirement is a different matter and, even though I'm not 50 until next year, I'm already doing the sums to work out how soon I could retire and still afford to keep a roof over my head!

Hope this helps,

Jo

[DENMOOR]

Hi thank you for replying and so sorry to hear of your problems.its so hard isn't it? I am 48 and find some days tough. I believe I could draw my pension at 50 but not sure if my illness would allow me to draw a full pension. I guess not unless I was completely on my knees and couldn't get out of bed every day. Had chemo for 10years and does drain me

Dx

[JediReject]

Hi Denmoor = you may be able to claim some of the dreaded benefits to supplement your income dependant on your circumstances. However be prepared to jump through hoops and if you can you'll get nowt. I was self-employed and had to pack in as I may have mentioned before. Its hard living on a pittance after earning decent money and my disposable income has dropped a third in the last 18 mths due to 'austerity measures'. Who said cancer pays LOL .....

[DENMOOR in reply to JediReject]

Hiya Chris,

Thanks for the reply..Yes I agree I reckon I would have to really jump through many hoops to even be considered to draw an early pension. I have had to cut back on my hours as feel so weary sometimes. Full time now would kill me!..I think I shall persevere alittle longer and see what my biopsy says..At present I could not survive on a pension alone so shall just battle on..

D X

[Hidden]

Hi Denmoor, I too have an NHS pension and have often wondered if push came to shove would I be able to go down that road too. However, I have had a final projection figure of what I can expect when I am 60 and trust me it is not a wage you would want to live on, especially if you are younger, have children, mortgage/rent commitments etc, and like the odd holiday/treat. Also it really is up to the pensions agency and not your employer, they can help you apply and support your application, but ultimately the NHS pensions make the final decision based on the information obtained from your consultant, occy health, etc. There is a two tier system for retirement too, which you can get more info on via the NHS pension website. I do admit though to being a little confused about it all, so if you do get your head around it, I would love to know in plain ET English.

I once asked my specialist nurse did they think I would qualify for early retirement and he said with counts like mine its very unlikely at this moment in time. (the Hu keeps them pretty much in check).

If you did decide to go down that road I would be really interested to see how it goes.

kind regards

M x

[DENMOOR in reply to Hidden]

Hiya M,

Thanks for taking the time to reply..Yes I have looked into this in great detail and discussed it with the pensions people. Like you said a 2 tier system, one being never to be able to work at all and the other maybe in time to do a little part time. Like you said i would have to have the backing of my consultant and then there is indepedant medical assessment. At present my platelets are under control..around 500. I reckon my consultant would say you are fine to work!..so with that I shall continue and just hope i win the lottery.

My bone marrow biopsy is soon so shall be interested to seeif any deterioration after 10 years on chemo.

All the best

DX

[Hidden in reply to DENMOOR]

Hi Denmoor so I wasn't too far off understanding the process. I soo understand how frustrating all this is for you, I too get fatigue on a regular basis and I am sure working doesn't help. I too reduced my hours to 4 days a week, but even that is becoming a struggle. I just can't afford to reduce them anymore. Ah well like you I will just live in hope of winning the lottery lol.

[catkinspolymer]

Hi denmoor,

I got Et in 1986 and was first properly diagnosed in 1996 when i was 52. I worked for a US company at their uk factory. i was progressively finding it harder to work a 10 hour day due to fatigue as chief engineer and let it be known i would love to be made redundant . i had prepared fairly well and had been saving 15% of salary for some time. Eventually in 2000 at the age of 56 they eventually let me go and pushed me out with quite a good package. I did a bit of consultancy but mainly enjoyed my retirement very much with lots of foreign caravan trips and fun things at home. i am now the town cries for instance. I did not enquire to see if there was any state benefits for going or being a bit crock and my relatively good pension would have stopped any unemployment benefit. My advice is if you can find away to afford it retire as soon as you can. My heamatologist suggested that whilst there was no evidence that life is likely to be foreshortened by ET it certainly aint gonna be extended .

Hope this helps Catkinspolymer

[DENMOOR]

Hiya and thanks for replying.

I hope you are enjoying your retirement and like you have decided to start pumping more into my private pension as my NHS one is frozen. There is no way I could live on my NHS one now as have a mortgage and kids to raise. There is so much pressure at times to pay the bills and keep functiuoning when so tired at times. I think I have to accept that I have no choice and just need to get on with it and embrace the next 12 years till I am 60 and then will draw the NHS one..Decided to pay £160.00 per month pension now as whilst I am working I have to do it..

Anyway hope this e mail finds you well and keep smiling hey!

D x

[Swede]

Hi folks,

I have no pension to fall back on so....work till the bitter end!

The thing is that I still would like to look out for more education and more developing work but I am not sure I would be considered at all, with this E.T. Sigh....