Ill Health Retirement options

[LadyL0u]

Hello! Forgive me if this has already been answered and I've not noticed, but I'm currently in the process of losing my job and have decided to try for Ill Health Retirement. I believe there are 2 stages for this, I'm applying for the 'lesser' option where I would only be retiring from this particular role but still be active enough to take on new employment. The posts I've read seemed only to mention full retirement so I was wondering if anybody had experience with retiring purely from a particular role but then moved onto other employment and if so, did it work out OK or were there bad experiences? I'm 43, still mobile (thanks to Biologics) but unable to continue with my current job as it's very physical with long hours involved. I am not sure if my work will grant my IHR, and if they do whether it will create a stigma further down the line when I'm looking for other less-physical work with other companies. Any advice would be much appreciated!

[LizzieR]

Hi Ladylou,

I'm 41 and just going through the same thing ( only I've already left my job and am going for the - I can't do anything- option!) I've filled in all the forms ( well, my wife has- bad fingers) - and I'm waiting for the assessment. I have two old jobs/ pension pots, so I'm waiting for both. It has been a long haul just getting this far- requesting and getting the right forms; getting the right evidence etc etc. It's almost as if they want to make it as difficult as possible!

Are you in a Union? If so, I would see your representative. Otherwise or as well as, I'd see your local Citizens advice bureau. They will help you get the result you want.

I hope this wouldn't effect future employment- I'm not sure you actually have to say; you can just say you wanted a change, whilst also being up front about your illness and what you might need in terms of support . Lots of people change jobs as they get older anyway ( I was a teacher and lots of us go off and do other things once we hit a certain age!)

I would focus on what you need to do now, to help maintain or improve your health and then work out the next bit when you are ready. If you try and think it all through, it might become over whelming ( My favourite saying is ' How do you eat an elephant? A bit at a time...'

Good luck x

[LadyL0u in reply to LizzieR]

Aww, thanks for the response Lizzy, much appreciated! Good advice thanks

Well done for making the leap! I know how traumatic it is, still struggling a bit myself, only just made my mind up to go for IHR in the last few days. Everybody so far has been trying to put me off going for it, but having finally got a wee bit more info on it, have decided it's seems to be the right route for me to go down - whether I get it or not is another matter! My RA is the reason my work want shot of me, and the reason I am no longer physically able to carry out the work, so IHR makes more sense.

I'm not in the union, so when I approached them for advice they told me to 'sling my hook' - which I guess is fair enough! My next step might be employment lawyer if it comes to it... I went to see Citizens Advice but at that point I had too many question marks over my situ (due to a complete lack of information from HR) and so they weren't really able to give me many direct answers. I've recently spoken to someone from an RA company and they said the same as you, that I don't necessarily have to be completely transparent, but best to be open about any potential restrictions (caused by RA) which might affect the particular role I would be going for, which is sensible.

It's already been a long haul for me (3months and counting) and that was just to get basic info from HR, I've not even started to officially go down the IHR route!! I imagine they will make me go through many many hoops before heading towards any kind of result, but guess I just need to stick with it..

Yeah, you're right about it becoming overwhelming! Had many days/weeks of feeling like that, now I've made my mind up to apply for it, I feel a bit better, but I'm sure this process won't be easy.

Thanks again for your response, nice to hear from you. Good luck with your next chapter :)x

[Witness2]

I'm sorry you're facing this rotten challenge and that I have no insights to offer as I am self-employed. I just thought I'd mention the NRAS helpline. They have experience in this sort of thing. Best of luck and I hope the change, if you can make it, will bring you a better quality of life. Scaling back has definitely helped me.

[LadyL0u in reply to Witness2]

Thank you The NRAS helpline lady was lovely and did give me some advise. She also pointed me towards this forum to see if there were folk who had personal experience of going through this process.

Glad to hear altering your employment situ has helped you