Has anyone had to apply for medical retirement? If so was it agreed or turned down? Any advice please.

[spoul]

hi there yes i applied and was successful, even receiving the max pension i could get in the nhs. I was 51 when i finished 18mths ago as a midwife although the last ten years had been difficult as my main symptom was terrible fatigue. Whenever i was off sick i would refer myself to occupational health and they would recommend some work adjustments, i.e. like no on-calls. My managers were great but it came to a point where they couldn't make work life any easier for me. Incidently the occupational health doctor said that the reasonable adjustments made at work were because the pbc had to be treated as a disability. It was not an easy process when i did finish and you need union guideance and i'd be happy to share my experience with you if you want...hope this helps, take care x

[JerseyChris]

Hi. Yes I too received medical retirement and as abaove had made adjustments to my working life for a few years on reccomendations of occupational therapy and the occupational health doctor. All was ok until we had a change of management! In Jersey we have no discrimination act although again the Occupational Health Dr wrote in his report that were I based in the UK I would be subject to the DDA. It was a difficult period and emotionally draining but did find all the professionals very supportive. Do get as much support as possible and good luck.

[Lindiloo]

I worked in a middle management position in local government and found it harder and harder to do my job effectively. I voluntarily saw Occupational Health who recommended several changes to help with the extreme fatigue, memory and concentration problems, the main change being to work 2 days per week from home and 3 days in the office. I did this for a couple of years and it did help but eventually I had to admit that I couldn't carry on. I approached HR about early retirement on ill health grounds and they referred me to OH for assessment. I was 'interviewed' by an OH assessor who didn't actually know the criteria for ill health retirement and just kept going on about the cost to the pension provider. I was not surprised when he turned down my application, however, I appealed against his decision and, after seeing a different assessor, I was granted Ill health retirement at the highest level with the maximum pension. That was in January 2010 and I have to say I have absolutely no regrets. I still have the fatigue, memory and concentration problems but they are not as important and do not cause me as much stress as when I was working. Like Spoul, above, I would be happy to give you more information about my experience if it would help you, but the 2 main things as far as I am concered are (1) take as much documtary evidence as you can to show that your health problems are caused by your illness (prints from reputable websites, letters from friends, colleagues and managers honestly stating how you have changed over the years or months, letters from your gp and consultant) ansd (2) don't give up until you get the result you want. Be prepared to appeal if necessary. Good luck xx

[meandmypbc in reply to Lindiloo]

Hi lindiloo, I know this was an older post...but it exactly what I am about to do and am struggling...I have joined a union and will be seeing her shortly...I am confused about the sick pay...have been off for 4.5 months full pay, and back for 3 months using annual leave to reduce my hours.i am not well but I dont know what pay I will receive and for how long should the g.p. decide to sign me off.

stress is an awful thing ....any help would be appreciated x

[Lindiloo in reply to meandmypbc]

Hi, I am not sure I can help much with regard to sick pay. I was still working up until the day my ill health retirement was approved. I had short periods of time off sick but not enough to exceed my employer's full pay scheme. I did do what you have mentioned above, using my annual leave to reduce my hours. Towards the end of my employment I tried to make sure I took at least half a day's leave each week and more where possible. As I said in my original post, working from home 2 days a week was a big help as it, in effect, reduced my working day as obviously there was no travelling time and it helped with my fatigue. Do you work for local government? Have you spoken to your HR department? I made them aware of my condition fairly early and gave them downloaded prints of what to expect. They suggested that I should see OH at that stage and it was the OH that suggested the working from home, etc. Are you thinking about applying for early retirement on ill health grounds? If so, your employer should have details of the different levels and the criteria and benefits for each level. I'm not sure whether anything has changed since I retired but there were 3 levels, which were based on whether the OH officer feels that your illness and inability to work is short, medium or long-term. The financial implications of each level vary, with level 1 being the most beneficial. This means that your are entitled to your full pension, calculated as if you had continued making contributions until your normal retirement age, and is payable for life. This is the level that I was awarded on appeal and, if you apply and are offered anything less, I would urge you to appeal too. If there are specific questions you want answering please let me know. I'll help if I can. Meantime, I would advise you to search the internet for details on ill health retirement as it is over 4 years now since I retired so the rules may have changed. Good luck. x

[Offroute in reply to Lindiloo]

Hello there about to embark on this process I am also local government employee with 30 years service, have had multiple knee replacements which have not worked along with multiple spinal surgeries which have left me with arachnoditos. I was wondering how long did the process take, and were you allowed to carry on working whilst the I'll health procedure was on going etc,

many thanks

Mick

[Lindiloo in reply to Offroute]

Hi Mick, From what I can remember the process probably took about 6-7 months from initially speaking to HR about my possible ill health retirement application to actually receiving an email from them confirming that it had finally been approved. During this time I had a pointless interview with an OH officer who knew far less than I did about the criteria involved, was only worried about costs, and subsequently turned down my application, and an appeal interview with a different OH officer who, thankfully, knew more and was more concerned about whether I met the criteria than how much it would cost the LGPS to grant my early retirement on ill health grounds. I did continue to work during the process. When I eventually received an email from HR confirming I had been granted the highest level of IHR I went to speak to them to find out what would happen next. This was on a Wednesday. The HR officer said that by accepting my appeal, OH were basically confirming that I was not physically able to do my job any longer and, therefore, if I wanted to I could leave on the Friday, 2 days later, which I did as I was finding it a real struggle to continue working at that stage. My pension was paid from that date and this and the lump sum were calculated as if I had continued paying into the pension scheme until my normal retirement date and had retired on that date, even though I was only 52 years and 2 months old when I actually retired. Although I wasn't expecting it I also received 12 weeks pay as an additional tax free lump sum which, from memory, was something to do with the fact that I hadn't been given the required formal length of notice before I retired. Good luck with your application and remember, take as much paperwork as you can and be prepared to appeal.

[Offroute in reply to Lindiloo]

Thank you so much for your response, interesting that hr were the decision makers, I have to see a doctor appointed by the council , the 3 tier system is still the same as when you retired,

Mick

[Offroute in reply to Offroute]

So have my medical on Monday but having spoke to hr yesterday I fear that the understanding of the process is not very encouraging, but we shall see! . Im also 52 and wondered if you had to pay any tax on your lump sum? This has been muted by hr, and we're you asked to carry on working while while you went through the process as I think you intimated that you carried on? My head of service suggested that I get signed off ? I can't see anything in the ill health retirement regs that covers this

I'm sorry to be a pain but as your a former local goverment employee the same age as me that's gone through the process under the same regs your experience and info is most helpful!

[rsahot in reply to Lindiloo]

Which council did you work for?

[rsahot in reply to Lindiloo]

Which council did you work for?

[paulineemily]

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[paulineemily]

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[paulineemily]

I was diagnosed in 1998. and worked in local government, in the elderly housing department. I suffered with extreme fatigue, and had serious concentration problems, but tried to continue. In 2000 on a visit to the doctors I described how awful I was feeling at that time , he gave me a certificate for a year!! that was the start of the process of medical retirement, which was completed in 2001. I was sad but my health has been so much easier to manage and I feel in control of it. dont give up it is so difficult to describe how ill you feel.

[Hidden]

Thankyou for all your answers. I really don't know what to do at the moment. I work four full days a week and find it very difficult at times. The fatique and bad concentration is really bad most days. I just continue at the moment because I haven't got the energy to do anything about it and I can't cope with stress very well. Also I feel that nobody understands at work and would applying for medical retirement be laughed at by the 'suits' that decide. Also I live on my own and would I cope being on my own alot of the time? Thanks for listening everyone x

[itchyandscratchy]

I am currently going through the appeals process with regards to my ill health retirement award. I also work in local government and have been offered level 2 of my pensions scheme and am in the process of appealing for the higher tier-my oc health medical assessor knew nothing on the councils pension scheme and told me that the highset pension tier was only offered to terminally ill employers with a maximum of 5 yrs life expectancy or those with cancer(utter rubbish), despite gp reports he knew nothing about PBC, and asked me if I had a history of alcohol misuse or been in contact with hepatitis. I am in advanced stages of PBC with cirrhosis. I wrote to my consultant to ask for their support but they told me that they could not support me as should i have a transplant there may be a chance of a return to work. I will still follow the appeal process, cant afford not to, but dont hold out much hope. Having said all that i think finishing work has been the best thing I have done for my health and feel such a difference. would definatly recomend it. good luck.

[SC49]

while you are waiting to see your union rep, keep a record of all your symptoms and how they affect you. It will help you to explain it when the time comes. As Lindiloo says, get as much information about PBC as you can - from the PBC foundation and anywhere else you can - google is your friend here! Pick information from reputable sources - mayo clinic is good, nHS choices, and articles from for example, British Medical Journal online. You can bet your life that your employer, the OH people and your union rep will not have heard of PBC so you may have to educate them a bit. Also be sure and tell your union rep that you are using your annual leave to reduce your hours. If you have a disability, your employer is supposed to try to make reasonable adjustments to make it easier for you to work. Good luck.

[CathieG]

It's been really interesting to read all of these posts, and helpful. I also work for local government and have been off sick for three months with exhaustion and an inability to make decisions. I have seen OH once and she was great. Had dealt with an employee with PBC who had gone on to transplant. The difference being is that I am 62, the other person was 42. I have been thinking about asking for redundancy as cuts are being made this year but having read previous posts I think medical retirement could be the better option. I know that my GP would support this and I have a great consultant. I am due to return to work 14th April and dreading it. They will make reasonable adjustments to get me back to work but I really feel now like throwing in the towel.

[Used2be]

Hi I think I'm heading down the ill health retirement route but have already been told that it's unlikely I'll get tire two (NHS)...such a battle is not attractive right now.

Any advice welcome please.