Early Retirement

[MiloCollie]

Just wondering if anyone has taken/been granted ill health early retirement due to PMR?

[piglette]

I wasn’t.

[MiloCollie in reply to piglette]

You mean you wanted it but didn't get it?

[piglette in reply to MiloCollie]

No, I did not even think about it. I staggered on. My job is mainly a desk one and I was able to work from home too.

[MrsNails]

Yes l did/was, l worked for the NHS & l just couldn’t do my job any longer & reduce the steroids, l was in constant pain....

I applied for Early Retirement & was granted it, I had been seeing Occupational Health since l first had issues with my shoulder which ultimately led to the PMR.

Best of Luck

MrsN

[MiloCollie in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks MrsNails - I'm not in work now but have applied for my deferred pension early. I don't have OH to fall back on but my GP is supportive.

[MrsNails in reply to MiloCollie]

Hope it all goes well 🍀

[Kendrew]

Hi MiloCollie.I've been on long term sick leave for almost 2yrs and had two attempts to return to work as a Nursery class teacher in a primary school. I was going to have a 3rd attempt at the end of this month but have finally realised that this just isn't going to be feasible and I'm now in the process of applying for medical retirement. My Headteacher has put the referral into Occupational health and I'm awaiting an appointment with them. This shouldn't be too long as I've just given permission for them to access all my medical records.

I would have been retiring in 3yrs anyway.

[Coffeebeans in reply to Kendrew]

Hi Kendrew,

This might be the daftest question ever but what's the benefit of medical retirement over say, just putting notice in? I suspect this is something I need to know!

[Uisce58 in reply to Coffeebeans]

If you are retired on medical grounds it means you are unable to work and can access your pension early. There are different levels of ill health retirement (1) your health prevents you doing current role, you can retire and draw down pension but by drawing it early you will lose a % and not get the full amount as you would at statutory retirement age (2) your ill health prevents you from ever working again and so you can access your full pension at no % loss to you. Type 2 is obviously better for you - are you in a Union ? Also it would help you to check your organisation's pension arrangements. Hope this helps.

[MrsNails in reply to Uisce58]

I got Level 2 Retirement on Health Grounds - my Manager said l wouldn’t get it all & l’d have to appeal.....

It went off on a Tuesday & l had it confirmed by letter which arrived on the Friday!....

[Kendrew in reply to Coffeebeans]

I think others have answered this already but I would just add that there are also some 'benefits' that may be claimed if medically retired that might help with any financial constraints.

[Coffeebeans in reply to Kendrew]

Thanks everyone.

That does make sense. I hadn't understood that because until recently hadn't any reason to think I could go early.

I don't think for one minute I would get option 2 but also don't know the criteria. I'm not in a union but planning on joining due to a range of issues mostly relating to ill health and workplace support.

I'm just not sure what I should expect from them when having a long term problem. For example, I just found out that they should be giving me the time to go to appointments relating to PMR which is significant amount of time given its a 3 hour round journey.

Thanks all. Really helpful.

[MiloCollie in reply to Kendrew]

I've applied for ESA benefit in the interim. Crap compared to a Nurse wage but I need something.

[MiloCollie in reply to Coffeebeans]

As Uisce58 says, there are connections with pensions.

[MiloCollie in reply to Kendrew]

Good for you don't struggle on.

[whitefishbay]

I got PMR in 2015 and I reduced hours by one but have carried on working full time. I need to work and I need to work (money & sanity).

[SheffieldJane]

I worked for the government formally, in HR. I believe that our conditions would have been seriously considered for early retirement on health grounds.

[SanG55]

I looked into it, but I reach state retirement age next month so it wasn't an option. I am still looking at options as I had planned to work beyond state retirement age before PMR came along! Good luck MiloCollie, I hope you can sort things in a way that is right for you.

[MiloCollie in reply to SanG55]

Thanks SanG55, I've sent my application off today. Fingers crossed.

[Griggser]

Yes I retired at 59 on health grounds. I had great support from my rheumatologist who had to give a report to the company I worked for. Prior to retirement I had been on reduced hours for several months before being off totally due to fatigue, brain fog etc etc. I just couldn’t function in my role as a senior manager. Good luck if you go down that route.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I continued working for 5 years with untreated PMR because I was self-employed - no retirement option that didn't mean no income! However, I worked from home and so there was no commute, just a stagger from bed to computer desk. The digital era also meant there was no need to travel to my clients although they were all abroad! I couldn't have done a job requiring me to commute and do any physically demanding tasks though.

But often getting retirement on medical grounds for PMR is difficult because the official line is that once you are on pred, all your troubles have gone away and you are back to normal. As we know, that isn't always true.

[MiloCollie in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro My GP said I may not get it on PMR alone but my anxiety is my other issue.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MiloCollie]

Which of course is made far worse by pred ...

[Janet57]

I worked on for several years because I thought I could beat this condition. I was wrong and eventually had to stop work after a period of sick leave. I enquired about I’ll health retirement but was told it would be refused because I would get better. At this stage I didn’t have the energy to fight the decision. So I then took early retirement.

[MiloCollie in reply to Janet57]

Sorry about that Janet57. At least you're out of it now. Best Wishes. x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Are you in a union? if so, speak to union rep... and speak to line managers, Occupational Health, HR....whoever you can.

It really depends on occupation and employers it would appear... PMR is classed as "manageable and temporary" in some workplaces...but they do need to do all they can to assist you to continue working.

[MiloCollie in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DorestLady, thanks. I didn't explain myself. I'm not in work as I had to stop but I have a deferred NHS pension I've applied to take early. PMR and anxiety based.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MiloCollie]

Ok..see you’ve applied to get occupational pension early - hope you are successful.

[MiloCollie in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou DL. I have applied now for ill health retirement on my NHS deferred pension (for PMR and Anxiety) and have just received my first ever state benefit in the form of new style Employee Support Allowance. Sadly all on National Nurses Day of which I was a very good one!! Thanks for your input you are very informative and spirit lifting. x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MiloCollie]

Must be mixed feelings for you...,,fingers crossed the NHS deferred pension comes good. 🌸

[choirsinger1986]

I was granted ill health retirement mid January as I got to a point where I was struggling with my left arm and severe pain and stiffness at shoulders and hips from close to end of Oct 2020. Had PMR since Dec 2019.

[MiloCollie in reply to choirsinger1986]

Good for you - although a crappy reason to retire we need to look after ourselves.