Early retirement/long term sick

JohnAndrew · 19 April 2017 at 10:39AM

I'm a 62 year old woman who cant claim state pension until I'm 66.
I have just suffered from a heart attack and I'm currently off sick from a part time job with a scottish local council.
If I stopped working due to ill health are there any benefits that I could apply for to tide me over until state pension age.
Thanks in advance.

bspm · 19 April 2017 at 10:46AM

JohnAndrew wrote: »

I'm a 62 year old woman who cant claim state pension until I'm 66.
I have just suffered from a heart attack and I'm currently off sick from a part time job with a scottish local council.
If I stopped working due to ill health are there any benefits that I could apply for to tide me over until state pension age.
Thanks in advance.

Can you not take Ill Health early Retirement?

Only asking as I am a former DWP employee and was able to take mine at 56. I also managed to obtain my pension though the Council too who I worked for many years ago.
Like yourself I am not eligible for my State Pension until I am 66 also.
But you may be able to claim ESA if you meet the criteria.

xylophone · 19 April 2017 at 11:51AM

You are in LGPS?

http://www.mylgpspension.co.uk/en/member-information/member-information/active-member/retirement-guide/ill-health-retirement

Alice_Holt · 19 April 2017 at 5:46PM

ESA
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/before-you-apply-for-esa/eligiblility-for-esa/

PIP
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/

Would be two possibilities.

Also Housing Benefit / Council Tax Reduction if on a low income with savings under £16k.

Your local CAB may be able to help with a benefits check.

sangie595 · 19 April 2017 at 9:27PM

In a local authority, the first thing you do is nothing! Unless you have almost no service, you have up to six months full pay and six months half pay, which also continues to accrue pension contributions. A heart condition also immediately becomes a disability. You sit and let the council do the running - you don't give up work!

Possible ill health retirement would not kick in yet anyway - if you have recently had a heart attack, there may be a very good prognosis, and they would want to see how fully you recover.

If you are in a union, speak to them.

Pollycat · 20 April 2017 at 7:57AM

You could put your details (obviously excluding any salary from work) into these 2 benefit checkers to see what you might be eligible for:

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

JohnAndrew · 23 April 2017 at 10:00AM

thanks to you all for your replies- a lot to consider!

Early retirement/long term sick

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