Applying for ill health retirement

ac89

Has anyone applied for IH retirement ,been turned down appealed and been turned down a second time? What sort of time scale would be involved in this situation? If this happened would you have the option of returning to your job or would you lose your job and have to claim incapcity benefit?
thanks AC89

Debt_Free_Chick

ac89 wrote:

Has anyone applied for IH retirement ,been turned down appealed and been turned down a second time?

Why are you being turned down? You need to understand what the criteria is for ill health retirement. Usually, there is a specific definition of incapacity e.g. unable to do any work and not likely to return to work. What does your scheme definition say?

What are the reasons for refusal?

What sort of time scale would be involved in this situation?

It really depends on the medical evidence that is required and how long it takes the medical advisers to provide this

If this happened would you have the option of returning to your job

If you were fit to do the job, then I would have thought so. But if you are fit to do your job .... I wouldn't expect you to qualify for ill-health retirement

or would you lose your job and have to claim incapcity benefit?
thanks AC89

If you are not fit to do your job, then you can be dismissed for incapacity. But there are different definitions of incapacity ...

1. A definition that determines whether you are able to do your job - and this depends on what your job is

2. A definition in the pension scheme rules that determines if you get an immediate pension.

3. A definition that the DWP has to determine if you qualify for incapacity benefit.

You can have incapacity under (1) but not qualify under (2) and/or (3).

Let us have further details if there is a specific set of circumstances here, as it's difficult to be precise without knowing more detail.

HTH

ac89

Hi Debt Free Chick,
I havent been turned down for IHR but am about to apply. I have been advised that it is unusual for it to be granted first time(even though my consultant has stated that I should be given the opportunity to retire due to the chronic nature of my illness and the fact I am on maximal treatment).Therefore I am preparing myself for the next stage and the possible outcomes i may have to face. Perhaps i am getting too het up or too pessimistic due to the advice given (by my union rep).Just wondered if anyone had gone through this process and could give me some insight into their experience.
thanks ac89

Debt_Free_Chick

ac89 wrote:

Hi Debt Free Chick,
I havent been turned down for IHR but am about to apply. I have been advised that it is unusual for it to be granted first time(even though my consultant has stated that I should be given the opportunity to retire due to the chronic nature of my illness and the fact I am on maximal treatment).

Careful here - your consultant doesn't know the rules of the pension scheme so he is not in a position to comment. What he is really saying is "it would be nice if the company paid you off or gave you a pension".

Therefore I am preparing myself for the next stage and the possible outcomes i may have to face.

Not a bad idea

Perhaps i am getting too het up or too pessimistic due to the advice given (by my union rep).

OK - try not to be too pessimistic. I can't understand the comment "it is unusual for it to be granted first time". Either you qualify; or you don't; or more medical evidence or a second opinion is needed. It really should be that simple.

Just wondered if anyone had gone through this process and could give me some insight into their experience.
thanks ac89

Not as an applicant ... but I've processed plenty and dealt with some disputes about them

Some information from the Pensions Advisory Service a free service offering help to people who have disputes about their pension entitlement.

Post back here if you have any further questions and contact the PAS if you get into a dispute.

HTH

ac89

Hello Debt free chick......Thank you for the useful advice re IHR.My consultants comment was given in a written report (of which I requested a copy)that the occupational health doctor requested after an OH appointment I had in August. I do realise that it isnt down to the consultant to decide but I suspect he has offered this as his opinion after treating me over a period of 16 years.I think the comment re-
not being granted IHR after the first application may be the union reps response to the fact that the pension people(TPS) may be tightening up on how many applications they let through.I am basically preparing myself for the worst possible scenario I suppose and very concerned about how I will cope financially if the decision(s) is not in my favour.I will certainly get in touch with the PAS if I need more help so thank you for making me aware the service exists.Cheers,ac89

tanith

I am in the process of taking IHR.. I was informed 2mths ago that my request for IHR had been accepted which I am thankful for.. I too had concerns such as yours but although it seems everything takes so long the actual time from my request going in and being accepted was only a matter of a couple of weeks... The Pensions Board accepted statements from the OH doctor as my own GP refused to write a report as my employer would only pay a nominal sum and the GP unhelpfully decided that it was not sufficent... and I do not think they took the time to contact my hospital consultant, there would not of been time for this in the time it took.. I was a bit puzzled you were told that 1st time applications are often turned down too as this was never mentioned to me..

I am now awaiting an offical date of my retirement and a meeting with my HR officer to discuss things... he has arranged for my Union Rep to be present at this meeting next week...

Ask away with any queries or questions you may have as I have felt like I was stumbling along in the dark for the last few months and found this site a font of knowledge as regards some of my questions....

Just as an afterthought are you still receiving SSP? as once mine stopped I was able to claim Incapacity Benefit which is a great help....
Good luck with your application....

ac89

Hi Tanith,
Glad to hear your excellent news. I am quite sure its a great relief to you. Your post was very helpful to me as I am slightly (!)stressed over this but it might be also that I am at a low ebb with my health (i have lupus and APS) and the meds I am on arent all that effective at times.I will be relying on my consultant to provide most of the medical evidence and he has agreed.My scheme asks you to nominate your GP or consultant but I think prefer to hear from a specialist. I think the OH doc also has to write a report.When I saw him in August I felt he was dismissive,saying I would probably be OK in a few weeks.I thought it was very strange that he didnt ask me any questions about my physical difficulties in the job.Another comment was that I was a bit young at 51 for IHR but it was something I could think about in the future!! I have been struggling for the last 2 years with great difficulty so another few years in the job would probably kill me off.Maybe its his job to put people off but I was gutted and dont know if I will get much support from him. Since that appointment my consultant has sent him a report on the state of my condition more or less saying that all treatments have been tried and I should be given the opportunity to retire so I am hoping that this OH doctor will have a better insight and be more sympathetic when I see him next time. I hope you get your retirement date sorted soon and good luck with your meeting.Thank you very much for the advice. I may be in touch at a later stage.Regards,ac

tanith

Ac89 please feel free to PM me if you have any questions in the future.. its seems we may be going down the same road.:rotfl: Sorry to hear about your Lupus & APS my problem is Osteo/Arthritis and I was physically unable to do my job anymore....

Take care and I would be interested to hear how you get on with your application....

ac89

hi Tanith,
I am pleased to report that I have been successful in getting my IHR. Now all the stress is over Iam just waiting to see what the calculations will be!! Regards ,ac89