Retirement due to ill health - HELP!

anniev_2

I have been off due to my fibromyalgia for the last 14 months, my work is now talking about dismissing me! I have seen an OH physician twice and both times hes said im unfit for work and he cant see me having any improvement in the near future, my GP is the same and both talked to me about Early Retirement due to ill Health. My work contacted the OH provider to ask about this and another Physician, who I have never seen has said I am not eligible for this. I have since found out that he does not think that fibromyalgia is a disability so anyone referred to him with this condition is refused! I want to know whether I can appeal against this decision and get another Doctor to look at my case. Any advice would be helpful.

McKneff

anniev wrote: »

I have been off due to my fibromyalgia for the last 14 months, my work is now talking about dismissing me! I have seen an OH physician twice and both times hes said im unfit for work and he cant see me having any improvement in the near future, my GP is the same and both talked to me about Early Retirement due to ill Health. My work contacted the OH provider to ask about this and another Physician, who I have never seen has said I am not eligible for this. I have since found out that he does not think that fibromyalgia is a disability so anyone referred to him with this condition is refused! I want to know whether I can appeal against this decision and get another Doctor to look at my case. Any advice would be helpful.

:j:j:j

You did it :T

Annie

McKneff

When you say 'retire due to ill health' do yu mean this to enable you to get your private pension.

If not, if you are ill, yu can stay 'on the sick' so to speak until you are well enough to work or until you get your state pension
Do yu mind me asking how old you are.

de1amo

i go early retirement on health grounds due to repetitive strain injury --the diagnosis was fibromyalga. i was 37 and i got a lump sum and enhanced pension on my service years--the only thing i wish i had done was buy additional years to bring it up to 40 years from 32 years i got.

McKneff

de1amo wrote: »

i go early retirement on health grounds due to repetitive strain injury --the diagnosis was fibromyalga. i was 37 and i got a lump sum and enhanced pension on my service years--the only thing i wish i had done was buy additional years to bring it up to 40 years from 32 years i got.

I presume that you are referring to a private pension.

Can you buy additional years on a private pension.

de1amo

it was an occupational health pension and somewhere on your annual statement there should be details on AVC's--additional voluntary contributions. also contact the pension people in your human resources to see what years you will get added to your service. i just went along blindly and they added 12 years to my 20 years actual service--also at the moment the pension being increased by cpi or the other type is important to the issue(i cant remember the name) you want it to be inflation proof as it will have to last you a long time if your taking it early!

anniev_2

McKneff wrote: »

When you say 'retire due to ill health' do yu mean this to enable you to get your private pension.

If not, if you are ill, yu can stay 'on the sick' so to speak until you are well enough to work or until you get your state pension
Do yu mind me asking how old you are.

Yes, I am 51. I know I can stay on the sick but if they dismiss me I will have to wait till Im 65 to get my pension.

anniev_2

Thanks for reply. But I need to know whether I can ask for a 2nd opinion as the OH Doctor has refused my early retirement due to ill health - even though my own GP has said I probably wont be able to work again!

McKneff

anniev wrote: »

Yes, I am 51. I know I can stay on the sick but if they dismiss me I will have to wait till Im 65 to get my pension.

Are you talking about state pension or private pension.

If you are talking about state pension no matter what happens, ill health or not you will still have to wait till you are 65 ish for it.

Private pension ?

McKneff

anniev wrote: »

Thanks for reply. But I need to know whether I can ask for a 2nd opinion as the OH Doctor has refused my early retirement due to ill health - even though my own GP has said I probably wont be able to work again!

Ah, yes, thats where they have you.

Probably isnt definitely.

de1amo

i was very depressed by my illness and my employer was spooked i think by a death in service claim--it was 14 years ago and i know attitudes have changed to rsi but the specialist they contracted to my case was supportive of me against the employer!--the occupational doctor was not so but he was in the employer's pocket !