Illness & Early Retirement ?

EycplUK

Just need some advice about the above..........
Deatials are as below , would appreciate some good advice !

I work for the NHS , manual work as domestic , been there for just 11 years now , since August i have been on sick leave with COPD and athritis problems , as per contracted hours , 13 hrs per week , i have been receiving full pay while on sick and this ends in February . when i will be eligible for 1/2 pay . probabley up to August `12 , as i work weekend my hourly rates are Time & Half @6.5 hours and Double time for 6.5 Hours , this does make a big difference to the sum payed .
Had meeting with Occupational health who believe i will not be able to resume work and have a meeting coming up with Head of HR and department to discuss my situation , i must say that the folks at work have been really helpful at all times and i am looking to find a resolution to this asap !
So would i be better asking for early retirement due to ill health ( permanent ) , wait until i am terminated by the NHS trust in due course , or do i have another course of action open to me ?
Some additional data to clarify :
I am not in a union
I do not contribute to a Pension plan , either private or NHS
I am now registered as disabled by the DWP, HR Mobility and LR Care
My o/h is receiving Pension Credit ( Guaranteed part )
All Comments will be received with thanks

SarEl

I am somewhat confused as to how you can ask for early retirement if you have no pension plan? Normally the two go together - the point of asking for early retirement is to try to claim pension benefits. If there is no benefit in your retiring then there is no point asking for it. Wait until the Trust terminates the employment.

Emmzi

As you do not have a pension it is very unlikely there will be a lump sum and I would expect to be simply dismissed on grounds of capability. with no additional opayment.

As such you may as well sit tight and get sick pay for as long as you can while researching any additional unemployment or disability benefits you may be eligible for (benefits board here for that), and thinking about less physically demanding jobs you could do. eg reception/ office work may be less taxing than care work.