LGPS Compassionate Grounds?

zonecrew

Hi

I want a bit of advice on behalf of my mum if possible

she is a member of the LGPS and has just over 5 years till normal retirement age of 65. She works 30 hours per week (it was 37hrs per week till about 12 months ago but she had to reduce her hours)

she is really wanting to reduce her hours further because my dad has parkinsons disease and his illness is getting worse but she is unable to do so because their finances arent great. i have read online that a person can request to take flexible retirement and that benefits may not be reduced if a request is made on compassionate grounds, does anyone know if my dads situation would be sufficient grounds?

ideally she would like to reduce to 15 hours a week and a non reduction of pension benefits would make this possible

thanks for any advice!

Cash-Cow_3

Flexible retirement is possible subject to your employer's agreement. They will have a policy on it so you should contact your scheme administrator.

zonecrew

Yes, i'm aware of this, was really wanting to know if my dads parkinsons disease would be sufficient grounds to satisfy compassionate grounds. I suppose the only way to find out would for her to apply but if anyone has knowledge in this area i would be grateful to know....

atush

Can't they get extra benefits due to his condition (ie carer's allowance) to help? Even if she is allowed to take her pension earlier, thereduction is for her whole life (not his is he goes earlier).

zonecrew

Yes, she would be able to claim carers allowance if her earnings were below a certain level (not sure if her pension would be taken into account though, if she took it early?)

i've been on the LPGS website and it says that a person can retire early and not have their pension reduced if they have compassionate grounds and they appeal them to the administrator. this is what i really need to know, does my dads illness meet the criteria for this bearing in mind she is the main carer?

atush

Yes, I assume the pension will be taken int acct. you need advice fromt he benefits board really.

rpc

You would probably be better off asking the trustees/administrator. They will have a much better idea of what their own criteria are.

sleepless_saver

As well as the compassionate circumstances, the administrators will be looking at the costs of letting your mother have an unreduced pension early in the context of other people applying to go early. So no one here can tell you what they would decide.

On a related moneysaving point, has your dad applied for disability living allowance, which is a benefit for people with care and/or mobility needs? It won't reduce any other benefits.

atush

Indeed, before doing anything they sould see they are getting all the benefits they are entitled to.

zonecrew

Thanks for all the replies, sounds like the best way forward is to contact the pensions administrator. my dad does get DLA btw

Pixieboy

You may already have discovered this but, this is an employer discretion under the scheme regulations, so it would be your mum's employer's HR people that you should contact.
They should have a published policy on flexible retirement and also on waiving the early payment reductions.
There would be a cost to the employer in granting unreduced benefits which, in the current economic climate, may be an issue for them. On the other hand, they may not have got round to changing their policy yet....
Wishing you the best of luck!