Benefits & Pension income

Oldernotwiser

McKneff wrote: »

Normally you can only take an occupational pension when under 55 if a GP has said that you will never, ever be capapble of any kind of paid employment ever, if she has got this confirmation then she is entitled to the pension. But, if she gets better and is found to be capable of work, the pension will be stopped.

That may well not be the case. I took early retirement from teaching on health grounds at the age of 53 and there was no problem with my getting jobs in other areas. It was only if I'd returned to teaching that I would've lost my ill health pension.

McKneff

It was only from something one of the pension specialists on here said a couple of weeks ago.

Oldernotwiser

McKneff wrote: »

It was only from something one of the pension specialists on here said a couple of weeks ago.

I think ill health retirement is a separate issue.:)

rotoguys

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That may well not be the case. I took early retirement from teaching on health grounds at the age of 53 and there was no problem with my getting jobs in other areas. It was only if I'd returned to teaching that I would've lost my ill health pension.

That is correct. It is just the same as the Civil Service. Recently a great number were offered redundancy, or ill health retirement. Many opted for Ill lealth retirement as depending on the number of years of service received a lot more money than redundancy.
The lump sum was 4 x their gross pension + they made up their years to 40 even if they had only been employed for say 11 years.

I have a friend who was in a senior position and retired due to ill health as he had problems with his wrist due to constant computer usage.

His last 12 months salary was £48,000, he had worked for 18 years, but they made it up to 40 and gave him a pension of 40/60 x £48,000 = £32,000 pa and a lump sum of £128,000.

He then took up employment in the private sector on a salary of £52,000pa doing exactly the same job!

midnight_express

If she owns aproperty she shouldn't be getting LHA. Did she declare this when claiming - if not this is fraud. If she gives away the lump sum this is deprivation of capital, if she doesn't declare it when claiming means tested benefits this is fraud. Her pension will also be taken into account.