Retiring on medical grounds

Chrissiew

Can anyone tell me how to go about this please, my husband has been off work sick for 2 months now and is claiming SSP, he has been told to retire on medical grounds but doesn't know what to do, can anyone advise, thanks

tanith

He needs to speak to HR dept and ask for a referral to Occupational Health. Is he in a Union they would be able to advise him. He should speak to his immediate boss if he doesn't know how to contact HR. Don't do anything till he has spoken to HR and certainly don't just leave there are procedures that need to be followed especially if there is a pension involved. How old is he?

Chrissiew

Thanks for the reply, the company he works for is a small family run coach company, they have no HR dept, no unions and no pension schemes, it's just a mother, daughter and son who work in a small office and give out work to the drivers, my Husband is 55 and has COPD as well as diabetes and liver problems, the fumes from the coaches are making him worse and he's no longer able to lift passenger luggage, so I guess it's a case of just speaking to his boss then

Dunroamin

Chrissiew wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, the company he works for is a small family run coach company, they have no HR dept, no unions and no pension schemes, it's just a mother, daughter and son who work in a small office and give out work to the drivers, my Husband is 55 and has COPD as well as diabetes and liver problems, the fumes from the coaches are making him worse and he's no longer able to lift passenger luggage, so I guess it's a case of just speaking to his boss then

If he doesn't have a pension scheme then surely it's just a question of leaving rather than retiring on medical grounds.

Chrissiew

But if he just leaves won't he be Sanctioned by the DWP? I thought it would be classed as wilfully leaving your job even though he's too Ill to work

wiccanlou

Give the benefits advice line a call so you can find out what they require. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011165

Dunroamin

Chrissiew wrote: »

But if he just leaves won't he be Sanctioned by the DWP? I thought it would be classed as wilfully leaving your job even though he's too Ill to work

That will depend on whether he's looking for another job and claiming JSA or trying to claim ESA.

Even if it's the first of these he may well not be sanctioned if he's got good medical support for his reasons for leaving.

tanith

In the circumstances both Dunroamin and wiccanlou give good advice

rogerblack

If he's on good terms with the employer, it would be a good idea to get a note from them saying they've looked at alternate roles he could do, and not found any.
This would help with JSA.

As to ESA.
You need to understand why he may be eligible for ESA.
Simply because a doctor does not believe he can work does not of itself mean that he's entitled to ESA.

He needs to gain enough points on the test, to get into one group, or meet one of the criteria for the most severe group - the support group.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/m-06-11.pdf - is the list of criteria.

Dunroamin

And he needs to be clear that ESA is concerned with whether he can work at all rather than whether he can do his current job.

NickyTitch

Hi, I am kind of in the same situation, although I work for a larger company- the NHS. I can barely make it through the day now and can't wait to get to the Oram0rph bottle now. My nurse specialist can't believe I'm still working but while I can make it I'll get to my patients. Its now so bad though that for the last few weeks I can Hardly move. I have no idea what to do. there seem to be so many rules arund Chronic cauda equina
and different tiers, that I am totally confused! I am 43, , would I get any money at all or need to wait until I reach 60. I don't really want my manager to know that I'm exploring the options- please someone give me some advice if you can,
Many thanks, Nicky xx