Ill health retirement pension

ysabella

I had been absent from work due to long term illness (12 months as at September 2020) and as this was not the first time plus the fact that my illness is progressively worsening, I discussed retirement with my employer and they thought I would possibly qualify for ill health retirement.  The retirement process was started in April last year and then this awful corona virus was with us and everyone's lives changed.  As a result my meetings with my workplace and Occupational Health have all taken place by telephone appointments.  It was actually December before it was made official that I qualified for ill health retirement. However my employer "closed" throughout xmas/new year and it will be 11 January before H.R. are working again.  What I'm wondering is, should my pension be backdated when I finally receive it?  I believe it takes 3 months (normally)  to get the pension in place.  I should add that my wages stopped as off September last year (and the September wage was payment for holidays accrued).  Can anyone advise please.  Do I just accept that I have been unlucky that my retirement has happened as this virus has taken hold.  Thanks in advance.

Marcon

ysabella said:

I had been absent from work due to long term illness (12 months as at September 2020) and as this was not the first time plus the fact that my illness is progressively worsening, I discussed retirement with my employer and they thought I would possibly qualify for ill health retirement.  The retirement process was started in April last year and then this awful corona virus was with us and everyone's lives changed.  As a result my meetings with my workplace and Occupational Health have all taken place by telephone appointments.  It was actually December before it was made official that I qualified for ill health retirement. However my employer "closed" throughout xmas/new year and it will be 11 January before H.R. are working again.  What I'm wondering is, should my pension be backdated when I finally receive it?  I believe it takes 3 months (normally)  to get the pension in place.  I should add that my wages stopped as off September last year (and the September wage was payment for holidays accrued).  Can anyone advise please.  Do I just accept that I have been unlucky that my retirement has happened as this virus has taken hold.  Thanks in advance.

Is this a public sector or a private sector scheme? Is it a defined benefit (final salary/CARE) or a defined contribution scheme? Highly likely to be a defined benefit scheme, but early retirement under a defined contribution scheme is possible.

The important date is when you were actually 'granted' an ill health early retirement pension i.e. when your employer and/or trustees/managers confirmed you were eligible and would receive such a pension. That date will determine from when it is payable. It shouldn't take anything like 3 months to put your pension into payment, but if it does, it will be backdated to whatever date it was granted. 

ysabella

It's a LGPS.  I understand it's not anyone's fault that this is taking so long and it's all down to current conditions.  Hopefully be sorted out soon, as it will almost be a year since this process started.  Thank you for info.

Silvertabby

ysabella said:

It's a LGPS.  I understand it's not anyone's fault that this is taking so long and it's all down to current conditions.  Hopefully be sorted out soon, as it will almost be a year since this process started.  Thank you for info.

Then it's down to the Dr and Occ Health, I'm afraid.  It'll either be from the date your IHR is authorised, or the Dr may recommend that it is back dated.  This is something that your union, if you are a member should be dealing with - they can push for the date to be back dated for the reasons you have given. 

Dox

Silvertabby said:

ysabella said:

It's a LGPS.  I understand it's not anyone's fault that this is taking so long and it's all down to current conditions.  Hopefully be sorted out soon, as it will almost be a year since this process started.  Thank you for info.

Then it's down to the Dr and Occ Health, I'm afraid.  It'll either be from the date your IHR is authorised, or the Dr may recommend that it is back dated.  This is something that your union, if you are a member should be dealing with - they can push for the date to be back dated for the reasons you have given. 

If a bit of help is needed with the pushing, contact TPAS: https://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/pension-problems/making-a-complaint/common-concerns/ill-health-early-retirement for free and impartial help and assistance (but don't cross that bridge until you come to it - you may not need to!).

Nikkster

Have you formally left employment or are you still employed but out of sick pay? If the second I think it might be less straightforward to get your pension backpaid as you haven't technically retired yet. If thats the case I would definitely seek advice from your union (if you are part of one) regarding the delays. Good luck, hope you get everything sorted as easily as possible. 

ysabella

Thank you for advice.  Unfortunately I'm still officially employed even though no payments since September. Even Union steward had thought that I had been retired last time I spoke to him in October.  Thanks again though for info.