retiring early because of health issues

firedragon1510

Ihave been a welder for over 35 years l am totally deaf in my right ear and losing it in my left i have to take Rampiril to help my kidneys to break down the acid as i suffer with gout my eye sight isnt great now and suffer constant headaches and migraine i also take Amlodopine for my blood pressuredo you think i could retire on these grounds for health issues. 

kaMelo

You can stop work whenever you want, whether you qualify for any financial help is a completely different subject and is based upon your circumstances.

The only certainty is state pension will not be paid until you reach SPA.

poppy12345

New style ESA if you've paid the correct NI contributions in tax years 2020/21-2021/22. It pays £77 per week. If placed into the Support Group the amount increases to £117.60/week. (amounts increase from April 2023)

Unless you're self employed you should look at claiming SSP first from your employer. https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility this is paid for 28 weeks and you can't be paid ESA at the same time.

You can also look at claiming Universal Credit. It's means tested so if you live with a partner you claim as a couple and your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming.

Have you looked at claiming PIP, it's a disability benefit that isn't means tested. See link. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

sammyjammy

You don't say how old you are, have you considered a different job?

TELLIT01

Financial support is limited, to say the least.  Poppy12345 has given the amount you may receive on ESA, and that is only an option if you can get a medical certificate from your GP to show you are not fit to work.  Early retirement on health grounds is only of any benefit if you have a company pension which will pay out early for retirement on health grounds.  You really need to investigate further on that point. 

From a benefits viewpoint, you may not be able to do your current job but that doesn't prevent you doing other work.  The question of what work would be open to somebody who has been a welder all their working life is another thing altogether.