Annual review - ill health early retirement pension

Nikkster

Hello.
An unusual query from me - and I'm probably more venting than expecting answers! Even if you think I'm being unreasonable or ridiculous, please be gentle with me.

I took ill health early retirement around 4 years ago as I have stage 4 cancer. I had 3 pension pots - one I took as a full lump sum as I sadly qualify for 'serious ill health retirement'. The other two I took a lump sum plus the maximum monthly income as I felt this would be more suitable for me. One of these schemes performs an annual 'review' - basically asking for a medical update (very top line) and whether you are in any employment/ how much. They send this as a paper form, with no return envelope (form can be uploaded online or sent back at own cost).

I find this process incredibly distressing and intrusive. It does not help that I felt forced out of work, nor that I had issues with the calculation of my pension before I took it (that were eventually resolved in my favour). I have also just completed a week of brain radiotherapy and have other treatment changes coming up - so I my stress levels are already high.

Is this annual review a standard thing (it is apparently in the scheme rules but I am wondering more widely)? Is there anything I can do to not have to go through this? I have requested a prepaid envelope to return their form as this would at least make the process slightly easier for me (no need to take a photo - probably have to free up space on my phone, log into their portal, upload etc) as I can just grit my teeth, fill in the form and put it in the post.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! As I said, this is probably more of a vent than anything else (and breathe).

lisyloo

So sorry you are having this.
It sounds to me like a good friend could help you here reduce the stress. For example to phone up and find out the deadline for sending back the form so you aren't pressurised to do it at a bad time.

Kniphofia7

Which pension scheme is undertaking this annual review?  In my experience with LGPS for instance this type of review would be undertaken every 3 years but only for "less serious" Ill Health Retirement where the member possibly has expectation of being able to work before Normal Pension Age.

You need to look at the scheme rules and acertain what type of IHR they preocessed you under.

Best of luck.

Tommyjw

Worked on many DB schemes and this is quite common. As you mention, this will be down to the Rules so they simply have to follow them and check. The rules may say it is required in all ill health cases, they may say it is down to the Trustee / Doctors opinion as to whether they need to or not (some Trustees will employ a Dr to make these decisions, some will just do it themselves despite of course zero medical knowledge), sometimes certain limits like mentioned above so not in all cases.

Think of it as being better than, for example you returning to a type of work that would mean your ill health benefits stop, not realising, them finding out 10 years later and claiming 10 years overpayments back from you.