Ill health retirement

sgc21

Hi, 
I may have to consider ill health retirement due to some unfortunate health issues.
I have cardiac issues and was fitted with a pacemaker 2 years ago since then I have developed heart failure and other heart issues that have impacted on my physical and mental health.
I have spoken to my GP about the potential of me having to take early retirement due to my health issues and he is supportive should I chose that route.
I don't know anything about the process and just wondered if anyone can give advice?
I have a company final salary pension and my normal retirement age is 60.
I'm 53 and I have an estimate of the pensionable benefits payable at 60.
Waiting for a treatment plan from my cardiologist so ongoing treatment is planned but I fear that I may never return to full fitness levels physically and mentally and may need to consider early I'll health retirement.

Does anyone have any experience of the process of early ill health retirement that they can share?

Browntoa

Depends on the terms of your scheme , there is a chance that it's not an option 

Is it a defined benefit scheme ? 

But it's normally an initial request by you and then they will respond for any documentation they require, normally letters from consultants etc . 

JoeCrystal

Just to confirm is your current employer is the one with the final salary pension? Then they/admin are your first point of call.

MrsPound

You will need to contact your pension scheme administrators. There will be strict criteria to meet to retire under ill health, and start taking your pension. Worth a try if that’s what you need to do.

Ayr_Rage

The first port of call should be your company's HR department who will be able, along with the pension scheme administrators, to offer you advice as to what may be available.

In my old company the employer and scheme both had to agree before ill health retirement was offered.

Dazza1902

If you work in the public sector then there is a very good chance of ihr

Marcon

Dazza1902 said:

If you work in the public sector then there is a very good chance of ihr

It'll be an option, but a 'very good chance' of actually happening may be another matter, depending on how ill OP is and the rules of their particular scheme. The cost to the employer of IHR means it is far from a 'given' - and OP's reference to a 'company final salary scheme' doesn't suggest a public sector employer.

Silvertabby

Dazza1902 said:

If you work in the public sector then there is a very good chance of ihr

The days of public sector ill health pensions being given out like smarties are long gone.

zagubov

Your union rep should be able to offer advice on this.

Tommyjw

• Talk to your DB Scheme and ask them for the details of whether it is possible, the process, and the benefit gained (e.g. is there no reduction, or something else (it may not even be possible, some Schemes were built to only allow it when retiring from Active Service)
• They'll likely send you a form to complete, typically asking for your doctors details and a signature from you giving them permission to write to your doctor
• They will write to your doctor to ask for details about you
• This will then go to the Trustee of the Scheme to decide if you qualify under the Scheme rules
• If they agree, they'll send you the relevant figures / options / forms

Typically this should move quite fast and typically the longest stage is waiting for the medical evidence, otherwise (if they are doing their job properly...) Schemes should prioritise the ill-health process

NlghtOwl

Suggest you organise your medical records so you can make your case for IHR. The scheme will have their requirements for medical reports but worth getting sorted. Nothing to lose