Submitting info for ill health retirement

muswellblue

Hi, 
I will be applying for ill health retirement in the near future. My pension provider sent me all the info/forms. I was surprised there wasn’t any forms for me or work to fill in. All I have to send them is ‘declaration of ill health’ form by the doctor, and a risk questions sheet for the pension option I choose. 

They said my employer will not need to complete any forms. They said they will make me a leaver from the scheme and send me a quote once they have run their checks. 

This all seems a lot easier than I thought it would. I thought I would be back and forth between HR, occupational health, and the GP. Is it really that simple?

My pension is a defined contribution scheme, I’m almost 52, so would be getting the pension 3 years early. 

Brie

there is a good chance that the doctor's surgery will require you to pay for the forms to be completed.  

DRS1

and a good chance it will take them a long time to do it.

Even if you filled in the forms yourself the provider would probably have wanted a doctor's confirmation of the information anyway.

Cobbler_tone

It's normally the trustees who will make the final decision to grant ill health retirement. Then you may have specific rules tied to your work placed scheme, assuming that is what it is. I am sure all companies take a slightly different view/approach. If you are not already I would make sure that you are following all the correct processes with your manager, employer and HR dept.

FIREDreamer

muswellblue said:

Hi, 
I will be applying for ill health retirement in the near future. My pension provider sent me all the info/forms. I was surprised there wasn’t any forms for me or work to fill in. All I have to send them is ‘declaration of ill health’ form by the doctor, and a risk questions sheet for the pension option I choose. 

They said my employer will not need to complete any forms. They said they will make me a leaver from the scheme and send me a quote once they have run their checks. 

This all seems a lot easier than I thought it would. I thought I would be back and forth between HR, occupational health, and the GP. Is it really that simple?

My pension is a defined contribution scheme, I’m almost 52, so would be getting the pension 3 years early. 

If it’s a defined contribution scheme, taking it early doesn’t cost the employer or pension scheme anything.

If it’s a defined benefit scheme, I expect it would be a totally different matter with a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between various parties.

Sarahspangles

muswellblue said:

Hi, 
I will be applying for ill health retirement in the near future. My pension provider sent me all the info/forms. I was surprised there wasn’t any forms for me or work to fill in. All I have to send them is ‘declaration of ill health’ form by the doctor, and a risk questions sheet for the pension option I choose. 

They said my employer will not need to complete any forms. They said they will make me a leaver from the scheme and send me a quote once they have run their checks. 

This all seems a lot easier than I thought it would. I thought I would be back and forth between HR, occupational health, and the GP. Is it really that simple?

My pension is a defined contribution scheme, I’m almost 52, so would be getting the pension 3 years early. 

You mentioned in an earlier thread that your current employer/pension is a DC one, so the ill health retirement simply justifies them paying out before you turn 55.

In another thread you mentioned you were trying to understand the CETV transfer value of an older DB pension. Have you checked the impact of doing that on your ability to claim benefits while still of working age, if at some point you need to? If that’s still the plan.

Marcon

DRS1 said:

and a good chance it will take them a long time to do it.

Even if you filled in the forms yourself the provider would probably have wanted a doctor's confirmation of the information anyway.

There's no 'probably' about it. A pension provider can't normally pay out before the age of 55 (57 from April 2028) except on grounds of ill health, and HMRC requires them to have written confirmation from a registered medical practitioner.

muswellblue

Sarahspangles said:

muswellblue said:

Hi, 
I will be applying for ill health retirement in the near future. My pension provider sent me all the info/forms. I was surprised there wasn’t any forms for me or work to fill in. All I have to send them is ‘declaration of ill health’ form by the doctor, and a risk questions sheet for the pension option I choose. 

They said my employer will not need to complete any forms. They said they will make me a leaver from the scheme and send me a quote once they have run their checks. 

This all seems a lot easier than I thought it would. I thought I would be back and forth between HR, occupational health, and the GP. Is it really that simple?

My pension is a defined contribution scheme, I’m almost 52, so would be getting the pension 3 years early. 

You mentioned in an earlier thread that your current employer/pension is a DC one, so the ill health retirement simply justifies them paying out before you turn 55.

In another thread you mentioned you were trying to understand the CETV transfer value of an older DB pension. Have you checked the impact of doing that on your ability to claim benefits while still of working age, if at some point you need to? If that’s still the plan.

Now I have some understanding of the CETV transfer value I decided I wouldn’t be transferring the DB pension out. It would be better to leave it where it is and get the benefits from it in the future. 

I have spoken to pensionwise, citizens advice and my financial advisor. And I have some knowledge of benefits, especially relating to savings. I will be speaking to financial advisor again before making any final decisions on anything.