Ill health retirement with arthritis

Dave73_2

After having a few years of ill health with joint issues, late last year I was diagnosed with Seronegative polyarthritis.
i have been off work 8 months and now on reduced pay.
I see a consultant and I am going through treatment, this may help but to what extent is unknown. I also had an MRi showing significant bone and joint errosions.

my employer . An oil company recently suggested ill health retirement and would I like to enter the decision process.

I am clearly unable to work as my symptoms are chronic and uncontrolled, 

my pension scheme has to potentials 
1 - partial incapacity which means I can’t do my current job. I feel this one is pretty obvious given my condition.

2 - I am unable to achieve ANY OTHER gainful employment between now and normal retirement age .. as it stands I believe this is also fairly accurate as it stands, my concerns on not achieving this status is that I am still being treated. Although I believe the irreversible damage may help get this decision 

option 2 is significantly enhanced and I could live on the payout

option 1 is only availability to access my existing fund, which I will struggle to live on.

i and 52 years old
I realise my condition is taking this out my hands and what will be will be, I am sure I will have to give up work but I worry I won’t get option 2 which I would need. 

I was really hoping someone may have advice on similar experiences with arthritis and in particular long term prognosis.

my pension is a work pension defined contribution 

Thanks for any advice in advance I’m really stressed 

Marcon

Dave73_2 said:

After having a few years of ill health with joint issues, late last year I was diagnosed with Seronegative polyarthritis.
i have been off work 8 months and now on reduced pay.
I see a consultant and I am going through treatment, this may help but to what extent is unknown. I also had an MRi showing significant bone and joint errosions.

my employer . An oil company recently suggested ill health retirement and would I like to enter the decision process.

I am clearly unable to work as my symptoms are chronic and uncontrolled, 

my pension scheme has to potentials 
1 - partial incapacity which means I can’t do my current job. I feel this one is pretty obvious given my condition.

2 - I am unable to achieve ANY OTHER gainful employment between now and normal retirement age .. as it stands I believe this is also fairly accurate as it stands, my concerns on not achieving this status is that I am still being treated. Although I believe the irreversible damage may help get this decision 

option 2 is significantly enhanced and I could live on the payout

option 1 is only availability to access my existing fund, which I will struggle to live on.

i and 52 years old
I realise my condition is taking this out my hands and what will be will be, I am sure I will have to give up work but I worry I won’t get option 2 which I would need. 

I was really hoping someone may have advice on similar experiences with arthritis and in particular long term prognosis.

my pension is a work pension defined contribution 

Thanks for any advice in advance I’m really stressed 

...the stress will undoubtedly be adding to making everything worse, as it usually does.

I know the answer you are hoping for and I'm sorry that it isn't possible to give the reassurances you really want. Nobody here (even the couple of people posting who are clearly working in, or retired from, the medical profession) can possibly advise with any degree of certainty on someone they haven't seen and assessed, so I'm afraid it really is a case of waiting to see what results you get from the doctor(s) who do carry out the requisite assessment and report.

Two thoughts: are you quite sure you are in a defined contribution (DC) scheme, as opposed to a defined benefit scheme (or possibly a 'hybrid' with features of both - sorry to lob in the jargon)? It's a little unusual for a DC scheme to be enhanced for ill health early retirement, although by no means unheard of.

Second thought: you are on reduced pay now, but have you checked that your employer doesn't offer salary replacement (aka permanent health insurance of PHI - nothing to do with private medical cover) which would continue to pay out provided you remain in employment? It's surprising how many employers do offer that without actually telling employees explicitly (and sometime overlook it themselves), especially if they offer a DC pension. Certainly nothing lost by asking.

Dave73_2

Hi Marcon
yes I’m definitely DC, and it has the 2 levels of incapacity. And definitely no insurance option.
your right about having to wait and also about the stress associated, I’m in agony with this at the moment, need help to go to a toilet even, I’m now on almost double the original dose of methotrexate and also steroids… My worry is that I will never fully recover, it’s been a tough painful and stressful 18 months, that’s fuelling my lack of optimism, but as the deciding body will want to be convinced that the prognosis is permenant at this stage, I lose a great job to I’ll health with the wrong settlement from my pension scheme or worse .. no settlement just unemployment. The outcomes and the consequences for me are life changing. 

Marcon

Dave73_2 said:

Hi Marcon
yes I’m definitely DC, and it has the 2 levels of incapacity. And definitely no insurance option.
your right about having to wait and also about the stress associated, I’m in agony with this at the moment, need help to go to a toilet even, I’m now on almost double the original dose of methotrexate and also steroids… My worry is that I will never fully recover, it’s been a tough painful and stressful 18 months, that’s fuelling my lack of optimism, but as the deciding body will want to be convinced that the prognosis is permenant at this stage, I lose a great job to I’ll health with the wrong settlement from my pension scheme or worse .. no settlement just unemployment. The outcomes and the consequences for me are life changing. 

Your employer obviously thinks there is scope for ill health early retirement, given that they have asked if you'd like to consider it, so I think you are being overly pessimistic to think you'll be dismissed with no settlement of any sort.

If it turns out that the medical report can't certify that your condition is permanent, does your employer offer the option of remaining an employee even after your sick pay has run out? At least that way there is longer for your condition to stabilise/treatment options to be fully explored and you should be entitled to some benefits if you aren't actually earning anything, or merely getting a token amount.

Dave73_2

Marcon
trying not to be pessimistic, it’s a worry.
i have a meeting soon with HR to discuss the process, it could be my position stays open but without pay while I continue treatment. Or get a conclusion on incapacity. Thanks for your input it’s appreciated 

SacredStephan

Are you a member of a Union?

If not, I'd suggest you sign up to "Which? Legal", currently on a half-price offer.

https://legalservice.which.co.uk/employment/all-employment/

Marcon

SacredStephan said:

Are you a member of a Union?

If not, I'd suggest you sign up to "Which? Legal", currently on a half-price offer.

https://legalservice.which.co.uk/employment/all-employment/

Not sure how either of those would help, although like you I wanted to think of anything which might support OP. The medical evidence will be what it is - and it's a two-edged sword. OP needs the evidence to be that their condition is permanent in order to qualify for an enhanced pension, BUT of course would much prefer the condition not to be permanent so there is hope of a considerable improvement...

Nebulous2

Marcon said:

SacredStephan said:

Are you a member of a Union?

If not, I'd suggest you sign up to "Which? Legal", currently on a half-price offer.

https://legalservice.which.co.uk/employment/all-employment/

Not sure how either of those would help, although like you I wanted to think of anything which might support OP. The medical evidence will be what it is - and it's a two-edged sword. OP needs the evidence to be that their condition is permanent in order to qualify for an enhanced pension, BUT of course would much prefer the condition not to be permanent so there is hope of a considerable improvement...

My experience in the NHS is that a union can be very helpful in situations like this. Not in a combative way, but because they know the system, and know the steps that both staff member and HR need to take, to progress the situation. They can also focus management and HR staff on the tasks needed, to move the case up their to-do-list.  

Solstice

Beyond the whole question of enhanced or non pension, it seems to me that the OP is certainly eligible for some Government support through Personal Independence Payments (PIP) https://www.gov.uk/pip

It's a form to fill in with a bit of thought and not an instant help, but it could possibly assist in alleviating some of the stress. Also I keep hearing that the Government is changing the programme, but I'm not aware of how the proposed changes might impact the OP.

Dave73_2

I’m not a member of the union, as I’m part of the management team it’s kind of expected, and I never felt vulnerable till now.

i have had a formal letter today from my employer setting up a meeting with the head of HR and my line manager.. in the letter it states that “ it is our recommendation to innitiate the Ill health incapacity procedure”

it’s got very real and concerning now as I feel I’m on a course I can’t change. 

Dave73_2

As I was feeling the insecurity of this and also the fact that I was being reduced in pay I already went through the assessment for adult disability payment, I was successful in the highest award for this.. I am hoping that provides weight towards my eligibility for full incapacity regards my employer and pension scheme, I’m not sure if it will help but I will provide it as evidence of my situation along with me medical records