Ill health retirement with arthritis

Dave73_2

It’s DC , there’s definitely an enhanced option and there’s definitely no insurance to back it up.
my sick procedure consists of
6 month full pay
6 month half pay
No pay 

directed to Incapacity procedure that consists of
Partial - cant carry out your job your employee to do - access to pension funds

full incapacity- cant work in any gainful employment from now till expected retirement date. - significantly enhanced 

I’m comfortable I know the options, I joined the forum to see if anyone with arthritis had been through a similar process, in particular the aspect of prognosis, and the satisfying of the requirements for full incapacity, what evidence was needed for example, how might it be assessed.. 
I’m my case I believe I will struggle to work again, but convincing a pension trustee of that might be challenging 

FIREDreamer

Dave73_2 said:

It’s DC , there’s definitely an enhanced option and there’s definitely no insurance to back it up.
my sick procedure consists of
6 month full pay
6 month half pay
No pay 

directed to Incapacity procedure that consists of
Partial - cant carry out your job your employee to do - access to pension funds

full incapacity- cant work in any gainful employment from now till expected retirement date. - significantly enhanced 

I’m comfortable I know the options, I joined the forum to see if anyone with arthritis had been through a similar process, in particular the aspect of prognosis, and the satisfying of the requirements for full incapacity, what evidence was needed for example, how might it be assessed.. 
I’m my case I believe I will struggle to work again, but convincing a pension trustee of that might be challenging 

What is the ill health enhancement in your DC scheme? It seems very unusual to have such a thing unless backed by an insurance company.

Marcon

FIREDreamer said:

Dave73_2 said:

It’s DC , there’s definitely an enhanced option and there’s definitely no insurance to back it up.
my sick procedure consists of
6 month full pay
6 month half pay
No pay 

directed to Incapacity procedure that consists of
Partial - cant carry out your job your employee to do - access to pension funds

full incapacity- cant work in any gainful employment from now till expected retirement date. - significantly enhanced 

I’m comfortable I know the options, I joined the forum to see if anyone with arthritis had been through a similar process, in particular the aspect of prognosis, and the satisfying of the requirements for full incapacity, what evidence was needed for example, how might it be assessed.. 
I’m my case I believe I will struggle to work again, but convincing a pension trustee of that might be challenging 

What is the ill health enhancement in your DC scheme? It seems very unusual to have such a thing unless backed by an insurance company.

I don't think it matters what the enhancement is - just that the scheme rules provide for this. OP has described a trust based DC scheme, which offers enhanced ill health benefits to members who meet the scheme's qualifying criteria - and it is the employer who will be paying (ie the cost is self insured).

In reality this equates to what happens in a DB scheme - it is ultimately the employer who pays the additional cost of enhanced early retirements. 

FIREDreamer

Marcon said:

FIREDreamer said:

Dave73_2 said:

It’s DC , there’s definitely an enhanced option and there’s definitely no insurance to back it up.
my sick procedure consists of
6 month full pay
6 month half pay
No pay 

directed to Incapacity procedure that consists of
Partial - cant carry out your job your employee to do - access to pension funds

full incapacity- cant work in any gainful employment from now till expected retirement date. - significantly enhanced 

I’m comfortable I know the options, I joined the forum to see if anyone with arthritis had been through a similar process, in particular the aspect of prognosis, and the satisfying of the requirements for full incapacity, what evidence was needed for example, how might it be assessed.. 
I’m my case I believe I will struggle to work again, but convincing a pension trustee of that might be challenging 

What is the ill health enhancement in your DC scheme? It seems very unusual to have such a thing unless backed by an insurance company.

I don't think it matters what the enhancement is - just that the scheme rules provide for this. OP has described a trust based DC scheme, which offers enhanced ill health benefits to members who meet the scheme's qualifying criteria - and it is the employer who will be paying (ie the cost is self insured).

In reality this equates to what happens in a DB scheme - it is ultimately the employer who pays the additional cost of enhanced early retirements. 

Apart from full access to the pot, what else is there (if there is no insured benefit)? That’s hardly a generous allowance.

Dave73_2

Only 2 options 
full access to existing pot, not great.

Access to pot plus additional lump sum based on salary and future pension payments that would have been made till retirement at current rate paid up in advance 

prettyandfluffy

Do check the details of the schemes and make sure you are clear about them.  I know yours would not be PHI but mine is and. some examples of the terms of the scheme that pays my income are that if I claim any benefits in relation to sickness/not working, my monthly payments will be reduced by an equivalent amount.  Also, the scheme continues to pay my NI and work pensions contributions (very important).  I am not allowed to do any work, paid or unpaid, so even volunteering to stuff envelopes or make phone calls is ruled out.  I have to complete an annual questionnaire on my health and fitness and allow them access to my medical records.

Marcon

FIREDreamer said:

Marcon said:

FIREDreamer said:

Dave73_2 said:

It’s DC , there’s definitely an enhanced option and there’s definitely no insurance to back it up.
my sick procedure consists of
6 month full pay
6 month half pay
No pay 

directed to Incapacity procedure that consists of
Partial - cant carry out your job your employee to do - access to pension funds

full incapacity- cant work in any gainful employment from now till expected retirement date. - significantly enhanced 

I’m comfortable I know the options, I joined the forum to see if anyone with arthritis had been through a similar process, in particular the aspect of prognosis, and the satisfying of the requirements for full incapacity, what evidence was needed for example, how might it be assessed.. 
I’m my case I believe I will struggle to work again, but convincing a pension trustee of that might be challenging 

What is the ill health enhancement in your DC scheme? It seems very unusual to have such a thing unless backed by an insurance company.

I don't think it matters what the enhancement is - just that the scheme rules provide for this. OP has described a trust based DC scheme, which offers enhanced ill health benefits to members who meet the scheme's qualifying criteria - and it is the employer who will be paying (ie the cost is self insured).

In reality this equates to what happens in a DB scheme - it is ultimately the employer who pays the additional cost of enhanced early retirements. 

Apart from full access to the pot, what else is there (if there is no insured benefit)? That’s hardly a generous allowance.

An enhancement funded by the employer - self insured, as I've already said. The rules of scheme will dictate what that is.

Not sure this sort of micro debate helps OP - this is a real person in real distress, not a case study.

Dave73_2

My real worry is that the pension trustee decides the level of incapacity based on medical advice and evidence he’s provided.
its the likelihood of me being capable of future gainful employment.. that’s what it will hinge on … he needs satisfied my condition will prevent that.. if he thinks I can recover enough to work in the next 15 years I get no enhanced pay out.. 
I’m sure that’s the catagory I fall into as psoriatic arthritis cant be cured only managed, and I already have joint and bone damage that’s not reversible.. but it’s the pension trustee that needs convinced,

I also can’t afford an over optimistic specialist saying that who knows what I can achieve with medication and advances in medication over 15 years.. that won’t help

FIREDreamer

Marcon said:

FIREDreamer said:

Marcon said:

FIREDreamer said:

Dave73_2 said:

It’s DC , there’s definitely an enhanced option and there’s definitely no insurance to back it up.
my sick procedure consists of
6 month full pay
6 month half pay
No pay 

directed to Incapacity procedure that consists of
Partial - cant carry out your job your employee to do - access to pension funds

full incapacity- cant work in any gainful employment from now till expected retirement date. - significantly enhanced 

I’m comfortable I know the options, I joined the forum to see if anyone with arthritis had been through a similar process, in particular the aspect of prognosis, and the satisfying of the requirements for full incapacity, what evidence was needed for example, how might it be assessed.. 
I’m my case I believe I will struggle to work again, but convincing a pension trustee of that might be challenging 

What is the ill health enhancement in your DC scheme? It seems very unusual to have such a thing unless backed by an insurance company.

I don't think it matters what the enhancement is - just that the scheme rules provide for this. OP has described a trust based DC scheme, which offers enhanced ill health benefits to members who meet the scheme's qualifying criteria - and it is the employer who will be paying (ie the cost is self insured).

In reality this equates to what happens in a DB scheme - it is ultimately the employer who pays the additional cost of enhanced early retirements. 

Apart from full access to the pot, what else is there (if there is no insured benefit)? That’s hardly a generous allowance.

An enhancement funded by the employer - self insured, as I've already said. The rules of scheme will dictate what that is.

Not sure this sort of micro debate helps OP - this is a real person in real distress, not a case study.

Sorry, I missed that bit of info.

DRS1

I think I may be the guilty party who started the micro debate.  My thinking was that if the "enhanced" benefit was insured then the OP would need to satisfy an insurance company doctor.
If as @Marcon says it is the employer who foots the bill and it is the employer who is suggesting the OP go this route then maybe the hurdle will be lower?  I know that there are different parts to any organisation but you might hope that there had been a bit of planning before the suggestion.
As a complete medical layman I think one thing the OP should be prepared for is the question why a new knee or hip won't fix things.  I am not asking for the answer on here just that it is a question I would ask if I were a trustee with no background to the claim.