LGPS Scotland - Ill Health Retirement

ProsAndCons

Hi all, newbie here, so go easy on me !

If I can, I'd just like to gauge the thoughts of anyone on here who has some knowledge of LGPS Scotland and their Ill Health Retirement process.

My wife is 58 on her next birthday in February. She has been an employee of the Local Council working in the pre-school nursery environment for over 34 years and paid into the LGPS pension scheme all that time. A few years ago, she developed some pain in her hips and knees and Osteoarthritis was eventually diagnosed by her GP/hospital appointments. To manage the pain and still attend her work, she cut her hours down to part-time and eventually had to go off sick in August 2024. After a year(s) of pain killers, various x-rays, private consultants,NHS consultants and an MRI, she now requires 2 total hip replacement operations and has a condition called Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in one of her hips.

At the moment, she can see no way back to work and taking into consideration NHS waiting times for an op, recovery time post op, her age etc, she will likely be in her early sixties before we know if she will ever be fit enough to get back to work.

Given the above information, are there any 'pension experts' on the forum who can advise the likely outcome if she was to go for Ill Health Retirement ? We are aware of the different Tiers and conditions attached should they be sympathetic to her plight but there is always a chance of dismissal if they think her illness doesn't qualify her for Ill Health Retirement.

Any help/advice appreciated.

QrizB

I think @Silvertabby is our resident LGPS guru, although in England. Hopefully they'll be along shortly to help you.

Silvertabby

I'm really sorry, but that's not a question that anyone on these boards can answer.

Eligibility for ill health benefits isn't just down to working through a set list of yes/no questions.  Each case (and Tier) is decided very much on the applicants medical history, and the assessing Dr's decision on the day.

All I can suggest is that your wife collects as much medical evidence as she can before submitting her formal application for ill health retirement.  It can be a long, drawn out, process, so the sooner she fires up her employer's occupational health department the better.  Occ health will then make their own initial assessment before referring your wife to their designated medical practitioner.  

Good luck

ProsAndCons

Thanks for the replies folks.

We're on the verge of the Capability hearing now. 99% of the medical evidence from private and NHS consultants have been submitted to her employer OH dept, we're just waiting on a final report from her GP to be written.

The reports detail all the medical problems she's been diagnosed with and personally (without any experience or knowledge how these hearings are conducted), I don't see how she CAN'T be medically retired but thats just my thoughts.

It seems unreal that after 34 years of service, they can just dismiss her through no fault of her own.

Silvertabby

I'm afraid that having 34 years of service has zero bearing on an ill health decision.

Hope things work out for you both.