Which is the best option please _just accept dismisal on capability or go down the ill health route

juleswendy

 I'm about to be dismissed through capability due to ill health and occupational health saying they do not think I am fit to do any job. I am able to retire in March when I am 66. I was advised to apply for ill  health retirement. However the process may take 3 to 6 months and given that I can retire in March anyway HR have suggested it's really not worth going through the process of ill health retirement because of the amount of time it takes. If I don't go through the process am I going to be losing out or will it make no difference at this stage. Is there anything else I should be aware of please. 

Ayr_Rage

How long have you been employed?

It could make a lot of difference if you are in a company pension scheme that offers enhancements for ill health retirement.

Suggest you get further information from HR or union if you are a member.

sammyjammy

I'd question whether your HR personnel are pensions experts, do you have a company portal with info about the pension scheme?  If so first thing to do is look at that and see if it enlightens you.

Are you public sector?

Grumpy_chap

juleswendy said:

 I'm about to be dismissed through capability due to ill health and occupational health saying they do not think I am fit to do any job. I am able to retire in March when I am 66. I was advised to apply for ill  health retirement. However the process may take 3 to 6 months and given that I can retire in March anyway HR have suggested it's really not worth going through the process of ill health retirement because of the amount of time it takes. If I don't go through the process am I going to be losing out or will it make no difference at this stage. Is there anything else I should be aware of please. 

Do you accept that continuing to work is not realistic for you at the moment taking your health conditions into account?

Given that you can retire in March, it seems odd that the company is considering a dismissal prior to that.

As others have suggested, check with the pension experts about any differences between retiring in March any way or retiring under ill-health retirement.
The people in HR with whom you are speaking may not be pensions experts or, if they do know the rules, may not be advising you independently for your own good but advising you to take the route that is best for the company.

Silvertabby

If public sector, then full ill health pensions are usually  enhanced to normal retirement age.

But, as you are due to retire at 66 anyway, you would only receive (very minimal) enhancement if you were to retire on ill health before then.  Which is unlikely, in view of the time scale.

It very much depends on the rules of the pension scheme - some private schemes may offer other benefits.

Andy_L

Silvertabby said:

If public sector, then full ill health pensions are usually  enhanced to normal retirement age.

But, as you are due to retire at 66 anyway, you would only receive (very minimal) enhancement if you were to retire on ill health before then.  Which is unlikely, in view of the time scale.

It very much depends on the rules of the pension scheme - some private schemes may offer other benefits.

Isn't that only if the ill health is workplace related. (eg an  industrial injury). If its general poorliness then you just get the years you've accrued but with no reduction for taking them early

Silvertabby

Andy_L said:

Silvertabby said:

If public sector, then full ill health pensions are usually  enhanced to normal retirement age.

But, as you are due to retire at 66 anyway, you would only receive (very minimal) enhancement if you were to retire on ill health before then.  Which is unlikely, in view of the time scale.

It very much depends on the rules of the pension scheme - some private schemes may offer other benefits.

Isn't that only if the ill health is workplace related. (eg an  industrial injury). If its general poorliness then you just get the years you've accrued but with no reduction for taking them early

Not at all.  The basic criteria is unable to carry out their job, regardless of the cause.  

Or are you thinking about ill health benefits from deferred?  In those cases, benefits are paid as you describe - no enhancement, just no reductions for early payment.