Pensions (and unions ) questions

banana

I have a small amount of money in the teachers pension fund.Roughly 3 years worth .I am also in the civil service pension scheme . I am 51 years old and I am living with cancer. I am well at the present but must face the very real possibility that I will not live long enough to actualy draw a pension at 60.

Can anyone advise me if its possible to get the money out of the TP to use now.Or in fact any way I could capitalise on the pension funds at the moment. I could really use the money right now.

Also I belong to 2 unions.1 teaching union as a non working member -at a low rate-and 1 as a full time paid member. I previously had to call upon the benevolence fund from the teaching union and am still paying a small amount back each month. Am I being foolish/falsely loyal by still belonging to both unions.
Or is there a benefit that I am not seeing?

I could really do with some proper budgettry advice as Im sure Im not making the most of what little I have.

Andy_L

You can retire now on medical grounds & either receive a pension (enhanced for ill health) or lump sum (if you prognosis is that bad) from both the teachers & CS schemes.

It's generally only worth being in the Union recognised by the part of Civil service you're employed by. There may be fringe benefits that make it worth staying in the other one (discounts, cheap insurance, professional advice etc) but it's unlikely