ILL Health Retirement

lou55

Hi , i new to the form just wanted some advice please 🙏

I’ve been poorly over the last year with several different issues . I work a very physical job with heavy lifting. My injuries are purely work related one being a hernia and now a severe back injury amongst other things. I have taken a career break to try and get my Heath back on track but unfortunately I’m not fighting fit to return in 2 months time

My drs have told me I can’t return to my role and I can’t think of anything else that I could do without heavy lifting, standing, sitting and walking for any length of time due to my back injury.

My question is I would like to leave on ill health reasons . Would anyone have any experience of this as it seems a minefield to be honest . I’ve yet to speak to my line manager. I wouldn’t want to resign as I’m getting some financial help . I’ve already looked on my HR website and the process seems a little complicated.

Any help would be appreciated

Thank you

Albus_Scope

Hey @lou55 and welcome to the community. 😊

I'm so sorry to hear you can't do your job any more, that's always a big blow. Are there any roles within the business you'd be able to do that are less physical?

lou55

Hi , thank you for your message and welcoming me to the forum .

The store I work out has limited if no other roles I could do which doesn’t involve standing, lifting which at the moment is the issue . Unfortunately there are no office jobs either .

Appreciate your help

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/124763/ill-health-retirement

Hi, it is never easy to have an illness or condition that makes work harder or even impossible to do.

I would suggest that you do not resign as this can effect benefits that you may be entitled too otherwise.

I would suggest that if you pay into a work pension and are possibly thinking your illness might warrant ill health retirement then get a copy of your specific pension policy as this will have lots of info including any criteria you might have to meet for IHR. This is a policy that you really need to read through several times and fully familiarise yourself with, especially the definitions that they use.

Just having an illness or condition is not in itself a guarantee that any application would be successful.

Usually IHR application process is fairly straightforward once it has begun but you need to fully meet all the criteria the pension provider sets, and this will include how long you have been ill, your sick record, any OH referrals and back to work plans and if all reasonable adjustments at work have been exhausted.

Hope this helps a little but feel free to ask questions

lou55

Hi , thank you for your very helpful response. I do have a copy of my pension policy which does seems very confusing , however I will take onboard everything before making a decision .
I do have time on my side luckily.

Really appreciate your time to reply.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/933294#Comment_933294

No worries,

The biggest thing you will likely have to prove is permanency, both permanency of the illness or condition itself and permanency of the illness or conditions symptoms and the effects on you. The pension provider is basically making a decision on whether they think your health will improve….or not.

Unfortunately when it comes to IHR the pension provider is unlikely to give you any leeway or deviation from their descriptors and definitions why it is so important to be fully away of the wording in your pension policy.

Most IHR applications fail due to being unable to prove permanency.

I would say that if you do start an IHR application, it will be done with your employers full knowledge…As such, just making the application highlights to them that you believe you are not fit to work ( both in a particular role/ position or any full time work ).

If unsuccessful in your IHR application you need to be aware that your employer may have to let you go as again you have highlighted your difficulties at work, just being unsuccessful in your application doesn’t change that.

It is highly likely that anyone reaching the point of the IHR application stage is signed off long term as you can’t really be at work whilst basically stating that you don’t feel fit for work.

It is important that anyone signed off work and looking at IHR make the decision to apply as soon as possible as the process can be lengthy and you don’t want to be in a position where you might go on to half pay or even the no pay stage with no application decision.

it can at times seem a complicated process but once you understand exactly what the pension provider is looking for and at then it’s common sense really.

Most people at the stage of applying for IHR have exhausted all other options and really have no choice but to apply as they physically cannot cope working.

lou55

Hi , that so helpful thank you so much ! I will be speaking to my line manager in the next month or so and hopefully I’ll be prepared.
I can only try , I’ve been on a career break ( unpaid) and signed off work for almost a year because of poor health and injuries irelating to my job role . I do have more than enough evidence but like you mentioned it has to be agreed by my pension provider.

I do claim UC at the moment and filled in a UC50 form just waiting to hear back .

I will try and update on here how my journey goes so it maybe be helpful to others .

Thank you again.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/933404#Comment_933404

Hi again

Sorry, I forgot to say that if any injuries occurred at work it is vitally important that you have recorded them with work and they have a record of any accidents or incidents etc. If you have already recorded these it is beneficial to get or ask for a copy of what they hold, in case they get misplaced!!

This is really important should you ever need to take your employer to an employment tribunal.

Please let us know how you get on as it can help others in the same situation.

Take it easy

S

lou55

Hi , thank you. Unfortunately at the time when my health issues began I didn’t actually realise what they actually were until investigations started . This took several months with tests , hospital procedures and regular appointments.
Being diagnosed was a relief although not everything has been resolved hence why I can’t return after my career break ends .

I did have time off as I had several issues at once . The drs have already stated that my physical job was the cause of my hernia , back injury alongside stomach issues , gastric ulcers, and stress .
I have chronic kidney disease too

So that being said I’m trying to listen to my body and Drs

In my job role we couldn’t actually use equipment that would prevent injury because it was all time factored . Physically heavy duty work which wasn’t managed to well.

Kind of a difficult situation as I wouldn’t want to resign but can’t return to my role or anything else there that would be suitable.

Everyone has been so helpful thank you.