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Ill health retirement mistake

ATeamPA

My line manager suggested I try for ill health retirement, which was initially denied, but approved after an appeal. Initially all I was after was a estimated income, and I mistakenly applied believing that was how I would get said estimate. I'm now on a 4month notice period but don't want to leave. Can I stop this ticking clock?

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Comments

Albus_Alumni

Heya @ATeamPA and welcome to the community.

Once you've handed in your notice, the only way to cancel that is by writing to your employer and getting them to agree. It could be worth a try?

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/124792/ill-health-retirement-mistake

Hi, well, that’s a bit of a predicament

Can I confirm exactly what stage you are with regards the ill health retirement process…..are you saying that you have completely filled in your IHR application, including providing medical evidence and provided medical record search permission s and sent it of and now your pension provider has accepted that you have a condition that warrants IHR, and if so have you had notification that you have been successful and have been awarded a pension award ( at whichever tier that might be )…..or are you saying that your employer initially refused your initial request for IHR and you appealed this and won And that’s the stage you are at?

ATeamPA

I appealed and was successful and was awarded the highest tier. However , my pension alone is not enough to live on and my state pension doesn't start till Sept 25. I'm havhavin heart surgery at end Dec tgat will take 3-4 maths to recover from. My leave date is 2 Mar, just when ill be recovered enough to go back to work- the irony!.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/933556#Comment_933556

Hi, i am obviously not familiar with your pension scheme but can i clarify something about the top tier you have been awarded.

I know many pensions are different and the award descriptions can be different which is why i am asking.

When i left the civil service under IHR there were only two tiers of award, lower and higher….i was awarded the higher tier which was the equivalent of getting my full pension as if i had worked until i was 67 so quite a result as i was only 54 at the time….but, with that higher tier there are stipulations, one being working again…..i was awarded the higher tier pension based on the pension provider accepting that my condition very severely restricted or stopped me altogether from working again.

The lower tier was…i could no longer do my job in the role i was in…i could work again.

The higher tier was…i could no longer do my job in the role i was in or any other job.

Not sure how your tiers work in relation to the above but it is important to understand any restrictions placed on you if there are any. For instance if i was found to be working again i would lose my higher tier pension which would certainly be problematical to me financially.

I understand going through the IHR process is a nerve wracking one and obviously finances come into it. From people i know and having followed discussions on here it seems that many people who have been successful at IHR still have to rely on benefits.

I am surprised that you have a leaving date of March 2025 if you have received confirmation of your award.

ATeamPA

I'm also CS. I read about the work restrictions, I'm unsure what to do, as I'll be better after my surgery and would like to have the option to work if needed. I'm near my retirement date, next September. Currently I'm considering appealing again, to stay working, but fear they'll enforce it.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/933602#Comment_933602

okay, if you too are civil service then that makes it easier for me too understand.

I can’t imagine that there are many people who apply for IHR , are successful, get awarded the highest tier , then want to appeal.

If the pension provider has awarded you the highest tier then it is because from the evidence you have presented and medical evidence they will have looked at suggests to them that you are unfit to work….in any job, albeit in a very very very limited earning capacity. Getting awarded the highest tier is extremely hard to get so your evidence must have been compelling.

When any employee is at the point of applying for IHR then it is usually because they genuinely have no other option and unfortunately this isn't always the great solution many believe it to be, especially financially, but again, they have no other options left but to apply.

You receiving a work finish date is standard after an award and is usually agreed between all parties. It generally will include sufficient time for you to make your pension payment choice and your pension to come into force and start being paid the month after your leaving date…so your first payment would be April 25.

You need to be fully honest with yourself though. I realise the urge to keep working but are you fit enough too. Without knowing the ins and outs of your medical history and illness ( and I don’t need to know!!) You receiving the higher award would suggest that you aren’t.

If you appealed and dropped down to the lower tier, then you could not continue working in your current role as the descriptor for lower tier is that you are not fit for your current role or similar……would your employer be able to make any reasonable adjustments or move you too a different role…….i would say no, because if they could have then they would have before you applied for IHR……it is expected and indeed the pension provider has to ask as part of their process for confirmation from your employer that all reasonable adjustments have been exhausted…..if your employer when asked this said no, then the pension provider would not agree your application at that stage as there might still be things you and your employer could try, so to reach an award decision your employer has already stated to the pension provider that there are no more reasonable adjustments to be made and your application proceeded on that basis to your award.

Your confirmation IHR application award letter will give you full details as to why you have been awarded the higher tier and their reasons behind granting you the award they have.

Sorry if this sounds long winded, it’s not always easy to give advice without feeling like you are rambling on.

The truth is I would expect that you could appeal, but I am unsure if doing so would put you in a better position.

ATeamPA

thank you, this is exactly the no-nonsense advice I needed. I do indeed have a strong work llike I'm going to be bundling out themy dilemma stems from that, and not the realisation of how long my recovery will take (3-4 months min). I've not put in my appeal yet, was giving myself till the end of this week to deciddecide. Frankly, after decades of struggling financially, I'm terrified I'll be very badly off if I have to rely only the CS pension, and as I've only been in 14 years, it wont be much to live on. However, you're very astute, and I think I have to face facts. Thank you - you've helped me make up my mind. I was hoping for a graceful exit in Sept 25 from my workplace (where I've been very happy) at retirement age, but it now looks like I'm tumbling out the door before my open heart surgery on New Year's Eve. I'm grateful for your comments, scary decisions needed to be faced and made. Thank you. Wish me luck :)

ATeamPA

apologies for the confusing typo, i amended the wrong line…

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/937113#Comment_937113

Hi again,

It can be hard coming to the realisation that things are changing and having to make important decisions because of those changes……I did everything I could to stay on at work because I didn’t want to leave but in the end my illness forced my hand and I had to make the decision to apply for IHR……in the end and on reflection, I stayed on at work too long and made myself ill because of it.

Have you registered for access to the CS pension portal as this gives you lots of info about everything to do with the various pensions and IHR…..there is also a very handy pension forecast calculator which you can play around with, ie….whether to take a higher pension or substitute some pension for a higher lump sum. If you don’t already have your figures this might be beneficial for you to know so you can get an idea of what to expect and it might make things easier to understand on how to bridge the gap financially between your last day and your official retirement date.

Make sure you apply for PIP also

Wishing you all the best

ATeamPA

Hi, yes, on the MyCSP site, and receive PIP. Recovering properly and staying well will be my goal now. The pension site doesn't cover IHR in its forecast options. I've asked for an estimate, and what options are available for a tax free lump sum. Fingers crossed, onwards into the future, unknown as it always is. 🤞🤞🤞

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/937205#Comment_937205

Hi, you are right the pension portal calculator does not specifically give you IHR forecast figures but I found it to be fairly representative of what I actually received once I had played around with the various sliders.

My cps does not give estimates in advance ( even at the start of the process when you need that info the most)as far as I know but you will receive a pack shortly containing all your monetary choices including lump sum choices. The paperwork is fairly straightforward to understand and includes a part where you have to decide on the remedy choice.

You are able to take 25 % of your pension award tax free…the remainder would be paid as your monthly pension.

Whilst this can sound great you need to look at things long term…yes a higher lump sum might help short term, but once that money has gone it is your IHR pension + state pension + any benefits that ultimately give you a working wage so to speak.

You need to choose wisely though as once you have made your choice and it is in force it cannot be changed.

Feel free to ask questions or just reach out and keep me and the forum informed of how you are getting on as it can really help others going through a similar decision or problem.

ATeamPA

Thank you, your advice has been invaluable. I will consider my pension lump sum carefully, but i think I'll need to access this option. I'm am investigating part-time work with Skanska. They run various facilities at my work location, including office based roles such as PA's, and it would be satisfying to continue working there after being told I'm too sick to work.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/938023#Comment_938023

My advice would be to contact mycsp and ask for clarification of future work and earnings based on being awarded the highest tier.

I understand the need to work and why financially you might need to but because you were awarded the highest tier there are restrictions on future work and I wouldn’t want you falling foul of breaking those restrictions and the possible consequences to you.

ATeamPA

I've asked that question, seems I can work, just not for anyone connected with the Civil Service, tfat will trigger another CS pension. I'm investigating and have been in touch with Skanska, they run our establishment's admin and my clearance is good till 2031. Plan is to have the surgery, get well, find a part-time office based role. Fingers crossed 🤞🙂