Civil Service - iLL Health Retirement

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1143922#Comment_1143922

Hi again.

My understanding is that there is no specific deadline for you to complete the IHR paperwork as such, however if both your employer and yourself have been advised by Occupational health that there are no other options open to you to remain in your current employment or role then it would be expected that the process is started pretty much straight away.

However the following may be applied by the employer

If your application is linked to an ongoing sick leave review or an Efficiency Dismissal process, HR will typically give you a set window (often 14 to 21 days) to sign and return Part 1 so they can move the process forward.

There are various deadlines but these have more to do with deadlines for requesting medical reports etc from your GP or specialist and is from HR side, not yours.

Paper application is far preferable to online as when I tried online the answer boxes wouldn’t expand sufficiently enough for me to give detailed replies. If memory serves I cut and paste online form , transferred over to word and did it that way. HR as part of the IHR process routinely send and receive information back from the pensions provider and medical Officer by mail or courier so sending your application of by mail shouldn’t be too difficult for them to do if that is you’re preference. They might prefer online but tell them you don’t because it doesn’t allow you to sufficiently expand the answer boxes……stick to you’re guns

The paper application route allows you to expand your answers to the questions , for example giving your specialist opinion….i would always make your GP or specialist know that you are applying for IHR and tell them that they will likely be contacted. I gave my specialist a copy of the application form so they would be aware beforehand of the questions they were likely going to be asked, and just as a courtesy to them……the pension provider will want a detailed medical trail but really looks for the most up to date medical opinions, ie last 12 months.

I gave sufficient detailed answers to the questions on IHR application and it is important that you do so as the application is your only opportunity to tell your side of things.

I wouldn’t worry to much about providing lots of medical evidence as you will have to give your various permissions for the pension provider to access medical records and contact your care provider as part of the process, should they need to.

Try searching for more detailed information on the civil service pension portal website if you haven’t already such as the below

CSPS I’ll health retirement procedural guide

Fire away with questions if stuck

Scott

Rachel_Scope

Hi @Bydand, I've just edited your comment to include the link to the procedural guide, hope that's ok. Thank you for such an informative answer.

I hope that the process goes smoothly @Getaway and you're given time to gather all the evidence you need. How are you feeling about retiring?

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1144018#Comment_1144018

Many thanks for doing that. I did try to add link but for some reason my iPad was refusing, or maybe I was just having a senior moment!.

There is also the ………Ill Health Retirement - Guide for Members, and the pension portal which civil service members can access and log into for information.

For anyone following this thread, it is really important to understand that the initial application you fill in (IHR-1) is your only opportunity to tell your side of the story and explain why you struggle.

Medical evidence, reports etc contribute to a decision being made but you need to support these with your own testimony.

Getaway

Many thanks Scott for your advice, very helpful. I will definitely submit a paper form and add supplementary pages. I was hoping to submit the medical evidence at the same time as the form to help support the application.

I have found the posts from @ardencraig and yourself very useful.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1144447#Comment_1144447

For each of the question boxes. I just wrote, see supplementary page….just make sure that you give the page the heading of the question being asked and your name, DOB on each page you use….if more than one page, then number 1 of 2, 2 of 2 etc.

If you struggle putting your thoughts down, even though you know what you want to say, try using chat GTP or similar…you can simply give a description of your illness, and give a description of what the IHR application form answer boxes are asking. You can then tailor your response……it’s not cheating as you likely already know what you want to say, GPT might just formulate it better. The more information you give GPT the better the response.

No harm providing or adding medical information if it the most up to date clinical opinion, but I wouldn’t get too bogged down with this…..If you are providing medical information it is best to let HR know about it so the safeguards can be put in place to stop any sensitive information being seen by anyone other than those whose role it is to collate everything for IHR.

Kindest

Getaway

Many thanks, that's really helpful. I also wondered is it best the words in the form quote the actual criteria ie "permanent" ie I am permanently "incapable of undertaking any other gainful employment until State Pension Age".

Do you know if the Scheme Medical Advisor normally conducts an in person or telephone interview following receipt of an application?

Thanks

Getaway

Many thanks, that's really helpful. I also wondered is it best the words in the form quote the actual criteria if relevant such as "permanent" and I am permanently "incapable of undertaking any other gainful employment until State Pension Age".

Also, do you know if the Scheme Medical Advisor normally conducts an in person or telephone interview following receipt of an application?

Thanks

Getaway

Getaway

Many thanks, that's really helpful. I also wondered is it best the words in the form quote the actual criteria ie "permanent" and "incapable of undertaking any other gainful employment until State Pension Age".

Also, do you know if the Scheme Medical Advisor normally conducts an in person or telephone interview following receipt of an application?

Thanks

Bydand

I would maybe be a little careful in the words you use. What you write can’t be a personal opinion or even based on past GP or specialist conversation or comments as the SMA hasn’t been privy to those. what you write needs to be evidenced by a medical professional and ideally it would be them using those terms in their reports, which is why it is best to give them a heads up as to the form and definitely the criteria you need to meet to be successful.

I would also explain to any GP or specialist that there are two tiers of award and the criteria for both as they might just think IHR is all the same.

just be careful giving you’re own personal opinion on the application and focus more on why the condition you have effects your ability to work. The SMA is solely tasked with how you do or don’t cope at work, they are not interested in how it effects you outwith work.

In most cases but not all, the SMA would likely want to speak to you ( by phone usually) possibly just to clarify anything or to ask for a bit more detail on something. I think I have mentioned this elsewhere in this thread that you could read over.

Always go into this whole process with the understanding that the pensions provider does not want to have to pay you an early pension, so being clear, articulate and providing a thorough application is helpful.

Providing evidence for permanency of your condition and how much it incapacitates you in your working daily life is key.