ill health retirement NHS

NJSD9272

I am thinking of applying for ill health retirement in the NHS. I’m 47 and have been working in the NHS for 27 years.

I have type 2 Bipolar, type 1 diabetes, and a severe back injury. As I have gotten older my back is worsening and I am on very heavy medication regime which now makes me extremely drowsy and sedated. I have tried not taking it but then the pain flares up and getting out of bed or moving is really difficult. In combination with my bipolar and diabetes the weeks and months get worse. Depressive episodes which have been happening very frequently affects my insulin management and collectively with my medication regime I’m not managing it properly anymore. Work has clocked on and I have been given flexibility working but this really isn’t working for me as just managing my work load and my cognitive and functional capabilities have declined where I cannot sustain the work. There are a number of things I and work have put in place to help but it’s not working.

I’m fairly confident work has had enough and will be taking me down a performance route to get rid of me. I would like to apply for ill health retirement but if I don’t get that then I’m definitely screwed and work will let me go based on that “evidence” I put forward. It feels like signing my death certificate for them. My competing the form I am admitting my inability to do the job and highlighting all my cognitive and functional deficits, therefore with this evidence could they take me down a capability route even though my incapability is due to illness?

Has anyone had any experience with ill health retirement they can help provide a bit of clarity on the process. I mentioned it to my manager once and he rushed at providing me with the documentation. What if I don’t get it and I provided him with everything that’s happening to me and he uses that to get rid of me?

Either way this is my last shot, I won’t get rehired anywhere because of the meds I’m on as I can’t sustain high cognitive function for long periods, I’m not mobile enough for manual work because of my back despite taking the meds, and my depressed episodes which happen yearly (4 periods of long term six of over three months each in the last 3 years) will be my undoing in a new employer.

Has anyone had experience and can help provide if this is worth me going for? Do I have a relevant or strong case for this?

Holly_Scope

Hi @NJSD9272 and welcome to the community. I haven't been through this process myself, but know some of our members have so I've added a few tags to help bring sight to your post. Hope that's ok 🙂

chiarieds

Hi @NJSD9272 - & welcome to the forum from me too. I'm sorry to read about all the conditions you're suffering from which have impacted on you so badly.

Others will know more about this than I, but I wonder if you have asked for an Occupational Health assessment as they may be able to advise. Also Acas is another resource: https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

You likely have already seen this, but adding it 'just in case.' https://cms.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/NHS_Pensions_Ill_health_member_guide_%28V1A%29.pdf

devonbreeze

I am surprised that your employer hasn’t already referred you for an OHS assessment. They will take into consideration your various conditions and how they impact your daily life and ability to do your job. They will also look at the available options open to you and any reasonable adjustments that can be made in the workplace to accommodate your condition. Your employer will ask specific questions of the OHS such as “Is it reasonable to expect ******** to be able to do their job to the required standard etc?”

In order to qualify for ill health retirement, 2 separate OHS professionals would have to assess you and say that in their opinion you will not be fit to work again. There are 3 different Tiers for ill health retirement and in order to get Tier 1 which pays out your pension at an enhanced rate as though you retired at your full retirement age ( presumably 67), they need to state that you are unable to undertake ANY kind of work before your state pension age. As you are still only 43 thats quite a big assumption to make.
Tier 3 would pay out some of your pension early if you were looking at shorter term temporary retirement. If you google NHS ill health retirement tiers, it explains the process.

Your employer would have to include the specific question “Is ill health retirement a reasonable proposition for ********”

Your employer won’t/ can’t terminate your employment on the grounds of ill health without you having had an OHS referral.

Bydand

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/136131/ill-health-retirement-nhs

Hi, I am sorry to hear that you are going through what is a very challenging time with your health and work.

I am not NHS but was given IHR last year from the civil service

Although different employers most of the details on IHR are very similar.

My initial advice would be to get a copy of both your absence management policy and your specific pension policy. Both of these should have details relevant to IHR.

Your pension policy specifically should have in depth info on IHR and the criteria you would have to meet.

Having an illness or condition is not enough to guarantee a successful award, you must fully meet the IHR criteria as set out in your policy. The biggest challenge is providing evidence of permanency of both the condition and the symptoms.

It can feel like rolling the dice and taking a huge gamble that you will be successful but if you are contemplating IHR then you have likely reached the point where there are no other options left for you or your employer but you do need to be aware that by initiating an application you yourself are highlighting to your employer that you consider yourself no longer able to work. If you were unsuccessful in your IHR application it is highly likely you’re employer would then seek to dismiss you under capability.

Most people applying will likely have a lengthy traceable timescale of sick periods, OH involvement, back to work plans and reasonable adjustments. The IHR application will look at these and will contact your employer to get there evidence that all reasonable adjustments have been made and unsuccessful.

Involvement with OH is essential and you really need them to agree that IHR is now an option.

Look at the policies and be honest with yourself if you meet all of the criteria. It isn’t enough to think to yourself that you might or you should……

Hopefully others will chip in with specific NHS advice but hopefully looking at the policies I have mentioned will give you an overview of what is involved.

Good luck, I realise it is a horrible situation to find yourself in and I can only offer my sympathy.

S