I was advised to go for ill health retirement. I've now been told I may have to have a reassessment

alison_68

Hi I’ve just found out about this forum today, it’ll be great to be able to speak to somebody. 

I’ve just been told by my Occupational Health and Manager that I should go for Ill health retirement, as I lose a lot of time off work through fibromyalgia, I work full time as a Healthcare Assistant. 

I spoke to somebody today to let them know that there’s a change in circumstances with my PIP that I have got worse and I was told that I might have to be reassessed as it would be like a new claim and it could either stay the same, increase or I could even be refused PIP this time, I’ve only just had my PIP re continued in January so the lady said I could wait a while if I wanted to. 

My heads all over the place, what with having to leave a job I love and now this with PIP i don’t know where I am !  Has anybody else come across anything like this, I would really appreciate any kind of help or ideas if anybody has any. 

Thank u. X

poppy123456

Hi,

For your PIP a worsening of condition doesn’t automatically score you more points for a higher award.
It will depend how those conditions affect you against the 12 PIP activities. You should get some expert advice from an agency near you before doing anything else. You must also have had the worsening of condition for at least 3 months and expect it to last at least a. Further 9 months. Start here for expert advice. https://advicelocal.uk/
We have a member here who’s very knowledgeable with I’ll Heath retirement so I’ll tag her for you. @janer1967 can you help here please?

SueHeath

Morning @alison_68 welcome to our great forum.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community Thanks for the tag @poppy123456

Ill health retirement isn't easy to obtain and is down to the pension provider to authorise which will include medical assessment.  
To get it basically they need to establish that you are not fit to work in any role within the organisation  

This is something the oh should have looked at to establish if any reasonable adjustments could be made to allow you to remain in work eg a reduction in hours or duties or even a different role 

I suggest you look at the pension providers information about this and the process they will follow 

A alternative could be medical dismissal if there are no adjustments available . Again read the company policy as there could be a compensation package bur this isn't legal requirement 

Also note if you take a pension early it will affect benefit entitlement it will not affect your PIP in anyway 
 

janer1967

Just to add taking a pension will only affect any means tested benefits 

poppy123456

janer1967 said:

Just to add taking a pension will only affect any means tested benefits 

Just to add, for New style ESA although it's not means tested. Any pension of up to £85 per week is ignored. For every £1 over this amount the New style ESA is reduced by 50p.

alison_68

poppy123456 said:

Hi,

For your PIP a worsening of condition doesn’t automatically score you more points for a higher award.
It will depend how those conditions affect you against the 12 PIP activities. You should get some expert advice from an agency near you before doing anything else. You must also have had the worsening of condition for at least 3 months and expect it to last at least a. Further 9 months. Start here for expert advice. https://advicelocal.uk/
We have a member here who’s very knowledgeable with I’ll Heath retirement so I’ll tag her for you. @janer1967 can you help here please?

alison_68

Thank u Poppy. X

alison_68

janer1967 said:

Just to add taking a pension will only affect any means tested benefits 

Thank u Poppy. X

alison_68

Hi Janer, 
I’ve tried reduced hours and I also tried working in another department for 5 yrs doing admin work and working on a computer with regular breaks but that made my condition worse and to be honest I really didn’t like working in a office so I went back to my role which is a healthcare assistant which I love. 

There are loads of things in place for me like I can have plenty of breaks, again I’ve tried reduced hours but what with the pain, muscle spasms and chronic fatigue I’m finding it harder and harder to get to work, I’ve only just returned after having a year off and I’m off again. 

My OH Dr advised I’ll health retirement and when I spoke to Pensions they said they agreed with the Dr, my own GP has mentioned it to me in the past but I’ve always dismissed it but now I’m finding things more and more difficult. 

Sorry for the long post but I’m so confused about it all. X

janer1967

Don't worry about the long post 

It sounds like you have tried other options so maybe it is time to look at retirement or medical dismissal 

How old are you if you don't mind me asking 

I think a lot depends on your financial situation and your age . Do you need to take your pension or could you manage without it 

If you don't want to take it you can opt for medical dismissal . You could take pension at later date 

Have a look at benefits calculator see if you would be entitled to any benefits 

You should only take pension early if it will pay more than any benefits 

You should get info on your pension and then get some financial advice 

alison_68

Pensions are going to get back to me to let me know how much I would get if I took Ill health retirement and they are also going to let me know how much I would get if I took early retirement. 

I am a bit worried about money as my husband works but he is self employed, haven’t got much savings but I think if I tried to claim benefits they would say he earns too much. 

I am 53 and been with the NHS for 11 yrs. 

I don’t even know where to start for financial advice, I’m completely lost on all of this, sorry. X

janer1967

When you get pension figures you can try cab or Google to find financial advisers 

You would possibly be entitled to new style esa if you have enough ni contributions and this doesn't take your partners earnings into account but you need a fit note and will be subject to a work capability assessment 

I cant imagine 11 years will give you much of a pension did you pay into any other pension schemes 

Take one step at a time get the pension forecasts then see about some advice 

Go to advice.local and enter your postcode to see where you can get advice locally 

janer1967

Don't panic we are here to help and support you or direct you to the right place 

poppy123456

To be entitled to New style ESA then you need to have paid the correct amount of NI contributions in tax years April 2019 to March 2020. If you've had a year off from working then this may affect entitlement.

Before taking any pension then please be aware of this advice earlier.

poppy123456 said:

janer1967 said:

Just to add taking a pension will only affect any means tested benefits 

Just to add, for New style ESA although it's not means tested. Any pension of up to £85 per week is ignored. For every £1 over this amount the New style ESA is reduced by 50p.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

To be entitled to New style ESA then you need to have paid the correct amount of NI contributions in tax years April 2019 to March 2020. 

Typo - should say the two years from April 2019 to March 2021.

poppy123456

Thanks calcotti.

alison_68

poppy123456 said:

To be entitled to New style ESA then you need to have paid the correct amount of NI contributions in tax years April 2019 to March 2020. If you've had a year off from working then this may affect entitlement.

Before taking any pension then please be aware of this advice earlier.

poppy123456 said:

janer1967 said:

Just to add taking a pension will only affect any means tested benefits 

Just to add, for New style ESA although it's not means tested. Any pension of up to £85 per week is ignored. For every £1 over this amount the New style ESA is reduced by 50p.

janer1967 said:

Don't panic we are here to help and support you or direct you to the right place 

Janer, 
 Thank u sooo much, I don’t have a clue about any of this stuff, I didn’t even know I could claim s as thing else other than PIP, u have been so helpful. X

alison_68

Poppy I was getting sick pay and ssp when I was off, would that help ? X

janer1967

Your welcome poppy is the expert regarding benefits I know a little bit .

My experience is in hr so employment issues 

But will always try and help where I can 

janer1967

If your ssp has ended and you have the required ni contributions you can apply for new style esa now 

You will need ssp1 form from your employer and a fit note from your gp