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

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.

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