Hi everyone. I know there are quite a few threads about retireing through ill health, but am looking for NHS employee’s experience.
I am 49 and have bi lateral BC with mets in bones and liver.I have been a nurse for 25 years, but only paid into the pension for 12.
I work on a busy heavy ward and OH have recommended I move to a non manual handling job when I return, probably June time. I really dont want to go back to nursing and feel I cant cope physically or emotionally at the moment. OH have said that if you go for retirement through ill health, they make you jump through hoops to get it.
Just would like to know what other nurses/NHS staff experiences have been, and also does anyone know how they calculate your pension.
thank you
Jane
hi jane
i have only worked for nhs for 3 years and am just looking into ill health retirement i am 39, i went on the nhs pension website, i then rang the enquiry desk they were really helpful and they are sending me out a pack, there is also a page on the site that calculates how much you are entitled to, sorry canot be any more help
galen
hello
I have worked for NHS and Local Govt (moving between the 2)for 33 years and am unsure of my position. Most of my pension will be in Local Govt pension, but I currently work for the NHS. I reckon as well as hoops to jump through, it will be a bureaucratic nightmare.
Sorry, can’t be much help but very interested in any info
thanks
I didn’t apply because I’m too well, but my financial adviser told me that IHR is extremely difficult to get, so much so that people who actually are struggling with health problems end up trying to carry on and ending up taking “voluntary” early retirement, which of course is a lot less to live on. However the pensions agency as already said were really helpful and nice and they can calculate a pension forecast for you.
The thing to be aware of is that *they* are the ones who make the decision on whether you qualify for IHR, not your employer or Occ Health. You have to be permanently incapable of doing your own job (for lower level) or *any* job (for higher level. However i would have thought you met the criteria and you’ve nothing to lost by applying anyway, the worst they can say is no!..
dear Jane,
I retired from my job as a nurse specialist in December,after having been on long term sick leave ( I have lung and bone mets, and did go back to work after daignosis).Although the process did take over 6 months, I was treated well, and with the support of occ health and my oncologist was awarded ill health retirement. Your pensions officer should be able to give you a projection of what you would receive. I think it helped that I did go back to work for a while, and that I was completely honest with my managers. My emotional health was also taken into consideration as I worked with people with terminal illness.
I hope this helps,please pm me if you want to
nicky
(post deleted)
I only worked for the NHS for 2 years part time and have been self employed most of my life. I applied for my pension early on grounds of ill health age (56) it was pretty straight forward but just took time while they wrote first to my GP and second to my oncologist. Plus filling out the forms. A couple of months in total. We did have xmas in between which delayed it. Cant advise how they worked it out but it was fractional more than if id have had the normal pension. Mine as you could imagine was a small amount but was glad of the lump sum payment.
They asked if i intended to work in the NHS again i said no as i was self employed but hoped that i would be well enough to return to my normal SE work one day but treatment wouldnt be finished until March 2012 by which time i would be 58 years young. Good luck with getting your pension and please feel free to pm me if i can be of any help.
Sallie