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Medical Retirement
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How does one go for medical retirement & how easy is it to do?
I am only 48 but been diagnosed 2010 with Multiple Myeloma Cancer, its the type that can only be managed & not cured. There is no prognosis as everyone is different could be months, could be serveral years. I will alway be having various treatments, hospital stays ect and sometimes feel not too bad, sometimes struggle to get up.
It would be a load off my mind if I didnt have to worry about work. The do keep asking what my plans are as I have been off 18 months. As I dont know from 1 day to the next what I will feel like I cannot give the answers they need.
I would like to take medical retirement to concentrate on my health and also try to enjoy whatever time I have left (nobody know how long that is).
Can I suggest it to my employer or do they have to suggest it? If so what would be the process? I have worked there 30 years, in the pension 28 years but I am only 48 so do you think they will say NO? I certainly wont be around to take full advantage of my pension to a ripe old age.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Millie
I am only 48 but been diagnosed 2010 with Multiple Myeloma Cancer, its the type that can only be managed & not cured. There is no prognosis as everyone is different could be months, could be serveral years. I will alway be having various treatments, hospital stays ect and sometimes feel not too bad, sometimes struggle to get up.
It would be a load off my mind if I didnt have to worry about work. The do keep asking what my plans are as I have been off 18 months. As I dont know from 1 day to the next what I will feel like I cannot give the answers they need.
I would like to take medical retirement to concentrate on my health and also try to enjoy whatever time I have left (nobody know how long that is).
Can I suggest it to my employer or do they have to suggest it? If so what would be the process? I have worked there 30 years, in the pension 28 years but I am only 48 so do you think they will say NO? I certainly wont be around to take full advantage of my pension to a ripe old age.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Millie
Answers
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I'm sorry to hear of your situation, millie....
My employer has a policy for early retirement on medical groups - a colleague did this after having been off sick for several months, it involved going to Occupational Health and the GP and having recommendations made that he would not be fit to return to his job. If you are still giving in sick notes from the GP, then your work should be looking to your welfare and perhaps asking you themselves to see Occ Health.
It depends where you work as to what their policy is on Ill Health retirement - could you take your works pension early under the circumstances? - I believe ours gets paid up if you are unfit to work until normal retirement age.
My employer has a policy for early retirement on medical groups - a colleague did this after having been off sick for several months, it involved going to Occupational Health and the GP and having recommendations made that he would not be fit to return to his job. If you are still giving in sick notes from the GP, then your work should be looking to your welfare and perhaps asking you themselves to see Occ Health.
It depends where you work as to what their policy is on Ill Health retirement - could you take your works pension early under the circumstances? - I believe ours gets paid up if you are unfit to work until normal retirement age.
I took medical retirement, because as a postman I had pain and fatigue walking (which was actually attributed to another cause than it really was, but whatever...) and after a couple of months of sick I was given it.
HOWEVER, my manager did say it would be in my interest to go for it from the start even though he knew I wanted to work, as he said I could end up being moved sideways and eventually just pushed out of whatever job I was given. At least this way I got a medical retirement package as opposed to nothing.
That sounds like I was falsely going down that road, but that isn't strictly true. I didn't want to particularly do anything else they would have to offer, and if I did, it would involve travelling and expense I couldn't afford. Besides, walking was naking me very tired and I figured it wouldn't do me any good.
I was also sent ATOS (privately as opposed to a benefit claimant) where I was assessed for what I could do and what I was experiencing, and then later to a company doctor who rubber stamped me for medical retirement. Because I wanted it, I did sort of exaggerate my problems, though in hindsight, it was a good job I did.
I'm actually in a similar position to you except it isn't cancer (I have a benign brain tumour) and as with you, I have good days and bad days as to what I can do, and also as with you, I don't know how long. I'm not sure as yet if mine is operable or treatable, but if not it will slowly affect various functions of my body.
Going back to you, I am surprised at the 18 months, as this does seem a long time to still be employed. You don't say if you are in a private pension scheme, but if you are, I BELIEVE you can claim early pension if you are medically retired (private that is, not state).
I would seriously suggest playing (though it sounds as if you are not playing, if you get my drift) up the worst aspects of this and try not to be a matyr to it. As you say there will be hospital visits and treatment to contend with, and you really need to think of you not them.
If they haven't already suggested it, I would bring it up - it's not like a broken leg, where you know after x months you will be fine.
All the best anyhow.
HOWEVER, my manager did say it would be in my interest to go for it from the start even though he knew I wanted to work, as he said I could end up being moved sideways and eventually just pushed out of whatever job I was given. At least this way I got a medical retirement package as opposed to nothing.
That sounds like I was falsely going down that road, but that isn't strictly true. I didn't want to particularly do anything else they would have to offer, and if I did, it would involve travelling and expense I couldn't afford. Besides, walking was naking me very tired and I figured it wouldn't do me any good.
I was also sent ATOS (privately as opposed to a benefit claimant) where I was assessed for what I could do and what I was experiencing, and then later to a company doctor who rubber stamped me for medical retirement. Because I wanted it, I did sort of exaggerate my problems, though in hindsight, it was a good job I did.
I'm actually in a similar position to you except it isn't cancer (I have a benign brain tumour) and as with you, I have good days and bad days as to what I can do, and also as with you, I don't know how long. I'm not sure as yet if mine is operable or treatable, but if not it will slowly affect various functions of my body.
Going back to you, I am surprised at the 18 months, as this does seem a long time to still be employed. You don't say if you are in a private pension scheme, but if you are, I BELIEVE you can claim early pension if you are medically retired (private that is, not state).
I would seriously suggest playing (though it sounds as if you are not playing, if you get my drift) up the worst aspects of this and try not to be a matyr to it. As you say there will be hospital visits and treatment to contend with, and you really need to think of you not them.
If they haven't already suggested it, I would bring it up - it's not like a broken leg, where you know after x months you will be fine.
All the best anyhow.
So sorry about your situation millie - postdog too
My wife was quite happily working at a clerical job for a local authority and over the course of 48 felt that she was unable to focus her eyes. She had coincidentally booked an opticians appointmant and (s)he told her to go immediately to the local eye hospital who diagnosed macular degeneration straight away. This is basically a 'scarring' at the back of the eye which gives these kind of symptoms. It is quite unusual to get it in both eyes practically simultaneously and at the relatively early age of 47.
After a short time off she went back to work but it became obvious she could not continue as she was unable to keep up with the work expected of her.
She went through the Occupational Health who referred her to the company doctor and he in turn contacted the hospital and her GP.
Result was she was medically retired with immediate effect. She was given company pension from day one and her contribution years were put up to 20 years (I can't recall it might have been 25) although only worked there for 13. Has also been able to claim Incapacity Benefit too.
So my suggestion is to ask your employer what you need to do before they decide for you.
Best wishes and good luck
My wife was quite happily working at a clerical job for a local authority and over the course of 48 felt that she was unable to focus her eyes. She had coincidentally booked an opticians appointmant and (s)he told her to go immediately to the local eye hospital who diagnosed macular degeneration straight away. This is basically a 'scarring' at the back of the eye which gives these kind of symptoms. It is quite unusual to get it in both eyes practically simultaneously and at the relatively early age of 47.
After a short time off she went back to work but it became obvious she could not continue as she was unable to keep up with the work expected of her.
She went through the Occupational Health who referred her to the company doctor and he in turn contacted the hospital and her GP.
Result was she was medically retired with immediate effect. She was given company pension from day one and her contribution years were put up to 20 years (I can't recall it might have been 25) although only worked there for 13. Has also been able to claim Incapacity Benefit too.
So my suggestion is to ask your employer what you need to do before they decide for you.
Best wishes and good luck
Yes, as others above make clear, different employers (and their respective pension providers) have different ways of dealing with this and there is no hard and fast rule, since it is the pension scheme that would be funding the early retirement.
There is no disadvantage to you in making the first approach, but it is invariably going to involve the employer's pension provider wanting medical checks done to gauge an assessment of your capability and needs.
Based on that, the employer may be able to offer you retirement and the terms will be entirely up to them.
As per Boxtops, I'm also surprised the employer hasn't made a move to discuss this already - 18 months is a long time.
There is no disadvantage to you in making the first approach, but it is invariably going to involve the employer's pension provider wanting medical checks done to gauge an assessment of your capability and needs.
Based on that, the employer may be able to offer you retirement and the terms will be entirely up to them.
As per Boxtops, I'm also surprised the employer hasn't made a move to discuss this already - 18 months is a long time.
You sound a very brave person Millie.
I would suggest you first speak with your employer and the trustees of your pension scheme and try to come to an agreement with them for your retirement, particularly having been there for 30 years, with 28 years of pension payments, any reasonable employer will try to come to an agreement regardless of your pension scheme rights.
I would also suggest you make a claim for Disability Living allowance which is not taxable or means tested, I doubt you will be able to claim under the terminal illness clause (special rules) as this requires that your death can reasonably be expected within 6 months (sorry, but there are some people who come into this category) but and you do not know what the future holds. Make a normal claim to the Department of Work & Pensions and ask your GP to write to confirm your disabilities to you in and include this with your application, the claim will be backdated to the day you ring for the claim pack, but there can be a delay in notifying you of their decision, if you are rejected appeal.
Please do keep posting with any problem you may experience, as there will be many people on AB who will be happy to help.
I would suggest you first speak with your employer and the trustees of your pension scheme and try to come to an agreement with them for your retirement, particularly having been there for 30 years, with 28 years of pension payments, any reasonable employer will try to come to an agreement regardless of your pension scheme rights.
I would also suggest you make a claim for Disability Living allowance which is not taxable or means tested, I doubt you will be able to claim under the terminal illness clause (special rules) as this requires that your death can reasonably be expected within 6 months (sorry, but there are some people who come into this category) but and you do not know what the future holds. Make a normal claim to the Department of Work & Pensions and ask your GP to write to confirm your disabilities to you in and include this with your application, the claim will be backdated to the day you ring for the claim pack, but there can be a delay in notifying you of their decision, if you are rejected appeal.
Please do keep posting with any problem you may experience, as there will be many people on AB who will be happy to help.
Thank you all so much for your help & support, I thought my work might just say 'if you're not up to the job you will have to just leave'.
I didnt really feel comfortable to have to ask them to pay me off and the hospital just say to concentrate my energies on my health but obviously I need to pay my bills like anyone else. But I feel much better about it now having read all your messages.
Millie
I didnt really feel comfortable to have to ask them to pay me off and the hospital just say to concentrate my energies on my health but obviously I need to pay my bills like anyone else. But I feel much better about it now having read all your messages.
Millie
Hi Guys,
The latest update on my dillema is that I met with my boss on Wednesday & brought up the subject of my medical retirement. He said that it MAY be possible (though by no means guaranteed).
They are referring me to Occupational Health who are AXA so will let you know how I get on.
Does anyone have any experience with them? Everyone i know & people on here have only mentioned ATOS.
Millie
The latest update on my dillema is that I met with my boss on Wednesday & brought up the subject of my medical retirement. He said that it MAY be possible (though by no means guaranteed).
They are referring me to Occupational Health who are AXA so will let you know how I get on.
Does anyone have any experience with them? Everyone i know & people on here have only mentioned ATOS.
Millie
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