Re:Ill health retirment

mellman01

As anyone on here who's been ill health retired or is going through the motions /process right now, if so can you tell me if you had to see your company Doctor for a formal meeting about it?, I've been seeing my company Doctor over 3 and a half years and to be honest I don't want to see him again he's got more than enough info on me, also they,(HR) have approached him 3 times in the past, is this normal for this kind of thing?.

oneday

Hi Mell
Am no expert but have you checked out disability alliance or some web site for info? good luck.

mellman01

Hi oneday no I haven't so thanks for the pointer I'll do just that!.

lululu

I have just got ill health retirement. I saw OH twice and it was suggested at my first appointment but I wanted to carry on working so I refused, the second time I realised it was the best outcome for me so OH contacted my GP and Rheumy man and that was it. no company doctor or meetings of any kind. From me saying OK till the end was one month with one month pay in leiu of notice and increased pension rights.

Sorry I forgot to say I am a union member but did not involve the union.

mellman01

Hi lululu yes Union is on it here bu it's notbeen an easy road for me, it's been 3 & a half years here and I am still being messed about, I had a double knee op in 2008 was subsequently diagnoised with advanced OA of both knee caps, also as on the begining of the year was also diagnosed with chronic neuropwathic pain syndrome but noe of this has made much of a differenc to me here.
I have two routes open to me now, ill health retirment or the boot under capability and that's it.
Sadly the place is closoing in 2012/2013 but I wont be here for that, if I could get ill health I would be so relieved but I can see what will happen to me, I and my wife are meeting the ocupational health doctor formally to discuss my health etc with a view of ill health retirment but I can see this being just another chain jerking game, he's got 4 specialist reports but still I have to see him before he makes up his mind, talk about cat and mouse.

lululu

Good luck, sounds like you need it!

My company have been really good with me. Were trully not able to adapt my work much and with job cuts looming this was the best outcome for me. Financially I will do OK with my company pension although I have to wait four years for state pension.

stiffy

I am just starting to investigate the option of ill health retirement (IHR) from the NHS. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2001 and due to disease progression working has become increasingly difficult. I’ve only been able to keep working this long thanks to great support at work and home, and have been carried by very good people. But even with this support I have spent half of the last 2 years off sick.

I am also interested to know peoples experience of the process, whether that be private or public sector. Not knowing any body that has gone through the IHR process the sort of questions I have are; were you successful; how long did it take; did you get tier 1 or 2 if public sector; does age make a difference (I am 37); useful sources of information; and any other useful titbits you may have.

mellman - afraid I cant be of any help to you as so far I have only had one appointment with occupational health earlier this year, but wish you luck.

lululu - really interested to hear of your experience and would be grateful to hear others. Like you my occupational health practitioner broached the option of IHR during my first appointment but I gave it short shrift as giving up work was not on my horizon, but I can now also see that it is my only real long term option so will be raising it next week at my second appointed with occupational health.

Time to put my feet up!

lululu

Don't quote me stiffy but as I understand it the public sector rules say that if dissmissal due to ill health is likely then they need to consider allowing you Ill health retirement only if you are over fifty years of age.

Maybe NHS is different. Good luck anyway let us know what happens.

janie68

Hi Stiffy

You will need to get a report from your consultant, tp support your application and he/she needs to state you are incapable of any work at all to help you get tier 2. I am going through it myself atm, early stages though, I am 39 and have had RA since I was 23. I know that it is hard to get, I think it will hinge on your consultants report and occ helath dr report too. Get advice from RCN or union you are with, they are helpful,

I tend to think they will try to give you tier 1, but I will appeal that straightaway going from a little research and RCN. Perhaps we could keep in touch with this, I am seeing occ health dr in November so hopefully will get a decision by xmas and we can suport each other?

Janie

margareth64

Hi
I saw the consultant at the pain clinic, not too bad only had to wait a year for follow up app.!!! Anyway he asked had I been medically retired from my job, I said no on sick leave but they did not contact me at all. Im in a private nursing home working as a care assistant. Im only 47 and not entitled to a pension ,so what is medical retirement that he mentioned??
margaret :???:

stiffy

Hi Janie

Our situations seem very similar. Would be great to keep in touch.

I am seeing Rheumatologist in November when I will ask him if he would support me with an ill health retirement (IHR) application. I haven’t had this discussion with him before so not sure what the response will be. Have you discussed with your Rheum?

I am also seeing my GP on Friday when I will also ask about supporting IHR application. Appreciate that GP support doesn’t carry the same weight as Rheum but if nothing else it will be interesting to see his response to the question.

Next week I have a telephone consultation with my occupational health (OH) practitioner. Feel a little more confident with support from OH as the option was raised by OH during my first and only appointment earlier this year, but at the time I was against the idea.

Haven’t involved my union yet (unison) as thought I would wait to see response from Rheum, GP and OH first.

You might be interested in the link which is a NHS guide to ill health retirement for use by OH and the assessor of the claim.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/Documents/Pensions/Illhealth_Retirement_Guide_-_final_Jan_09.pdf

Going on the assessment for tier 1 and 2 laid out in this doc I would say that I meet the criteria for tier 2, but of course I would say that! What do you think?

Having done a few more searches on the internet there do seem to be a lot of people saying tier 2 is hard to achieve but haven’t found anybody that has made a claim because of RA.

Did RCN know anything about success rates of IHR applicants?

Oh, one last thought. Don’t know if you have seen this

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Documents/Pensions/aw33e.pdf

But it’s the form that is jointly completed by the employer, claimant and OH for submission to NHS pensions.

Stay tuned for further updates!

Best wishes

stiffy

stiffy

Hi Margaret

Medical retirement and ill health retirement is the same thing. I am starting the process of applying for ill health retirement through my employer’s pension scheme.

Do you have a pension? Although I am no expert I understand that some pension schemes have ill health retirement as a scheme benefit and if you are in a pension that has this option and you meet the criteria for a successful application you can get ill health retirement.

Unions are normally useful sources of information.

From my early research for my application the income that I will receive if successful will be nothing like that gained through working but more then state benefits.

Take care

stiffy

stiffy

Hi lululu - will keep you posted. Stay tuned for the further adventures of ill health retirement claimants

janie68

Hi Stiffy

Yes my consulatant is doing me a report atm, he will support my aplication. Yes I think I am entitled to tier 2 as well, RCN had no statistics for me but I have been told by OH that it is hard to get but I do have a good case?

My forms are with my manager now, you complete your bit and then the last bit part c is for OH dr. I have had many dealings with OH, my file is so bloomin thick!!

The decision can be quite quick and did you know that ATOS are the ones that make that decision, there's no hope at all!!

Im on holiday now for 2weeks so not around, but I'll be back!!

Bye for now

Janie

margareth64

Thanks for your help everyone but it seems I have no hope of anything!!! Im off work with OA and my work is not NHS home but private sector also we have no pension scheme or union. I guess I just will stay on SSP till it runs out then i will have to apply for something else!!! :roll: Its never that simple is it!!!

Sufferersotherhalf

Hello All

My wife was diagnosed with RA in 2008 and has had two long periods of absence from her work in the NHS, the latest of which is in its 12th month. Her Time and Attendance interviewer has suggested Ill Health retirement as a possible way forward. Unfortunately she has had a bad experience with her Occupational Health Team who in my opinion are trying to put her off applying for IHR. She also thinks that her Rheumatoid Consultant is unsupportive of her even though on each occasion she has reported feeling unwell tests have backed her up. He always seems to look for another reason ie stress at work, home, her under active thyroid gland etc etc.

Do you think she has a chance of getting IHR Tier 1? She is currently about start on her second anti TNF medication after the first gave her poor side effects. The anti TNF meds themselves pose a risk to her in her role as she has to home visit patients who aren't necesarrily in the most hygienic of environments aswel as A&E and other wards.

janie68

Hello there

What does your wife's GP say about all this? Its difficult to say about whether she would get tier 1, tier 2 is enhanced and that is the one I'm going for. IMO and I'm not a qualified dr, but it could be that this 2nd anti-tnf could be the one that works for her. Which one is it going to be? I'm about to go onto my 4th one soon, it could be that she needs to see how this medication goes first.

Its very tricky isnt it? Im sorry that the OH team are not supportive, has she seen the dr there? Perhaps she could see him/her, although I feel the dr would be guided by the consultant. Will the consultant support her application? Perhaps also get some advice from the union, RCN have a helpline and you book a telephone appointment.

It is true to some degree, that stress can make arthritis worse but as you say the tests back her up, so it must be very frustrating for you both.

Good luck

Hope this helps a little

Janie

Sufferersotherhalf

Thank you for the reply.

Her doctor has been sympathetic to her ailments and did not look surprised about her being told that IHR might be the route for her to take. He is however is guided by the treatments offered by the Rheumy consultant.

She is in the union but has been reluctant to contact them to date. Her mother unexpectedly passed away recently and she does not really want the added stress of this process and is of the opinion that if she gets IHR she gets it but if she doesn't she doesn't.

stiffy

Hi Janie

Thanks for the feedback. From reading the criteria for NHS IHR you seem to have a strong case to me.

ATOS - oh.. no......... I did know this but like you it doesn’t inspire confidence in being able to judge the chance of success against the criteria. seems that the main aim of ATOS is to simply reduce the number of successful claims rather than judge each case against the criteria and more importantly on merit.

Have now spoken to union rep who is supportive and said that IHR is there for people like me. Reassuring but feels like a long road ahead.

Seeing GP tomorrow and will be talking to him about IHR for the first time. Feeling a little apprehensive about the response as this GP doesn’t really understand my history as my regular GP recently left the practice.

Have a lovely holiday.

stiffy

stiffy

Hi Margaret

A couple of pointers that I am not sure if you have investigated are disability living allowance (DLA) and employment and support allowance (ESA). These are state benefits for disabled people. Follow link for more info.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/index.htm

Take care and good luck

stiffy

stiffy

Hi Sufferersotherhalf

Afraid I can’t really offer anything more than Janie has already said.

From what I have learnt so far the key people to have on side seem to be the Rheumatologist first, Occupational Health second and to a lesser extent the GP.

I am just starting to ask my team whether they will support me with IHR in appointments over the coming month, starting tomorrow with GP so my potential claim could be very short lived if not supportive.

Best of luck

stiffy

woodbon

Hi, I was ill health retired over a year ago. I worked for the County Council as a Care Assisstant and I'd had a lot of time off, with a six months spell of work inbetween. This is how it was for me.
I was asked to got for a meeting with my Manager and a HR person. We talked about my condition and the way it effected me and how possible any job would be at the home I was based at to take me back. Clearly this wasn't possible as all the jobs called for long periods of walking, standing and using heavy equipment to transport people. You do need strength for that and stamina to go for 7 hours with only 1/2 an hour break, if your lucky! I was sent to the Occy health doctor and he gave me 3 months to see how things went, after that I was again called to see the manager and HR. I went, again to the Occy health doc who recommended ill health retirement and as I had paid the pension, he recommended that this be opened fully as if I were 65. HR and the manager did this and I agreed. The pension is very small as I hadn't paid in much, but at least its something and I get ESA at the moment. When I was retired the council refused to move me or retrain me as they said I wasn't fit enough. My husband came with me to all the meeting except the last, which a Union (unison) rep looked at the offer, advised acceptance and that was that. It was a long process from begining to end, but I had to accept that it was right for me. S
Sorry this is so long, but this is my experience and I thought it may help you to know you'r not alone. I miss work, I loved my work, but I couldn't do it now.
Hope you can sort out something that will be suitable for you, without too much fuss and bother. Love Sue

jmwills1957

Not been on here for a few years!
Work as become increasingly difficult and I have had a lot of sick leave.Applied for medical retirement and had a medical by Occi; Health.I work for the health service as a counsellor and he said that because my job is sedentary that there should be no problem continuing in my job. Some days I have had to choose not to take painkillers in case it affected my judgment and sometimes I have been unable to get to work on public transport. I have cervical spondylosis which affects my shoulder, left arm and head too. Added to this I have arthritis in my toes,fingers,and knees. I also suffer from Menereres disease which as affected my balance, hearing and tinnitus. I have also suffered from asthma since childhood. I have always felt that work is important but I am off sick at present and feel that I am letting my patients, bosses and myself down. If I am not off sich with the pain then it is something else!What do I do?

woodbon

Hi, Sounds like a lot you've got going on at the moment. I can understand that having a job that doesn't involve a lot of physical work can look to some people like a good way of coping but, form my experience (0A multipe joints including spine) that on days when the pain is really bad I can't concentrate on anything and can sit with the paper on my lap, dozing the day away, between trying to ease the pain by wandering round a bit. This is not practical, I should think, for a councellor! :roll:
I hope you can find the result that works best for you and if thats retirement, you may still be able to use your skills working for a volutory organization, on a very much reduced basis, deciding when you are fit to work without pressure. Love Sue xxx

stiffy

Hi - back again.

So have now spoken with GP and occupational health practitioner about ill health retirement. My GP is supportive.

With occupational health it’s not quite as I expected. Up to now I have been dealing with an occupational health practitioner who I assumed would go through the ill health retirement process with me. I was wrong. Instead I now get referred to an occupational health physician from a private provider who will make the decision about whether I get put forward for ill health retirement and go through the rest of the process with me if supportive. Should have this appointment in the next month.

My next appointment is with my Rheumatologist who I will be asking about whether he will support me with ill health retirement. Haven’t raised this with Rheum before.

Having a bit of a wobble about whether ill health retirement is the right thing to do at the moment. I am particularly concerned about the financial implications, being the main bread winner and having a young family. But lots of other doubts which I am sure will come as no surprise to you if you have had to or have contemplated stopping work because of you condition. Such as enjoyment from job, time and effort put in to building career, not wanting to give in, etc etc.

My wiser better-half says I can’t keep going the way I have and is a little frustrated that I am now having this wobble after taking so many years to make the decision to stop working. As she keeps reminding me I can’t actually work at the moment anyway.

I need to sleep on it

stiffy

Hi Sue

Thank you for the post. It is really helpful to read yours and others experience of ill health retirement.

Please don’t apologise for your comprehensive post. I am v grateful that you would put the time aside to let me know your experience.

Many thanks

Stiffy