NHS partial retirement question it’s as clear as fog!

[EachandEveryone]

I know it’s quite a new thing partial retirement and it’s not retire and return. As far as I can tell it means I stay on my own (34 hour) contract and nothing changes except I work 10percent less ( 1 12 hour shift)

I am in the 1995 pension and so can luckily go at 55 I am now 56 and everything I have read is telling me to take the lump sum (100 grand) and my monthly pension and get it invested as it is laying dormant and I’m entitled to it.

i have cancer. I don’t know if I will always have it but I do think it’s not going to go away and I still have lots of tests and maybe treatment ahead. However, I might not! How long is a piece of string? I am back on a phased return now and it’s a longer one as I was off for a year.

my manager when I said we need to talk about a retirement date has said she doesn’t feel comfortable giving me one as I am still on phased return. Does this sound right? It’s impossible to get intouch with HR and the pension dept are sending me the forms. I need to know really whilst I’m still calm

secondly I work 0730-2000 and my phased return at the moment is 10-1700 I’ve asked if I can stick to 0730-1800 this four days a week but she has flatly said no as I will be needed at the beginning and end of the shift. I’m sure I could be the person that takes on the stuff that no one wants to do or that extra person to do the meds, cover for breaks, do the paperwork etc. I’m so sad it’s been 24 years and she’s been there a year. I feel like I haven’t got a leg to stand on☹️

There is a thread for HCPs, maybe someone there could advise?
link to topic
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/doctors_nurses_and_other_hcps_chat_

Take the pension!
You’re missing out, it’s final salary not defined contribution.
You can then retire-return, go part time and enjoy life.
Cancer is a disability and they should be trying to accommodate you or redeploying you to a suitable vacancy.

I think I will need chemo again in the next few months and this is why I need to stay on contract I can’t risk losing it. Which is why partial retirement is perfect for me as I keep all the benefits. It should be simple everyone’s doing it. All the advice is get that 1995 lump sum out but she seems to think I won’t be capable of returning as I was. She hasn’t said that but I’m not daft.

As I understand it you need to apply for your pension and resign from your current post, starting a new post after 24 hours. So you need a new contract on reduced hours.

Is this on offer? Or are they concerned about your future sickness absence and not willing?

OP I'm no expert but the pensions agency are very helpful and you should have a retirement policy where you work.

I'm sorry you're having this stress on top of everything else.

You are correct OP, partial retirement is a new way of retiring. It is not your hours that need to change, you would need to reduce your pensionable pay by 10% for 1 year. Sometimes this can be achieved by dropping unsocial hours rather than reducing hours. You do not need to resign.
Retire and Return is where you resign and are re-employed on a new contract (although you should be able to keep all your Agenda for Change terms and conditions -A/L and sick pay)- it is only redundancy that changes.
Both options do require the agreement of your manager. I think you should probably separate out your health issues from your retirement - get some agreement on your return and what it looks like and then apply to partially retire (disclaimer, I'm not an HR person but I am an NHS Manager).
But essentially, yes, if you are eligible (with SCS) to take your pension, then take it - it is not going to increase as it is now closed and benefits are now accruing in the 2015 section.