What would you do? Work / resign??

[ImGoneUnderground]

Sorry if this sounds like a bit of rant - its more a request for advice -
I have been off work for about 10 weeks due to a bad / painful physical condition, awaiting an operation (waiting time is about 4 + months now, if I am 'lucky'), currently signed off work by GP, but that can't go on indefinitely, so I am due back to work shortly. (In a job that I used to love, but now fear I cannot continue in it - I have lost all confidence & feel very anxious about returning to work - & yes, I know that is probably normal).

I am about a year away from retiring altogether (recently partially retired, 3 day week, so already living on reduced income) - I own my house, have a small pension, could cover basic bills with pension, plus using my quite limited savings to live on - I am SO tempted to resign altogether, & live frugally until I reach state pension age, and then would also get a small bit more personal pension - scared about any unseen bills (repairs etc) - and so many people / friends advise to 'just carry on & see it out' - I kind of know I am in a good position with regards to owning my home - I feel like I would be letting myself down if I did just go ahead & leave work. Any thoughts - please be kind, I have worked for almost 50 years - this is more of a 'what would you do? xx

If you think you'll manage financially I'd retire.
I worked 50 years and it's more than enough. You wouldn't be letting yourself or any one else down. It will give you time to prepare for your operation and then recover without worrying about work.
Good luck whatever you choose to do.

Might you qualify for early retirement due to ill health?

I say retire if you can manage financially to do so.

Hey, Thank you for the reply - Not sure, as its acute pancreatitis / due to sudden onset gallstones (getting stuck in the bile duct, sorry may be TMI) - so not life threatening so far....just so bliddy painful so often, & cannot trace it back to anything - food / drink etc...but that may be something to consider, thank you xx I will probably have to take advice from my Union, as GP just prescribes painkillers & pretty much fobs off with 'the Op will 'probably' cure it' etc...and that may not be enough to allow early retirement xxx (whenever the 'OP' may be......) xx

Oh thank you for the kind reply - I think a few months may be a bit 'frugal', but I am prepared to go with that until my pension kicks in xxxx
You & other kind people here are helping me make the decision xx

Other than living frugally for a little while, are there any other downsides to leaving? It sounds like you’re just being stoic for the sake of it.

Hey Call, I can just about manage it I think - thanks for the kind reply, and not making me feel 'guilty' about retiring / giving up work (since working from the age of 17) about 10 months earlier than the state pension age xxx

I’d retire,OP. Life’s too short.
Can you claim any benefits while you’re off sick? PIP?
New Style ESA ?
I believe they’re both non means tested ( I may be wrong)
In a years time you’ll get your long overdue state pension anyway as well as additional private pension and you’re already managing on the reduced income.

Hey, thanks for replying - not really - it's that ' work ethic' thing I think - as I said I used to love my job, but not now, worried about taking 'sick leave' etc...even if I am signed off for genuine reasons......bliddy painful acute pancreatitis out of the blue.....never thought of being stoic, that makes sense - great word, & advise, lol - I just want to be happy, stress free and not have to worry about work (after working for almost 50 years), and have a lay in bed when I need to !!. XX. (A bit of frugal living is fine, I can do that) xx

You have my deepest sympathy. I had the same condition five years ago. It's no fun at all. I ended up being kept in hospital awaiting surgery - It's a serious illness. The only thing that worked - and it only worked until it didn't iyswim - was fasting for three days at a time. Clear fluids only, water, tea or coffee without milk, bovril, consommé. Back to normal food until the pain started again and then straight back to fasting. It kept it at bay for several months. Good luck. You'll be fine after surgery.🤞

Hey 176509user, thank you so much for your reply.
And yes, life is so short - wasn't it yesterday that we all wore ra ra skirts, and loved Kate Bush, The Jam & Duran Duran??......ate grapes and just drank water??? Pretty sure I can do that again......

I work in DWP, so do know about NSESA / PIP etc, thanks so much - I wouldn't qualify at the moment, but thank you so much for your suggestion. (yes, you are right, both are not means tested, possibly PIP or Attendance Allowance in the future), NSESA would be wiped out by my current part time pension. PIP would need a 'proven' longer term medical condition. I think I will just eat lentils & pears, lol.....but seriously, I so, truly, appreciate your reply. (I may be able to answer questions about benefits too, if anyone has any??). xxx
Oh thank you all - I think a resignation letter may be in progress xxxx

And that has gone on for 10 weeks? You must have lost tons of weight and be feeling awful.

What is your sick pay entitlement? You sound really ill and you’re not doing anything wrong by being signed off at the moment. Don’t feel obliged to resign while you’re still being paid.

Thank you Helena for replying xx, Its hard to describe the pain to anyone who hasn't had it, isn't it? (like being on fire & paralysed inside the whole ribcage etc)...so glad that you seem to be OK now? I will gladly take your advice, bless. xxx My go to food is Pellegrino water, pears, avocado and ribena.....so far, so good. xxx (bugger waiting for surgery though!) Love to you, take care xxx

I am OK for 6 months sick pay - depends whether the flipping GP will sign me off......I could actually work a bit from home, but not sure whether GP willl take this seriously.....sad, but true xx

I just want to say thank you to all who have replied in my time of need, and also those who may have questions - as a DWP worker I may be able to help...... take care all xxx

If it was me, I retired at 66, I would take the full pay sick leave. I would ask the Doctor for a fit note to cover me, saying how bad the pain is, and describe it too him. I would then look at my holiday entitlement, and look to using it if I still felt unwell.
This would give you a few extra months and bring you nearer to your state pension. You are ill, you need to do what's best for you. When you get your state pension plus your small other pension you should be okay if you have no mortgage.
Good luck with whatever you decide, and I hope the pain lessons.

If I could afford it I’d retire tomorrow and I’m not ill! Have you got any holiday pay owing? Can the dr sign you off a bit longer?
The woman I knew who had gallstones was in so much pain she could barely stand sometimes, but once she had her op she was so much better, feel better soon.

Id take as much sick leave as I could, ie when the paid sick leave runs out, then retire.

But i spent years saving and being frugal in order to pay the mortgage off and retired at 53. I wouldn't worry about just being 10 months early if you want to end the stress now.

I'd continue using sick leave as long as possible. If you are in loads of unmanageable pain you are not for to work. I'm surprised your GP won't sign you off until after your surgery.

I’m going against the grain here. I had the exact same thing. My gp told me if I had a flare up to get myself to A and E. I did have the flare up and rang 911, who directed me to A and E. A and E admitted me and I had the op 2 days later. Honestly the relief and the speed of recovery was amazing. I think you need a flare up. Fish and chips did it for me. So I think you should hang in there and not resign - let the civil service DWP process take its course. If you’re off sick 🤢 then that’s what it is. But don’t make a decision that you cannot reverse.

I would stay.
You're doing nothing wrong, by staying employed you maintain sick pay (may even flip onto Long term disability which would bridge you to your pension), and life assurance.
There’s no point making your life any harder than it already is, or needs to be.

As you are dwp I would max out the sick pay. If you are signed off indefinitely until the op, then you may be able to get a settlement with your employer that takes you through to retirement. Or you might get the op come through and either be paid during it or at least be on SSP and have something coming in. I get that you are stressed and in pain, but less than a year to get through until you have a little bit more of a cushion.
And don't forget once you retire from your full time job and are healthy again, you can still work in a less demanding job. Or pick up some casual work to supplement your pension.

Surely acute pancreatitis is a medical emergency and your GP should have told you to go to A&E? I had acute pancreatitis due to gallstones and my GP sent me to the surgical assessment unit and I had my gallbladder removed a couple of days later. It's a life threatening condition. Your GP doesn't sound great at all.

10 years ago I broke my arm. I was off work for 10 weeks. One day I realised I was a much more relaxed and happy person after weeks on sick leave. I had thought I liked my job. I would lose a percentage of my work pension for every year I retired early. I worked everything out and could afford to live on a lot less. And I was only 11 months to retirement age. I did a spread sheet and sent it to my daughter. She replied that you can’t quantify what a year of relatively stress free happiness costs. I did retire early. I now have my state pension too. Absolutely no regrets. Were you to need a large sum of money for a big repair job etc you could always borrow against your house. But your costs are less when you have time to cook, to walk to places. And you only need casual clothes etc.
you won’t regret having a life well lived.