Ill health pension withdrawal?

[emilyurse1]

Has anyone managed to withdraw thejr pension early due to ill health? Not 'one year to live' terminal circumstances, but an ongoing inability to work due to disabilities.
Anyone been successful?
Thanks

How old are you?

I used to work in this area. If it's an employer's pension, you need to ask what the definition of 'ill health' is (e.g. where I used to work the definition was very strict, you had to have medical evidence that you were unable to work, at all, in any capacity, for the foreseeable future - so a very high bar to meet). Other employers may have less strict definitions such as 'unable to work in your usual or any similar profession'.

I'm not clear how the criteria is set if it's a personal pension - but the provider will be able to tell you if you call them.

Yes I did in my 30s (it's an NHS one with tiers - I've got the highest tier). Was lots of fact finding two occupational health Dr's assessed, had to be medically dismissed from work first (so they'd gone through the process of seeing if I could do my job with adaptions or another job). You need lots of proof I asked my consultants to document their thoughts in my medical notes so that could be used as evidence. Kept every hospital letter. Every letter regarding home adaptions. Long process but has been worth it (although I do wish I could work it did help me come to the conclusion I wasn't well enough to work - sort of draw a line under it if many professionals were coming to the same conclusion).
If you are in a union they may be able to help (they were really useful to me and can help if you do need to appeal).