NHS early retirement due to health

PietariKontio · 2023-08-02T09:13:41+00:00

I’m a couple of years away from 60 and my full NHS pension. However I’m experiencing a recurrent health problem that, while not caused by work, is exacerbated by work and makes work difficult to impossible. I could retire on 55yr packages but the difference between that and 60 rates is enough that it wouldn’t be affordable to do so. I’m worried that my increasingly frequent periods of Ill-health will make work a major problem, and have thought about taking early retirement!due to health. I would be interested if anyone knows of the procedure for doing so with an NHS pension, how rates/package are affected and what the severity or types of ill-health are needed?

Denimdreams · 02/08/2023 10:19

Have your health problems been addressed by OH?
Adaptions to working times, any adjustments such as equipments etc made?
If so and it's the role then redeployment could be considered.
It's only after this and all other options have been exhausted thatvthey would condidercretirement on medical grounds ( barring catastrophic change in health )

Bromptotoo · 02/08/2023 10:26

Had to look into this for a client yesterday so had info at my fingers.

The official stuff from NHS Business Services is below:

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2017-05/Ill%20health%20retirement%20tiers%20and%20FAQs%20%2805.2017%29%20V8.pdf

The RCN also have useful stuff on their website and no doubt the other unions do too.

Given your age I guess you'll have service in more than one scheme which may complicate....

Original poster

PietariKontio · 02/08/2023 11:03

Thank you both so much, I’ll check the links

OP posts:

Bookchildtable · 02/08/2023 14:17

I went through this process 6 years ago (aged 38). It's not something to be taken lightly, and not easy to get but was worth it for me.
There's 2 tiers depending on whether they think you could ever work in the future in or out of the NHS.
It's a long process which included assessments for adjustments in current job, looking to see if different job would be feasible, multiple oh assessments, then the dismissal process (which is not the same as being fired but felt like it), then they send your assessments to an independent doctor who has to agree with the NHS oh Dr (my independent one actually went further than the NHS Dr in recommendations). I think it was about two years on /off sickness, followed by the dismissal process which started in the December and was concluded end of April, I got my pension decision in June and first payment in July (I applied for esa and pip which got me through the no pay times).
My union were very helpful and also gave me a contribution towards a wheelchair and essential bills.

Bromptotoo · 02/08/2023 14:19

Bookchildtable · 02/08/2023 14:17

I went through this process 6 years ago (aged 38). It's not something to be taken lightly, and not easy to get but was worth it for me.
There's 2 tiers depending on whether they think you could ever work in the future in or out of the NHS.
It's a long process which included assessments for adjustments in current job, looking to see if different job would be feasible, multiple oh assessments, then the dismissal process (which is not the same as being fired but felt like it), then they send your assessments to an independent doctor who has to agree with the NHS oh Dr (my independent one actually went further than the NHS Dr in recommendations). I think it was about two years on /off sickness, followed by the dismissal process which started in the December and was concluded end of April, I got my pension decision in June and first payment in July (I applied for esa and pip which got me through the no pay times).
My union were very helpful and also gave me a contribution towards a wheelchair and essential bills.

Thanks for the insider view. That's helpful to know.

WantingToEducate · 02/08/2023 16:07

I’m very interested in this as I resigned from my NHS post last month for Heath related reasons and my notice runs to the end of August.

I have been working as a nurse for about 16 years and have no intention of returning to the NHS.

My Trust has sent me out a booklet on what to do with my pension but it’s so long with so many terms and it has left me feeling so confused.

I genuinely thought I could just make a claim for the money and it would be given to me, but it seems this isn’t the case.

It’s making me so stressed 😢

LegendsBeyond · 02/08/2023 22:03

WantingToEducate · 02/08/2023 16:07

I’m very interested in this as I resigned from my NHS post last month for Heath related reasons and my notice runs to the end of August.

I have been working as a nurse for about 16 years and have no intention of returning to the NHS.

My Trust has sent me out a booklet on what to do with my pension but it’s so long with so many terms and it has left me feeling so confused.

I genuinely thought I could just make a claim for the money and it would be given to me, but it seems this isn’t the case.

It’s making me so stressed 😢

If you wanted ill health retirement, you shouldn’t have resigned. My union told me not to resign & let work initiate the ill health retirement process through OH, which they did.

WantingToEducate · 02/08/2023 22:08

LegendsBeyond · 02/08/2023 22:03

If you wanted ill health retirement, you shouldn’t have resigned. My union told me not to resign & let work initiate the ill health retirement process through OH, which they did.

Show quote history

I’m not retiring, I’m only 39.

I just needed to get away because of the way the job was impacting my health, both
mentally and physically. I just couldn’t be there anymore.