USS university pension help - please

[chunkybear]

Hi
I'm don't want to go into a big thread just now but I'm 53, been working at a university and have a USS pension which is approx 20 years.
I've had a creeping issue with a chronic illness and, sadly alongside this, likely interlinked as it's a condition linked to stress too, and being bullied at work for 3 years I have anxiety and depression which is chronic now and quite bad, not controlled. The issue that caused the stress and problems at work, which took forever to sort through, and resulted in a huge enquiry (approx 50 people also bullied / mis managed and the person causing this got sacked - we all got official letters stating what had happened and it was supported that I was subject to intimidation, bullying and harassment from this person who was also my line manager so the closest superior to me and did whatever
Damage she liked, unchallenged for over a year, and whilst the complaint was going through she was still allowed to line manage me, she continued to harass me, whilst on sickness absence leave, and when I came back to work, seconded to a different team, she managed to fuck up my hours so i got I correctly paid in December of all
Months, and continually bullied.
This was confirmed by an external investigator, in writing, acknowledging all of the issues and confirming intimidation, harassment and bullying. Needless to say my university did fuck all after that - not even a call or a by-you-leave about anything at all, literally couldn't give a fuck
I'm Now finding, 2 - 3 years almost since the outcome, I've been trying to work and move onwards, but my depression is worse, my
Chronic autoimmune problem, linked to stress, is the worst it's been and I can't get it under control.
Lots of other information, I won't go into, but does anyone know if it's worth investigating through USS about early pension through Ill health? In all honesty, I can't work full time, I've tried and I literally can't function either at work or at home and I spend weekends sleeping, sleep at lunch time and am seemingly a grumpy bitxh at home/ used to clean/cook and shop, most of this in the last year or so has all but stopped, I do what I can manage only. I've got the to the point where something has to
Give somewhere.

5-6 years ago I was applying for jobs at the next level, and had some great prospects, I now feel My depression, all managed by my GP is making me dysfunctional. After 3 years of counselling not helping and changes with drugs for mental health and also my chronic condition (unrelated) I have come to the conclusion it's killing me working, certainly full time and perhaps at all ... can anyone help with some advice.
Doesn't help I'm the breadwinner, so my income pays for most things 😞

It’s worth talking to HR but from my experience with team members, unlikely. The bar seems to be set pretty high and it takes a long time. Is VS open at your university? If so, could you take that and look at moving things around at home so you’re not under pressure to earn so much?

sorry to read this, sounds awful. I work at a university and have previously been in the nhs. From what I hear it is very, very difficult to get pension early on Ill health grounds. The only person I ever knew who got it had terminal cancer and under a year to live. People with similar issues to you have not got it after enquiring. By all means ask but I would not get your hopes up.

I have worked in HE and am sadly not surprised but very sorry to read this . Agree that voluntary severance might be good if you can get it. Sounds like you still need time to heal. I would ask HR re medical retirement, I know one person who got it for chronic fatigue syndrome but that was a while ago. But you might as well ask.

Is there any chance of reducing your hours in a job at your current uni? Even trying it for 6 months? Sometimes cutting a day (maybe midweek) doesn’t affect take home pay too much (do the full calculations). of course this would only be if it was a genuine reduction in your workload not just your hours, which depends on kind of job you are doing.

also moving sideways to somewhere without all the associations to your traumatic time might be surprisingly ok , fresh start etc. now might not be the time to move up to the next level. Good luck!

I know of someone with chronic ME who managed to get partial early retirement from USS but it was after a fairly long period of being signed off by doctor etc so employer got to a point they’d tried everything to keep them in work. Long slow process. Given all you have said about the bullying situation, which sounds to be potentially a large factor in where you are now at, have you sought any legal advice? Might be worth considering. I’m not an employment law specialist - is constructive dismissal still a thing? It certainly sounds like you have concrete evidence of the bullying and it’s unclear what’s occurred since they sacked your boss. I’d seek a union or legal opinion on your overall position, sounds like you could’ve been further up the ladder had it not been for the period of hell. If it’s all related it can’t be ignored. I’m sorry you’ve had such a terrible time