Resign or be dismissed

[Nellie65]

I have been on long term sick leave with a chronic medical condition.
I want to take Ill Health Retirement.
My question is this...
Would it be better for me to hand in my notice and resign on the grounds of ill health...or be dimissed due to too much sick time and incapability of doing job?
Any ideas?

In terms of your benefits (not sure if that is relevant for you) you are better being dismissed on health grounds.

It is a work pension that I hope to get.they are taking so long and messing me about i am tempted to just hand in my notice. But obviously I don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face as it were!

I work for the NHS. the decision to give early pension due to ill health retirement lies with the NHS pensions agency not my employer. So they have no say, but they are sending me to Occi Health for assessment. Howevr, i was under the impression that my GP could fill out the medical report the Pensions Agency need. I am alittle concerned that if they (my employer) fill outnall the form thrmselves they may not be sympathetic to me. I am off sick due to bullying that has left me with really bad depression and anxiety. I also have a long term illness that has gradually got worse over the last 2 years, which is the reson for seeking ill health retirement.

It will be the OH dr who completes the form and will be based on medical criteria and the dr is bound by ethics and guidelines.

In saying that, the OH dr is only giving an opinion based on whether you possibly meet the criteria.

The actual decision is made by the pension scheme drs and they are a lot stricter in terms of whether medical retirement is actually approved.

Thank you

Thanks Preciousbane....the policy is very wooly in so much as it doesn't lay out the procedure should an employee request ill health retirement, so I think they might drag it out unecessarily and all the stress is making me worse, just want it sorted, but don't want to make a rash ill informed decision that may be bad for my futre plans...whatever they maybe.
I am contacting the Union today.

You shouldn't need to resign in order to apply for ill health retirement.

Ill health retirement will only be granted if your specialists (and most likely your employers occ health provider) is willing to state in writing that your condition is such that you will never be able to work again. The pension provider will also take into account your current age (generally ill health applications are more likely to be agreed the older you are - under 50 and they will be reluctant unless medical evidence is very strong).

You should discuss your thoughts about making an ill health retirement application with your HR dept and the occ health provided (and your own medical advisers). It is unlikely that your employer would dismiss you whilst you are actively perusing ill health retirement.

It the pension provider declines your application and you are unlikely to be able to return to work then your employer will probably start dismissal proceedings and you may at that point decide to resign.

Hope this helps x

Thank you Gemma77