Hi everyone
I am after some advice please. I am about to be retired on ill health from my local council and disagree with the Occ Health (OH) recomm of Tier 2, I feel it should be Tier 1.
They request access to Medical file and wanted me to get an appt with my consultant for latest review which was not possible. I did say at the time that if they needed my consultants latest assessment now there would be a fee to pay. So looks like they decided they didn’t need it afterall.
My MS Nurse then sent a further letter to my employer, supporting Tier 1 and explaining the reasons, who replied ‘we have now passed this to our Occupational Health advisors, asking if they had this information already when they made their decision, and if not, will they reconsider the tier. As soon as we get confirmation of this for you we will let you know.’
OH responded with they couldn’t be take letter into consideration. They must be a doctor and hold qualifications in occupational medicine.
I was working full time then had my hours reduced to 3 days (apprx 21hrs) pw on reasonable adjustments recommended by OH.
OH stated ‘I have considered Tier 2 for the Ill-Health Retirement eligibility, mainly based on her age, considering that over the next several years there may be some changes to the treatment availability and modes of treatment, or at the next review, as appropriate, her Ill-Health Retirement may have to be sustained.’
I have now seen on LGPS Guidance that '1st and 2nd Tier ill health benefits are not reviewable but 3rd tier benefits are subject to a review.
Below is a extract from the agenda HR sent me.
'Unfortunately there are strict guidelines in relation to the pension scheme, which only an independent registered medical practitioner (IRMP) qualified in occupational health medicine and who is registered with the General Medical Council, can give an opinion for the pension scheme. When they give their opinion – you will need to appeal their decision via the pension scheme if you are unhappy with the outcome. 22. From our point of view we will have to progress the capability process to a formal hearing – whereby we would have to dismiss due to ill health grounds, as you are not able to return to work in the foreseeable future. 23. Instead, we would like to mutually agree to terminate the contract, as we can see that you are unable to return to work, and we don’t want to have go through a stressful protracted process, therefore we would like to give you 12 weeks notice from 03/07/2020 which puts you back onto full pay, whilst we liaise with Pensions to set you up as a Pensioner. If this can be agreed, the 12 weeks notice will be effective from 03/07/20. We will need a response by 1 week time 01/07/2020. ’
Any comments/advice please, apologies for the length of this I hope it makes sense!
Thank Libo