Hi, Today I received a call from occupational health in my work. We discussed adjustments and a phase return to get me back to work. We discussed my symptoms and how I’m feeling currently. We did discuss the amount of time off I have had lately and that I wouldn’t follow the standard sickness policy in my work due to having MS. The women was extremely helpful she checked with me that I applied for the relevant benefits that I am entitled to and how reducing my hours further may be beneficial as I have my son also to care for aswell as MS. I confirmed I was keen to her back to work. I was slightly stunned that she did discuss with me if I have thought about ill health retirement. I said this isn’t something I had thought about only being 29! She stated she brought it up as she needs to make me aware of all the options available. I thanked her but advised I don’t feel this option is applicable to me currently. She stated that is something that I should research incase further down the line my symptoms and MS progress and I am not able to work. This may sounds daft but surely I wouldnt be able to do this as I’m not even 30 yet. Thanks Polly x
Just noticed an earlier post regarding the same subject so should hopefully learn more from that thread. Thanks Polly x
Hi Polly
Before I finished work OH and HR were both very supportive and I had lots of adaptations done that made it easier for me to work for as long as possible.
You are not sounding daft. I think you can retire through ill health at any age. I felt too young at 51 but I know that it was the right thing to do for me and my family.
I completely understand how you feel at your young age. Hopefully they will make it easier for you to carry on for as long as you feel you can.
Take care.
Shazzie xx
Hi Shazzie I thought it was good that she mentioned it as it was never something I was aware I could do but I told her today I feel I’ve a few more years in me yet. After I posted I noticed the earlier post about IRH which has given me lots of help. Im hoping to get back to work at the start of March so I will research it further when I return as no harm in learning more about it. Polly x
Good luck with it Polly and I hope all goes well for you.
Take care.
Shazzie xx
Good luck going back to work Polly. It looks as if I will also be going back on a phased return in March after 6 months off and I’m scared to death!
Hi Puddinglover That’s good your returning to work. I’m sure after a few days it will feel like we’ve never been away from work. Good luck and don’t be over doing when you return to work. Take care Polly xx
Your Pension Scheme rules will set out the qualifying criteria IHR. Age doesn’t usually come into it much (beyond it being normal to need a couple of years’ service to be potentially eligible). It is more to do with whether you can still do your job or not.
I would suggest that you find out about what your scheme rules say, and what you would be entitled to. There is one particular thing for you to think about: it is often the case that IHR benefits will be projected into the future on the basis of your contractual hours at the time of contract termination. In other words, if a person is full time when she leaves, her pension will be based on a proportion of full time pay. But if she has gone part time, it is likely that the projected service element of her pension benefits will be calculated on part time pay (although she will typically get the full benefit of the years’ service she has accrued at full time too). So this is something important for a person to bear in mind when considering reducing her hours now, but potentially taking IHR in the future. There are circs in which she would be better off taking IHR now. In other words, you need to find out the facts and do your sums.
I know it is all enough to freak a person out. Try instead to stay calm and think through what is the best deal for you.
Good luck.
Alison
Hi Polly, just read your post, mine about the same subject is three further down today’s list. I am totally ignorant about this situation, can anyone just please clarify that the only way way you are eligible for IHR is if you are amember of a current employers Pension Scheme. I am not but have a previous employers frozen Pension? Good luck with everything Polly and hopefully we will be able to get through this absolute minefield! Thanks, Linda x
Thanks Alison your information has given me lots to consider as it really wasn’t something I was aware and I’m glad it was brought up on the call as it’s given me more to look into. The company I worked for in July 2013 tuped us across to a new company, we were given the chance of voluntary redundancy or 2 years job protection. I did applied for voluntary redundancy as the package for ten years service was great and at that time I was feeling really unwell so thought the break would do me good but I was refused as I’m considered as being in a specialised role. I have my old companies T&C’s until July 2015 this is something the union fought for as has far greater benefits than the new company. So will on my return do the research into IRH. Polly x
[quote=“pollyb”] Thanks Alison your information has given me lots to consider as it really wasn’t something I was aware and I’m glad it was brought up on the call as it’s given me more to look into. The company I worked for in July 2013 tuped us across to a new company, we were given the chance of voluntary redundancy or 2 years job protection. I did applied for voluntary redundancy as the package for ten years service was great and at that time I was feeling really unwell so thought the break would do me good but I was refused as I’m considered as being in a specialised role. I have my old companies T&C’s until July 2015 this is something the union fought for as has far greater benefits than the new company. So will on my return do the research into IRH. Polly x [/quote] Not taking VR might prove to have been an excellent financial move! A x
[quote=“LindaH”]
Hi Polly, just read your post, mine about the same subject is three further down today’s list. I am totally ignorant about this situation, can anyone just please clarify that the only way way you are eligible for IHR is if you are amember of a current employers Pension Scheme. I am not but have a previous employers frozen Pension? Good luck with everything Polly and hopefully we will be able to get through this absolute minefield! Thanks, Linda x
[/quote] People normally apply for IHR under the provisions of the occupational pension scheme of which they are currently a contributing member. I have heard tell of arrangements under which a person can claim against a scheme which they no longer contribute to, but I think this is very unusual. Alison
I would agree that it’s vital to check the rules of the pension scheme. I know I was fortunate that, when I was granted IHR in 2011, after reducing my hours a year earlier, the rules of the Local Government Pension Scheme meant that because I’d reduced my hours for the same reason as I was taking IHR, the reduction was ignored and my pension was calculated as if I was working fulltime. This lead to a pension which was £7K/year higher than it would have been on my reduced hours.
Neil