Retirement through ill-health query

Hi alsopkj. I can't answer your question, but could I suggest you post in the Ask a Work Support Adviser  where you will get advice from one of the experts. You could also call the free helpline on  0808 808 0000 where you can talk to someone in person. i hope all goes well. Best wishes.

Thanks a lot, I’ll do that - I’m still working my way around this website! 

Hi alsopkj,

I took early retirement from the Probation service some years ago (I am 59 now).  The process is not quick but it is also not difficult. I was advised by the Macmillan helpline initially on 0808 808 00 00 and would recommend that you call them as they were excellent.  They can also advise re other areas such as claiming life insurance and benefits entitlement.

The process for me was that I advised my line manager that I was interested in early retirement on medical ground and they then contacted HR.  I was then contacted by the occupational health nurse who undertook an initial assessment despite the fact that my line manager had seen evidence of my diagnosis and asked if I could go straight to the doctor assessment stage.  I then had to attend an assessment by a doctor who was independent but appointed via the pensions company.  Mine took one look at my diagnosis and advised me that he saw no problem in recommending early retirement before he undertook the rest of the interview.  He sent the report to the pension company and they accepted it and offered me early retirement on the highest rate.  I had worked initially following my diagnosis but was increasingly struggling and was falling asleep as soon as I got home from work and was not able to care for my family.  

There are three different "grades" depending upon if they expect you to be able to work again or not.  If you are terminal they would normally be looking at the highest grade.  If you are offered and accept this then you cannot take any work even voluntary work in the future s this could be classed as being fit to work.  If you are awarded early retirement at the highest rate you receive your pension as if you had worked until your full retirement age, I presume that would be 67 in your case.  If you are entitled to any lump sum then that is also paid out.  As you work for a council I presume that you receive an annual pension forecast.  The amount paid is just slightly below that as the forecast adds on the interest they would expect the fund to make between now and your projected retirement age.

You should also be entitled to a benefit called PIP which Macmillan can assist you with.  At the higher rate this can work out at just under £150 a week.  This is not means tested.  You would need to discuss carers allowance for your mother although this goes to your mum rather than to you.

You may also qualify for a blue badge whether you drive or not and a buss pass if you wanted to apply.

Your school should also be able to take your condition into account when dealing with your daughter.  My son (15 years old) has a card and if he gets upset by anything he simply has to show this card as he leaves the class without having to go into detail.  He is also supported by the pastoral team and the local young carers group.  I understand that your daughter will also be entitled to a discount on her exam grades of about 5% but you might need to discuss that with the school or exam board.

I am now retired with no travel expenses or other additional costs and my income is slightly more than it was when I was working and I now have more time for my family.  I thoroughly recommend contacting the helpline as they were excellent in my case and i wish I had contacted them earlier to find out what my options were.

I wish you all the best with your treatment,

Gragon. x

• Thank you so so much Gragon for your reply - I found it so helpful to have info from someone who is in a similar life situation as me. I now know that it is part of my assessment that I would be unable to find gainful employment and/or continue in my job role but I’m presuming that if my chemo manages to keep secondaries at bay for a period of time, I would be able to work until any further outbreaks? I’ll ring the helpline to discuss further and to discuss benefits. My daughter is already with a Young Carers group from my initial cancer diagnosis and I think she had a card system At school then  but I’ll check. She is not yet aware of my incurable diagnosis until I get all support in place and we see how the first scan is in a few months. I will definitely contact the school about the possibility of an exam discount. Thanks again and best wishes for your treatment too x 

Hi again I’ve just looked and you can only get the higher rate of PIP automatically if you’ve had a terminal diagnosis and not expected to live more than 6 months.  

Hi alsopkj,

You would need to discuss PIP with Macmillan. The Macmillan nurse at my hospital completed my form (DS1500) and took it to my oncologist to get them to sign it and it was sent off.  With this form in place there is no assessment process and the payment is automatic.  My PIP was renewed last year having already been claiming it for three years  Again I asked the Macmillan nurse to complete the form and she was happy to do so and it is the same for many members.  Lots of hospitals have a Macmillan centre available now but again the helpline would be able to advise you about the best person to approach.

It is virtually impossible to say when anyone will die from any illness as it varies so much from person to person.  The trick is to claim what you can and then outlive the statistics.  The Macmillan nurses are aware of this.  Using the statistics they would consider if it would be unreasonable to presume that you might die within six months and complete the form on that basis.  This is where it is always best to talk to them rather than presuming you know what the regulations are.  The government and civil service like hard facts but they are in short supply when it comes to a medical prognosis.  I want to leave my wife and son in as good a position as possible when I do die or be able tro make good memories with them whilst I can.  Things like this aid me in doing this.

You might want to consider joining the living with incurable cancer group. (Click Here) as there is a lot of experience at dealing with these situations there.  It is quite an active group and very supportive.  I hope to see you there.

All the best,

Gragon x

Thanks again!! Incurable and terminal mean the same to me ... we’ll see what happens! 

Hi, my oncologist does not feel that I would qualify for an ill-health pension at this time using the relevant form.

Hi alsopkj,

With the greatest of respect to your Oncologist I would always address these queries to a MacMillan advisor first.  Your Oncologist may know all about your cancer but given the amount of time they need to devote to keeping up to date with developments in cancer treatments they are unlikely to be an expert in pensions and benefits as well.  In the same way that an accountant knows how to phrase or identify things which will reduce your tax a MacMillan advisor will know how the pension companies and benefits agencies consider these applications and how best to phrase them.

I was a little confused if you were referring to the benefit claim or the retirement on health grounds.  You mention pension but then talk about a relevant form?  I did not complete any forms for my ill health retirement but merely put in the request to my line manager and all the rest was an assessment process.  There was a DS 1500 form for for PIP and in my case the MacMillan nurse completed it and took it to my oncologist to get it signed.  I didn't get involved directly in this discussion but the MacMillan nurse is much more aware than I am of the arguments which can be used in this case.  Statistically I was in the same place as you when I applied regarding life expectancy.

It may be that your Oncologist is correct but I would trust the Macmillan advisors more in these areas.  With issues such as medical retirement the psychological impact is taken into account as well as just the physical.

MacMillan are set up to help in situations such as this and I would use them to help you as much as you can.  The last thing you need is to be struggling with bureaucracy when you could just be looking after you.  In situations like this they are the experts.

I hope that this is helpful.

Gragon xx

Thanks a lot Gragon, sorry for the late response - chemo side effects have kicked in!  I did get confused about the DS1500 form in my previous response. I’ll speak to an adviser as you suggest.