Hello Himalaya, I'm 56 and have just applied for ill health retirement with Teachers' Pensions. The process seemed quite straightforward. I just filled in my sections of the forms and then passed the relevant parts to my former employer (I took voluntary redundancy in 2020) and my oncologolist. Because I'm not currently working, I didn't need an occupational health report, and my oncologolist returned her part of the form pretty quickly. She did mention when I asked her to complete it that different pension providers have different requirements so you need to check what exactly your provider needs. I sent my forms about 2 weeks ago and have just heard that I will be paid my pension as a lump sum by 1st December.
I have recently taken ill heath retirement after 32yrs with the NHS. I was still working but both my manger and OH Doctor were very supportive. And with my stage 4 treatable but incurable NSCLC I was awarded the higher tier of pension. I hope your application goes smoothly.
Hi Himalaya, Sorry I don't know what any of that means. I got diagnosed with ovarian cancer in June this year. I was told it's a type of cancer which doesn't respond well to chemo and it had spread too much for surgery. They tried chemo anyway for a couple of months but then a scan showed it wasn't working and there was nothing more they could do. It was at that point I decided to apply for my pension. I had to ask my oncologist whether she thought I had less than 12 months to live because that affects whether I get my pension as a smaller lump sum plus monthly payments or just a large lump sum. I am getting a lump sum. Good luck with your application.
Thank you for being so open. I'm sorry to read what you've been going through. How are you managing every day? So difficult not to be consumed by it all.
It's very hard as I'm sure it is for everyone. I try to mostly take things one day at a time and to do things that I enjoy. The hardest thing is not that I don't have much time to live (although that is hard, obviously) but the fact that I can't do many of the things I love because I have very little energy. I'd like to go on 10-mile walks in the Lake District, but on a good day I can just about manage 2 miles in my local area. I'm lucky that a local cancer charity is providing counselling to help me come to terms with my diagnosis and also swimming sessions just for cancer patients at a local private gym. I didn't think I'd feel confident going swimming with my very bloated abdomen and the fact that I'm so slow now, but as it's just other women like me, I do enjoy it. I'm also lucky to have some very supportive friends who drive me to nice places and are happy to walk at my pace. How about you? How do you cope?
Hi AisB, Isn't it strange we would all like to be able to do the things we now can't do! I would love to be able to walk but couldn't make it anywhere near 1 mile, let alone two!
As you probably know, I've been here for a while now and it has taught me not to dwell on the things I can no longer do because it is depressing BUT I try to concentrate on the things I CAN do, no matter how few! It makes for a better state of mind!
Love Annette x
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, Today is a Gift!!!
You sound inspirational. Great you're still getting out with friends and swimming....and enjoying that. Has the counsellor helped a lot? I've had a couple of woolly experience s and have yet to find a good one for me.
I struggle to get up....finding it all a bit much at the mo. Mindset all wrong
