Good afternoon all,
I have invasive breast cancer HER2 and have been undergoing treatment for 5 years now. I loved my job, however, I had a new line manager last June and everything has become very unpleasant because she is asking me to do things that I am not happy with and it is making me so unhappy when I am working so I have been sighed off work due to work related stress.
I am considering retiring due to ill health because of these issues, however, my private pension is not as much as I thought it would be and I cannot get the state pension for another 9 years. I live alone and am still paying off my mortgage which is the reason things would be so tight.
i have been told there are two types, tier 1 or tier 2, but I am not able to find out which one I would be able to get until I apply. Has anyone retired early due to ill health and advise me on which tier they received so I can get a better underStanding of what I can expect. Could you also advise what benefits your were also able to get under these circumstances.
I do not want to end up in financial hardship so your help and guidance would be much appreciated.
Hi, sorry you find yourself in this situation. I know what it’s like to have a line manager that makes your work life unbearable. Do you have an option to move to another team or department? It sounds as though you still need to work. Do you work in the private or public sector? I’ve experience of the ill health retirement process in the public sector.
Thank you for responding, I am in the public sector. I do have the option to move to another team but I have to do my phased return to work with my current manager which I cannot face.
I think if you spoke to welfare officer he/she will transfer you and do a phased return. I worked with a girl and she literally did a midnight flit, My welfare officer 4 months after I first started sick leave and only two months after radiotherapy asked me if I considered ill health retirement which I hadn’t. I spoke to my husband and decided I would apply. I also was diagnosed with arthritis at multiple levels in my spine. I was turned down and on appeal turned down again. It’s the private sector that assess you and the policy is that you are not fit to do any role until state pension age. Apparently arthritis is not permanent. It took two years but they eventually sacked me. I think tier 2 and tier 2 depend on what age you are and if you are partially retired. If I were you and you feel fit enough I would get your doctor to put on your sick note you can only return to work if moved to another branch/department. I know after been bullied I personally lost my confidence.
This is exactly how I feel. I do have a meeting with Occupational Health tomorrow so I will mention it. I am 58.
Sorry should have said I dont think you have to do a phased return with your current line manager if she is the issue. Are the things she is asking you to do unreasonable because of your health?
I wish you all the best for your meeting tomorrow. OHS should be able to recommend a move for you in order to get you back to work. Unless you mean the IHR meeting. My welfare officer actually told me if I applied for IHR and didn’t get it I would be sacked. Let me know how you get on.
Hi Feb2020
Sorry to hear of the situation that you are in. I am in the process of applying for ill health retirement. I think Tier two is ill health and Tier one is serious ill health retirement where the doctor or specialist thinks you have less than a year to live. I am applying for Tier one as I have secondary breast cancer which has spread. I actually work for the DWP in the jobcentre so know something of benefits if you need any help. If you go onto the gov.uk website there is a benefit calculator called Entitledto and you put your details in and it will tell you what benefits you are entitled to claim. Take care and here if you need to chat.
Lee x
Hi My Grace is Sufficient.
That’s what I understood too but the Line Manager causing the issue said it is unfair to the new team if I do it under them.
Not sure what to do for the best, one minute I want to return to work the next I want to retire.
Hi, I’m sorry your line manager is giving b you such a hard time. It’s not up to your line manager as to what is fair. As a line manager the should be thinking of your welfare. I wax off work four months with work related stress. I filled in the stress at work questionnaire but heard nothing more about it. My dr wanted me to take my case further thru a solicitor as I wasn’t in the union. My breast surgeon said that my work related stress didn’t cause my breast cancer but attributed to it. If worry g about paying your mortgage is a big issue for you I would get proof from your dr that you are only fit to return if moved. You could maybe chat to MacMillan about your “rights to work having cancer”. They should be making adjustments for you or new line manager.
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