Ill health and your pension
According to research in 2021 from the Trade Union Congress, one in eight people are forced out of work due to ill health before reaching state pension age.
Scroll Down
Unfortunately, retirement isn’t always the happy chapter in life you might have planned. But if you have been forced to retire early due to a serious illness or medical condition, your workplace pension includes some welcome financial protection.
What is ill health retirement?
Ill health retirement allows you to receive your pension early when you’re not well enough to work. Depending on your scheme, you may have received your pension benefits early, without reductions, as long as you meet certain criteria such as:
- You’re permanently unable to do your job (until your Normal Pension Age).
- You’re not capable of undertaking gainful (paid) employment for a minimum of 30 hours a week (for at least a year).
- You meet the two-year vesting period (you have paid into your pension for at least two years). To qualify for ill health retirement, your condition would usually need to be verified by a doctor or an independent occupational health physician – as well as the employer.
Useful links and resources
Whether you qualify for ill health retirement or are suffering with ill health, there are a number of online resources that provide help, support and information. You may find the below links useful:
Information on ill health retirement
- LPPA website: LGPS Ill health retirement.
- Police 2015 scheme – Ill health.
- LGA website: Firefighters’ Pension Scheme information about ill health retirement.
- Gov.uk website: Early retirement, your pension and benefits – Government information that covers ill health retirement.
- Gov.uk website: Ill health retirement: early medical retirement – Information about ill health retirement from MoneyHelper.
Financial and practical support when dealing with serious ill health
- Citizens Advice – Information on what benefits to claim if you’re sick or disabled.
- NHS : An NHS Social care and support guide, which explains different care options and where to get support.
- CISFA UK – Support for anyone experiencing chronic illness.
- Marie Curie – Care and support for people living with terminal illness.
