ill health retirement and return to work

[kevin295]

Hi,i was medically retired in 2007 with lump sum but no pension rights...however my pension was given in 2010. What i would like to know is about the 10 year rule on returning to work and what date will they use for the 10 year rule? And any other benifits i can get since they stop benifits if pension is over a certain amount a month...thanks

[RobertT]

Hi,i was medically retired in 2007 with lump sum but no pension rights...however my pension was given in 2010. What i would like to know is about the 10 year rule on returning to work and what date will they use for the 10 year rule?

As far as I know there is no 10 year rule as far as working again after taking IHR. I know of someone who took IHR a while ago, who was told if he wanted to return to work for RM within 2 years, some of his IHR money would need to be paid back. I also know of somebody who took IHR from RM and walked into another job a week later.

The official RM stance on returning is :

11. RE-EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING ILL HEALTH RETIREMENT
Where an individual has been retired for Ill Health they will have opportunity to request re-employment within Royal Mail Group when/if they are again able to carry out their previous duty or another duty for the employer and there will be no artificial barriers to their re-employment.
Royal Mail Group is an equal opportunities employer and will consider all applications on their merit, including those from previous employees. Experience gained from working within the Group in the past is an advantage in any recruitment process, and this applies equally to individuals that have been retired on ill health grounds. In such cases however, it would be essential for an individual to demonstrate that they have recovered sufficiently to be able to perform a normal range of duties.

Re-employment will be subject to a referral to the OHS to confirm the individual has recovered from the ill health that supported the recommendation for retirement. The individual will be required to provide supporting evidence that they have recovered from their ill health and may be required to have a medical examination.
Their previous overall attendance record will be considered in the normal way but they will not be disadvantaged due to absences related to their ill health retirement.

It is also important to recognise that:
• It will be unlikely individuals will be able to return to their original former job.
• It will be dependent on an appropriate vacancy being available.
• They may be expected to be flexible in terms of job location and date of return.
• Where retraining is required it will be given.
• On their return they will be eligible to join the appropriate Pension Scheme for new employees.

And any other benifits i can get since they stop benifits if pension is over a certain amount a month...thanks

Try this website: http://www.entitledto.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or contact your local CAB.

[kevin295]

Thanks Robert but as far as i know under new pension agreement between cwu and royal mail it states that you cant work for 10 years after ihr...find this very hard to find out about and cant seem to get a answer from anyone..dont want to go back working at royal mail

[RobertT]

From you original post I assumed you got ‘IHR with lump sum’ and then 3 years later you took your pension because you presumably reached an age at which you can take it. Is that correct?

Or did you get IHR with lump sum and then 3 years later someone deemed your ailment to be so severe that you got a ‘medically enhanced’ pension aswell?

Can you please clarify.

[kevin295]

Sorry Robert ..in 2007 i got ihr with lump sum then 3 years later they released mt pension as my condition had got worse

[kevin295]

Im 47 now...pension was released in 2010

[kevin295]

Im 47 now...

[RobertT]

I’ve done a bit of searching and can find no mention of any 10 year rule or any time limit about going back to work after being given IHR.
The only thing I’ve found in the RMPP documents is in the ‘your options on leaving the RMPP’ guide, available here: http://www.royalmailpensionplan.co.uk/s ... an/library" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Where it says:

Can I take my benefits early?
There are some circumstances when you can apply to receive your benefits before you reach Normal Retiring Age:

Ill health
If you are too ill to work at any time after you leave the Company, you may be eligible to receive our benefits early (without any reduction) on ill health grounds. If this applies, all of your RMSPS and/or RMPP benefits (NRA 60 pension and NRA 65 pension) must start to be paid at the same time.

In order to establish whether you qualify for immediate payment of your benefits you will need to apply to the PSC whose details are included at the back of this guide. They will ask you to complete an authority for a medical report from your GP or specialist to be sent to our medical adviser who will consider this against the Rules on ill health retirement and applicable tax legislation.

To qualify for immediate payment, we have to agree that you would have been retired on ill health grounds had you still been in Company employment. If you are under age 55 however, you must not be engaged in any employment at the time of application or payment.


I hope that helps.

[kevin295]

Robert.See file below please

Thanks
kevin

[RobertT]

The whole agreement(I’ve now found it and is available here: http://www.glosamal.co.uk/Docs/Group_Il ... nt_200.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) is a bit vague as far as your situation is concerned, as you were given IHR with lump sum and then your pension 3 years later.

Although it’s important to read section 4 aswell as section 5 which you’ve highlighted, where it says:

4.1 “Retirement on ill health grounds with immediate pension”
means the cessation of employment as a result of serious physical or mental ill health (not simply a decline in energy or ability) such that, in the opinion of Royal Mail Group or associated employer the member is permanently incapable of:

a) carrying out his current duties;
b) carrying out such other duties for the employer as the employer might reasonably expect the member to perform; and
c) engaging in employment with any other employer of a type which, in the opinion of his present employer, would be reasonable and appropriate for the member.

I’m no lawyer, but I take that to mean you could get another job within 10 years of taking IHR with pension, as long as it doesn’t contradict the reasons you were given your pension in the first place.

Have you contacted the Pensions centre in Chesterfield or the CWU to see what they say on the matter?

[kevin295]

Thanks for that Robert...i never thought about giving them a call..will give them a call tomorrow as im lost about what date they will use as nobody can give a certain answer. Thanks for all your help on this matter

Kevin

[kevin295]

Hi Robert,just off the phone to chesterfield and was told i can take any job i want..10 year rule only applies in a return to royal mail.Gentleman told me only thing that would happen is i will get taxed on my pension...all i need now is to get passed fit for work! Thanks again for all your help

Kevin

[RobertT]

Hi Robert,just off the phone to chesterfield and was told i can take any job i want..10 year rule only applies in a return to royal mail.Gentleman told me only thing that would happen is i will get taxed on my pension...all i need now is to get passed fit for work! Thanks again for all your help

Kevin

I'm not sure I've helped much to be honest, but I hope all goes well.

[celtic1967]

I'm presuming this thread is about returning to work for RM after getting IHR pay ? Surely you can get paid off cos you cant do a walk but it wouldn't prevent you getting a desk job in a call centre ?

[kevin295]

Hi,it was a general question about returning to any form of work and not just with royal mail..was told i would loose pension if i returned to work within a 10 year period but have since found out that this may not be the case