Pension at 55

[goldy]

I was Ill health retired last year, and I asked for a pension quote
I thought this was a simple enough process I asked for a quote about 8 months before my 55th birthday and they said no you'll have to call back in 5 months before which I did then they said no it's 3 months so not a good start ,firstly they said just email an to request a quote then they said no! we need to see a signature so write but you can put it into a email as an attachment,which I did
Then some form about lifetime Allowance and ID.
I've now just received a letter which is 23 pages long with the RMSSP with quotes but there only the pre 2012 quotes .I telephoned them because it's utterly confusing which parts to fill in and where can I find out about the rest of my pension and I get a nice girl who's working from home but doesn't seem to be able to answer some of my questions so at least another week before I get a definitive answer and it's only 5 weeks to my 55th birthday .
I still need to contact PCS to find out RMPP quotes and there's already a weeks delay as I want to find out if(because I got IHR)
If my benefits are reduced by 25percent or not and the adviser can't tell me.Can anyone give any advice HELP.

[Hawkey99]

Sorry to hear about your delay and your IHR.

Your benefits being reduced will be based on the reasons for your retirement as there are 2 types.

Basically if you are still able to work and you take them early they will be reduced by 25% if you take them at 55.

If you have a much more serious retirement and there is no prospect for you working again then generally they are not reduced.

Hopefully others can confirm my understanding is correct...

[goldy]

Thanks for the reply I have been updated on this by an adviser who said my benefits SHOULD NOT be reduced but still have to wait for full enquiry into it. I am not able to work in a physical job due to disability and at the moment have no plans to return to work .
Have to wait and see what they say, it's alot to cram in before my birthday when payments would be due.I informed them when I asked for a quote 6 weeks ago that I was ill health retired.

[tractorboy2]

Which type of IHR did you get ? because that will provide your answer.
If you are unable to work again , you should have IHR with immediate pension.
Otherwise as hawkey said.

[goldy]

Not sure, neither is the pension adviser,who said I shouldn't get a reduced pension,I didn't get retired with an immediate pension as I've stated I had to apply before my 55th birthday can you even get IHR with pension before 55? If so that raises a different question
as to why I wasn't considered for it the union were involved at all stages.The point is I'm still waiting for an definitive answer because the RMSSP adviser was looking into it .Thanks for your reply.

[freespeech]

Which type of IHR did you get ? because that will provide your answer.
If you are unable to work again , you should have IHR with immediate pension.
Otherwise as hawkey said.

It can't have been IHR with immediate pension as he left last year and is now waiting until he reaches age 55.

[goldy]

So if that is the answer that I will get a reduced pension how come this pension adviser seems to think different ,I think there just there to answer the phone and make it up as they go along,what a joke !

[tractorboy2]

Which type of IHR did you get ? because that will provide your answer.
If you are unable to work again , you should have IHR with immediate pension.
Otherwise as hawkey said.

It can't have been IHR with immediate pension as he left last year and is now waiting until he reaches age 55.

You're right. Also I think it is extremely difficult to get IHR with immediate pension anyhow.
Goldy hasn't said if he will be able to work again in the future or not , and perhaps getting a non reduced pension is still a possibility , with the right medical documentation. Who knows.

[goldy]

I think tractorboy you are right.I think if they deem you unlikely
to work again based on evidence (doctors reports) you can get a full pension at 55 but obviously I am not certain I still have to wait for more paperwork.Thanks

[goldy]

Hi thanks for replies.Just an update, just gone through the ill health retirement forms and basically you have to have a doctor say you cannot work again ever, so waste of time ,but because I spoke to an adviser who basically didn't know her stuff have gone through a rigmarole of getting all the forms just to find out it's not worth applying if the first adviser had been better she would have been able to tell me that,the problem I think is they are not there to give you financial or can't give you financial advice, I now have to go back to just applying for a reduced pension and which options to take regarding payments. It's Strange because I can't think of a situation where somebody couldn't work in any roll ever again even people who can move an eye lid can work via adaptation .