Has your employer, the pension scheme trustees or the scheme medical advisor rejected your application for ill-health retirement (IHR), and are you considering an appeal against the outcome? 
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Generally, individuals are keen to remain at work for a combination of reasons. For them, IHR is the last resort because their illness prevents them from remaining at work anymore, or the employer is unable to offer suitable workplace adjustments to help them remain at work. In such a situation, if an application for IHR is then unsuccessful, the outcome can feel extremely challenging and distressing, and the individual may wish to appeal.
 
The IHR appeal process can be complex, daunting and stressful, particularly for someone who had to stop working because of the severity of their illness. If their employment has ended, they may no longer be able to access support from their employer, and trade union assistance may also be limited. Appeals usually require additional medical evidence, but GPs and hospital specialists may have little knowledge of the relevant pension scheme criteria. In these circumstances, we can help by carrying out a comprehensive occupational health (OH) assessment. A report from our expert consultant occupational physician will help you decide whether to appeal and may strengthen and support your appeal. Please refer to the FAQs for more information.
 
​Our doctor has extensive knowledge and experience of various pension schemes, their IHR criteria and appeal process.
 
We will​

• review the available evidence, including medical and occupational health reports,

• carefully analyse the reasons given by the scheme's medical advisor or trustees for not supporting your IHR application,

• arrange an OH consultation and

• provide an expert report.

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Our report will be comprehensive and cover the following:

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• Details of evidence considered

• An overview of your health condition/s and functional capacity/limitations

• Aspects of your job activities that are relevant to IHR appeal considerations

• General approach to IHR assessment

• Analysis of a report from the scheme medical advisor (or your pension scheme administrator) that you are disputing

• Application of the specific IHR criteria and pension scheme rules

• Our recommendations on your IHR appeal

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If you wish to request an assessment and report, please complete an online self-referral form using the following link: Self-referral form
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The following link gives an overview of the next steps: Self-referral process

 

Please refer to our terms and conditions. ​

Here is some information on a few common pension schemes -  the list is not exhaustive.
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• NHS pension scheme

• Local Government Pension Scheme

• ​Civil Service Pension Scheme

• Railway Pension Scheme

• Teachers' Pension Scheme

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