CSP: Appeal against the Ill-Health Retirement Decision

There are five different schemes under the Civil Service Pension (CSP). Unlike the Classic scheme, there are two levels or tiers of ill-health retirement benefits under the Classic Plus, Premium, Nuvos and Alpha schemes - Lower and Upper Tiers. Further information can be found at the following link: Ill Health Retirement 

​Lower tier: A member has suffered a permanent breakdown in health, and the resulting incapacity prevents them from discharging their own job or a comparable job.

Upper tier: A member has suffered a permanent breakdown in health and the resulting incapacity prevents them from discharging their own job and of undertaking any other gainful employment.

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It is not uncommon for an ill-health retirement application to be unsuccessful or only partially successful. However, if a member wants to appeal against the outcome of a Scheme Medical Advisor (SMA), the appeal process can be complex and daunting. Typically, additional medical evidence will be required to support your case. While you may obtain a medical report from your general practitioner or hospital specialist, a thorough and detailed occupational health assessment from an independent consultant occupational physician, addressing the specific criteria and rules relevant to ill-health retirement, is often more advantageous to the outcome of your appeal.

​Our consultant occupational physician has previously worked as a Scheme Medical Advisor for the CSP scheme and has knowledge and experience of their ill-health retirement criteria and appeal process.

We will

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

• carefully analyse the reasons given by the SMA for their recommendations,

• arrange an occupational health consultation and

• provide an expert report.

The report may strengthen your appeal or help you consider whether to appeal against the outcome.

Please refer to our terms and conditions for this service.​

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