I am just applying for ill health through the NHS - have worked for 13 years since diagnosis and just cant carry on.
How long did the pensions dept take to make a decision?
Would be interested in any info you have as I dont feel very confident as it is difficult to make non PD sufferers understand the effects of stress and anxiety.
My wife has just finished work with the nhs through ill heath. After several meetings with occupational health who were also in contact with her consultant we all agreed that she was no longer fit for work. There will be forms to fill in that your manager will help you with, occy health and your consultant will also send info to the pension people. They will decide wether you get tier1 or tier2 of the pension scheme. My wifes forms have been sent off and we are now waiting to hear from them. She received eight weeks pay on finishing,she worked part time for eight years and was diagnosed with PD two years ago.
all the best OxfordGills.....Billywhizz
Oh almost forgot you can claim ESA( based on your NI contributions ) when you finish
Thanks - my form has gone in and I am also waiting for the outcome. Can anyone claim ESA? Do you know what the criteria is for claiming - the benefits website is so woolly.
Good luck to your wife as well - hope she is successful
You have to phone them to register your claim, they will want certain info off you, then they will send you a form out to fill in,a similar version of a PIP form which i assume you are also claiming ? Don't forget you are claiming contribution based ESA, as long as you have paid NI for the last two years you qualify.
Billywhizz
You can get income based esa if you don't have enough Ni credits, Contribution based esa i believe(someone correct me if im wrong) for the exception of support group) lasts one year, income based carrys on for as long as your still entitled too esa, both pay the same rate, the only end difference at present til 2017 is after assessment in the amount if you are successful between work related group and support group.
to fill in your forms & further advice this is best done with the help of a advisor, either a parkinsons support worker or search for a local disability advice service http://www.scope.org.uk/Support/services-directory
If anyone needs further advice on benefits, please do call our free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303 and ask to be put through to our benefits adviser.
Please note though, our helpline is closed today (Thursday 17 September) for staff training.
Best wishes
Dave
Many thanks for all the advice - I will call the helpline tomorrow.
It is 7 years now since my retirement and 9 years since diagnosis. When I eventually decided it was fairly quick if I remember rightly. Only one thing held it up which was tier 2 ill health retirement. You must get your consultant to write on your behalf as I did to occupational health and explain why you cannot carry on working and why you will find it difficult if not impossible to get a job and that your earnings potential is severely reduced. They cannot ignore the specialists letter. It worked for me when I appealed and got a enhanced pension.
good luck and wish you all the best
Andrew
Promise this happened to my Wife and it was dreadful few months.She has Arthritis and it was her consultant who saved the day. I was already medically retired due to heart and lung problem.
Parkinsons wasnt diagnosed in me till 4 years ago, good job she didnt have me to cope with as well
I have got a letter from my consultant which has gone in with the form - so if I am not successful will see if he can help at all. Fingers crossed and thanks for all the advice and support.
I doubt they will give you tier2 straight off they did not with me so I appealed and got it so if say no do not accept it, appeal as it is backed on your ability to work and earn what you are earning now and your potential to earn will now be drastically reduced.
good luck
Delighted that I have been awarded Tier 2. Thanks for your advice.
OxfordGills
Glad to hear that you got tier 2 pension, my wife did too.She has been getting ESA for a while now. Next week she has to go to a work focused appointment to be maybe put into a support group. Has anyone had to go to one of these assessments and what can she/ we expect ?
Billywhizz
I have just seen last years posts on ESA Decision, I was thinking of taking proof of my wifes tier 2 pension to show them that they think she will not be working anymore. But thinking about it i will phone her local support worker for advise tomorrow.
Billywhizz
Advice
i would say is:
Answer carefully, they'll expect human nature too take over and down play how it effects your life.
Answer everything in the sense of your worst day
if you struggle to do something safely and in a reliable way its better too say you cannot
it is designed for you too say you can work through such things like 'can you prepare a meal'? or how did you get here?, how far did you walk? All things too contradict what you put down in the forms and state you are fit for some kind of work. it doesn't matter too them what type of work that is just that you have demonstrated that you are fit for work.
goodluck.
i would also take all the medical evidence with you doctors letters ect
Thanks sea angler, i will let you know how things go
Hi dory, I work in aschool non teaching and have just been referred to occ health as work is getting more difficult. Consultant has agreed to ill health retiement. Any help appreciated
It was pretty straight forward for my wife she had seen occy health about four times. before a meeting with work and all at the meeting agreed to ill health retirement,tier 2 was decided by the pension people after evidence from that meeting and her consultant. You can also claim ESA and PIP, see previous posts to get more info.theres loads on this site and speak to a support worker
