Ill health retirement

Ill health retirement for active members

You may receive your pension early if you have to leave your job because of ill health.

You must speak to your employer if you think you may be entitled to receive your pension on ill health grounds.

There is no age limit, but you must have two years' LGPS membership to qualify for a pension, including any transferred from other pension schemes.

Your pension may be increased depending on how likely it is that you will be able to work before your normal pension age (NPA).

How will my employer make a decision?

It is up to your employer to decide whether or not you are entitled to an ill health pension. They will arrange a medical examination for you with an independent occupational health doctor. Your employer will base their decision on the doctor's opinion.

To qualify for an ill health pension your employer must determine that:

  • you are permanently incapable of carrying out your current job
  • you have a reduced likelihood of being able to take gainful employment before your normal pension age. Gainful employment means work of 30 hours a week for at least a year. 

Your employer's opinion will also determine the tier of ill health pension. It depends on how likely you are to be capable of gainful employment before your normal pension age.

If you would like to appeal your employer's decision regarding your ill health pension, please write to your employer.

Tiers of ill health

Tier 3 - Likely to be capable of gainful employment within three years.

Tier 2 - Likely to be capable of gainful employment by normal pension age but not within the next three years.

Tier 1 - No reasonable prospect of being capable of gainful employment by normal pension age.

Ill health examples

John

John's normal pension age is 67. He retires on ill health grounds at age 55. If he'd worked to his normal pension age, he would have added to his pension account for another 12 years. John's ill health pension would be:

  • Tier 3: Pension paid for three years, not increased. Reviewed by employer after 18 months
  • Tier 2: Pension paid for life, increased by 3 years (25% of the 12 years)
  • Tier 1: Pension paid for life, increased by 12 years (as if he'd worked to his normal pension age)

Louise

Louise's normal pension age is 66. She retires on ill health grounds at age 50. If she'd worked to her normal pension age, she would have added to her pension account for another 16 years. Louise's ill health pension would be:

  • Tier 3: Pension paid for three years, not increased. Reviewed by employer after 18 months
  • Tier 2: Pension paid for life, increased by 4 years (25% of the 16 years)
  • Tier 1: Pension paid for life, increased by 16 years (as if she'd worked to her normal pension age)
What to expect

If you are currently contributing to the LGPS and wish to investigate ill health retirement, see information about Ill health retirement.

Ill health retirement for deferred members

It is also possible for a member with a deferred pension to claim their pension early on ill health grounds. See information about Ill health retirement for deferred members.