Pension payment assessment for ill health [ex RM]

[Hitbox]

Hey there

anyone have any idea what criteria has to be met for a ex-postie to receive their pension payments early from RM?

I ill health retired back in December 2023 after 17 years service, I'm only 40 years old but my conditions have gotten worse from the original diagnosis during my ill health assessment in 2023.

I suffer with Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain (diagnosed away after leaving RM) along with Disc Degeneration in L5/S1 and Sciatica.

During the ill health assessment back in 2023, I was due to have surgery for Disc Fusion but was advised against it due to higher risk of being paralysed rather than disc fusion working . This was after a 7 month wait for just the 1st initial assessment with Orthopaedics.

This was the reason as to why I was given the ill health award due to long NHS waiting times and recovery times along with no other jobs or duties available for me to do in the company at the time of the assessment.

Any advice would be really helpful

Thank you kindly :)

[RobertT]

Both RMSPS and RMPP websites have info on this.

The RMSPS plan guide says this:

What if I need to retire early due to ill health?

If you are too ill to work at any time you may be able to take your benefits early (without any reduction) on ill health grounds. You will need to provide medical evidence to take your benefits in this way. You cannot be engaged in any employment at the time you apply for, or receive, these benefits. The RMSPS Scheme Manager will consider your claim. If you have benefits in the RMPP and the RMSPS, the RMPP Trustees (RMPTL) will decide if you qualify for an ill health early retirement pension. In order to establish whether you qualify for immediate payment of your benefits on ill health grounds, you will need to apply to us using the contact details on page 21 of this booklet.

https://www.royalmailsps.co.uk/support/useful-documents

The RMPP website says this:

Taking your benefits early due to ill health

If, after leaving the RMPP, you later find yourself too ill to work, you might be able to take your pension and lump sum early on the grounds of ill health. You wouldn’t have to wait until you’re age 55, provided we approve your application after considering the medical evidence. In these circumstances, we’d start to pay you your Age60 and Age65 pensions at the same time, without any reduction, along with your lump sums.

Applying for early retirement

To apply for early retirement, ill-health retirement or early retirement on compassionate grounds, please contact the Pensions Service Centre – their contact details can be found below.

https://www.royalmailpensionplan.co.uk/ ... -benefits/

[Hitbox]

thank you very much for the links :)

i'll take a look at them when i get chance