ILL HEALTH RETIREMENT

[Terrance]

Bloody hell mate I’m similar to you I have sciatica in my right leg due to a compressed nerve,spondylolthesis and spinal stenosis waiting on 3 scans, consultation and then 2 surgeries, had my 2nd OH appt 2 weeks ago and they won’t recommend LTBIH with a lump sum payment, according to my telephone conversation he said they don’t recommend it , it has to come from RM or HR. Been off for 12 months.

[Hitbox]

Bloody hell mate I’m similar to you I have sciatica in my right leg due to a compressed nerve,spondylolthesis and spinal stenosis waiting on 3 scans, consultation and then 2 surgeries, had my 2nd OH appt 2 weeks ago and they won’t recommend LTBIH with a lump sum payment, according to my telephone conversation he said they don’t recommend it , it has to come from RM or HR. Been off for 12 months.

I've had my 1st OH that said i wasn't fit for any type of work even light duties but only for 4 weeks (Huh?- like this pain is going to magically going away in 4 extra weeks) but got a LTBIH now.
You need to hear from your line manager that you are having a LTBIH assessment -apparently if you keep up with the fit notes, it'll get triggered by HR. I might be a lucky one who's been picked for it, who knows 17 years service i've done technically but 16 years worked, 1 year in total off sick)

I've had my GP confirm that my job has caused the DDD along with my age - already have a solicitor onboard too due to a previous manager who has since left RM Not providing adequate support upon during my 1st batch of back problems (bulging disc in october 2022) along with return to work which he refused light duties and even a return to work plan (grievance decision was Part Upheld). i was stuck in a catch 22 at the time, was healthy and signed off physio and my GP recommended to return to work fully but i wanted a gradual RTW plan in place, he ignored my request and this is where i am now.

Current wait times for my NHS area would be seen by 1st appointment in jan 2024 (already waited since Jun 2023) but surgery would in for september/october 2024 with 3-6 months further rehab with NHS which takes me upto jan - april 2025!

I also have 2 kids to consider who are under 10 which also adds to the mix of knowing my physical limitations along with my GP said my career isn't the best path for my health now due to surgery not a gurantee it'll work and our job can lead to further DDD/ bulging disc injuries.

i'm not risking my health anymore within RM when i have to bring up 2 kids, i ain't going to be able to do that if i'm in more pain and worse conditions if i stay on

How about yours?

[Terrance]

Hi I have been off since December 2022 I was on my walk with my colleague and got pains in my right knee then it got worse during the day , I tried to get out of bed the next morning and couldn’t move my legs so my gp told me to take ibuprofen and solpadeine max never worked I was bed bound for 3 weeks, prescribed extra strong painkillers and nerve tablets, never worked, went to my go surgery she said it was sciatica, referred me to a advanced physio practitioner who said the same thing , went physio for 8 months , told my dom I wanted LTBIH with a lump sum payment,they wouldn’t give it to me,Pilates wouldn’t work either.OH told rm they want to speak to me again in January 2024.to see if pain management or an injection worked .I had my MRI scan back which shows I have spondylolithesis and spinal stenosis and nerve compression, , everytime I bend over my bones in my spine move around it’s painful.There classed as disabilities so I asked OH to amand the report as they said they want to operate on me but I have to have 3 scans and a consultation and go on the waiting list for a very long wait,OH said they won’t amend it .RM offered me IHR in October but still haven’t heard back from that. I have a gp appt tomorrow going to ask her about my conditions so she can do a letter for me because OH don’t care less.I can’t walk longer than 20 mins ,bend over,carry heavy items , stand or sit for long periods which is the total opposite of being a postie they can’t make any adjustments or find me suitable work in another location, I have no idea how they expect me to get back to work.

[Hitbox]

Hi I have been off since December 2022 I was on my walk with my colleague and got pains in my right knee then it got worse during the day , I tried to get out of bed the next morning and couldn’t move my legs so my gp told me to take ibuprofen and solpadeine max never worked I was bed bound for 3 weeks, prescribed extra strong painkillers and nerve tablets, never worked, went to my go surgery she said it was sciatica, referred me to a advanced physio practitioner who said the same thing , went physio for 8 months , told my dom I wanted LTBIH with a lump sum payment,they wouldn’t give it to me,Pilates wouldn’t work either.OH told rm they want to speak to me again in January 2024.to see if pain management or an injection worked .I had my MRI scan back which shows I have spondylolithesis and spinal stenosis and nerve compression, , everytime I bend over my bones in my spine move around it’s painful.There classed as disabilities so I asked OH to amand the report as they said they want to operate on me but I have to have 3 scans and a consultation and go on the waiting list for a very long wait,OH said they won’t amend it .RM offered me IHR in October but still haven’t heard back from that. I have a gp appt tomorrow going to ask her about my conditions so she can do a letter for me because OH don’t care less.I can’t walk longer than 20 mins ,bend over,carry heavy items , stand or sit for long periods which is the total opposite of being a postie they can’t make any adjustments or find me suitable work in another location, I have no idea how they expect me to get back to work.

I'm so sorry to hear your going through, I can fully understand the pain, the daily struggle, the brick wall at every avenue and the frustration of getting nowhere with anything, I've had that feeling for the past several months now.

The IHR process is supposed to be around 9 weeks from the go ahead after they start it they cannot suggest it, only you can, it's against the law for anyone else to do it. Did they make you a pay offer? If yes, then you need to chase it up with HR.

GP might say that they no longer write up a letter for health issues , however I'd recommend that you request a copy of your health records from your GP for you to forward to RM IH team via your manager so they can have medical evidence. Take photos on your phone so you have backup of it chancing if it goes walkabout, same with every fit note you hand in.

My GP told me this about the letter 3 weeks ago when I got my DDD diagnosis, also employers are given evidence too with your fit notes which is a legal requirement and state your conditions as to why you are not fit for work.

I think personally it's coming down to managerial preference or general attitude of local management, so keep up the fit notes, keep mentioning the IHR request. IHR are back logged but they question the why though do they eh

Tbh I was quite shocked that I got a IHR assessment but will be taking full advantage of it and laying down what my problems are , how my health issues affect my daily routine now and what the future holds .Of course I'll let you know what the outcome is and whether I can give you any further tips on notes to guide you.

Also, according to the guide on the RM People app under ill health retirement, 9 months is the guide for waiting for surgery, mine hits 12-14 months for the surgery and the rehab part before I even consider a work plan.

[Terrance]

Hi I suggested it around June, they asked for my medical records 3 times but my surgery never got back in touch with them.they offered it me in October after failing to put any adjustments in place and couldn’t find me suitable employment elsewhere in the business.RM have just asked for my MRI results, there going off my latest report which said I might be able to have an injection or pain management so refer me back in 8 weeks. I emailed OH with my MRI results and said I’m waiting for surgery there is no point referring me back in 8 weeks due to the long waiting list.I asked them to amend the report to say I’m waiting for surgery but they said no.Let me know how you get on.

[Geordiepapa]

Has anyone who has left the business with IHR (with only a couple of years before official retirement age) had their age 65 pension enhanced?

[markyRFC]

ive got my meeting to sign my stuff tomorrow :(

[Hitbox]

just had my IHR aka ill health review reffered by HR

I have degeneration in my lower back (L5-S1) and has been caused by my job as a postie for over 16 years.

The IHR from Health Partners asked me whether i could estimate how long i walk for as my job, i said 23,000 steps a day, he then asked me how am i walking now and i said that i have to stop between every 5 to 10 minutes due to the pain and i walk with a limp.
He then asked whether how i do with carrying weighted items to which i struggle.
He then asked me about when i pick up things off the floor, i said i struggle to get back up and sometimes require help to get back up.
He also asked me about sitting down, to which i have to get up every 20 minutes to move around otherwise the pain gets worse, i also have to sit on a gaming chair, cant sit on my own couch or a office chair.

He then mentioned questions such as,
would he recommend a gradual return to work or light duties, he said no
is there any other ways of working for Royal Mail in any other aspect, he said no.
does the sickness fall under the disability act- yes medically but unsure upon how we would currently provide it due to my on-going symptoms such as ability to deliver half a walk -he said no.

would you recommend IHR he said yes for the foreseeable future due to my waiting times for spinal surgery assessment,the follow up treatment or surgery that stands at 28 weeks waiting time, the previous treatment i have done and failed and long timeline for treatment over 9 months wouldn't be achievable (9 months equals foreseeable Future in RM's eye)

So i'm happy Finally someone has seen it my way that i've known for many months that i'm never going to be able to be a postie ever again.

Just gotta wait for the confirmation of it, then see the next steps.

[markyRFC]

just had my IHR aka ill health review reffered by HR

I have degeneration in my lower back (L5-S1) and has been caused by my job as a postie for over 16 years.

The IHR from Health Partners asked me whether i could estimate how long i walk for as my job, i said 23,000 steps a day, he then asked me how am i walking now and i said that i have to stop between every 5 to 10 minutes due to the pain and i walk with a limp.
He then asked whether how i do with carrying weighted items to which i struggle.
He then asked me about when i pick up things off the floor, i said i struggle to get back up and sometimes require help to get back up.
He also asked me about sitting down, to which i have to get up every 20 minutes to move around otherwise the pain gets worse, i also have to sit on a gaming chair, cant sit on my own couch or a office chair.

He then mentioned questions such as,
would he recommend a gradual return to work or light duties, he said no
is there any other ways of working for Royal Mail in any other aspect, he said no.
does the sickness fall under the disability act- yes medically but unsure upon how we would currently provide it due to my on-going symptoms such as ability to deliver half a walk -he said no.

would you recommend IHR he said yes for the foreseeable future due to my waiting times for spinal surgery assessment,the follow up treatment or surgery that stands at 28 weeks waiting time, the previous treatment i have done and failed and long timeline for treatment over 9 months wouldn't be achievable (9 months equals foreseeable Future in RM's eye)

So i'm happy Finally someone has seen it my way that i've known for many months that i'm never going to be able to be a postie ever again.

Just gotta wait for the confirmation of it, then see the next steps.

i signed mine last friday

[Hitbox]

Do you have a date when you actually get the payment?

Isnt it the 16 weeks tax free , then 12 week PILON payment tax and any annual leave you havent taken?

[markyRFC]

Do you have a date when you actually get the payment?

Isnt it the 16 weeks tax free , then 12 week PILON payment tax and any annual leave you havent taken?

correct, i get the payment on the 8th, the first friday after signing

and yes, roughtly on your letter say 8400 non taxed lump sum and 5400 pilon taxed

just rem to grab all ur p60s and wage slips from people app, as 24 hrs after signing your booted off app

i need to phone HR tomorrow for my wage slip to be emailed

also i got somethign called "leavers imediate" which put my holiday pay through in time so dont get emergancy taxed

after your OH call, it takes roughly 24 HRs for ur dom to get the report, as all done online, youll get a letter 48 hrs later telling u what ur due and what payment date and last day of service is, then its up to u to sign

[Hitbox]

Thank you very much indeed for your rough guide/ what you've experienced.

Much appreciated

I can start to think about PC upgrades now haha

[markyRFC]

Thank you very much indeed for your rough guide/ what you've experienced.

Much appreciated

I can start to think about PC upgrades now haha

no problem, happy to help more just PM me if you need more help

[LUKEYBOYS2015]

How long does a scoping exercise take ?
Live down south and ankle problems led to this stage

[Terrance]

Hi it took a couple of months from my office ,but I didn’t even know they were doing it , they sent me a letter in the post for a meeting and then he said he couldn’t find me any suitable work anywhere else in the business.It might be a quicker process where you are I could never get hold of my manager leading up to it.