ill health retirement

[hunnybunny73]

im currently on maternity leave , this will end in two weeks, my problem is that i have psoriatic arthritis which is pretty severe and the only relief i get for the pain which works is morphine, i would like to know if i can ask for ill health retirement myself or does it have to go through the line of being long term sick, 3 phone consultations with atos etc etc , at the moment i cant even lift my 6 month old baby let alone a 16kg mail bag, walking, standing etc is only viable for short distances and only with crutches , even light duties would be well nigh impossible so i think it would save a lot of hassle and pointless situations regarding my workplace, i really loved my job but my condition is only going to get worse and so i would rather end my career now. many thanks for any help forthcoming

[stokes11eg]

Sorry to hear of your troubles--but in answer to your question. as a general rule of thumb, if you are or are expected to be absent for around nine months, you will be referred to ATOS. Just keep taking your 'fit notes' or rather unfit notes in! It;s quite likely in this current climate, they may refer you to ATOS. good luck and get well soon.