ATOS doctor,ringing me.

[guyscliffe]

IF I DID QUIT,would that harm my pension in any way?

As far as I know No.

However all the payments and entitlements you have under the Pension Scheme would be frozen at the point. You would not lose any enetitlement, but also you would not be able to build anymore up, unless you transfer any other pension in or out.

However I would not advise on making any decision with such far reaching consequences without first seeing an independant finanacial advisor, and you should also contact RM pensions to get the offical word.

Hiya True Blue ....

Yep,when my dad died (which is how all this depression started),one of my customers on my old walk is a very well thought of IFA.
He,for the past three years or so,has taken care of our financial goings on.
He has given me the green light to go ahead,and leave (or get the IHR <-- :P )

[wandle]

Have also been advised NOT to sign onto the dole queue,as that would bring its own problems for anyone going through a spell of depression....(especially given the way they haggle and hound you,to TRY to find work)

I'm surprised your IFA has not picked up on a potential consequence of not claiming the dole, which could affect the value of your State pension later on in life. This is from the HM Revenue & Customs website:

'Gap in your National Insurance record' letter
If you don't have enough National Insurance contributions or credits for a particular tax year you may get a letter telling you that the year won't count towards your basic State Pension and bereavement benefits. The letter explains how voluntary contributions can make the year count, and what to do if you think the gap information is wrong.

How gaps in your National Insurance record might occur
There might be a gap in your contributions record because you've been:
employed but earning less than the lower earnings limit of £97 a week (2010-11 rates)
unemployed and not claiming benefit

To get the same pension, you might have to make Additional Voluntary Contributions later on. I think you should ask your IFA if it's better to sign-on and not have a gap in your National Insurance record ?

[guyscliffe]

Have also been advised NOT to sign onto the dole queue,as that would bring its own problems for anyone going through a spell of depression....(especially given the way they haggle and hound you,to TRY to find work)

I'm surprised your IFA has not picked up on a potential consequence of not claiming the dole, which could affect the value of your State pension later on in life. This is from the HM Revenue & Customs website:

'Gap in your National Insurance record' letter
If you don't have enough National Insurance contributions or credits for a particular tax year you may get a letter telling you that the year won't count towards your basic State Pension and bereavement benefits. The letter explains how voluntary contributions can make the year count, and what to do if you think the gap information is wrong.

How gaps in your National Insurance record might occur
There might be a gap in your contributions record because you've been:
employed but earning less than the lower earnings limit of £97 a week (2010-11 rates)
unemployed and not claiming benefit

To get the same pension, you might have to make Additional Voluntary Contributions later on. I think you should ask your IFA if it's better to sign-on and not have a gap in your National Insurance record ?

Cheers Wandle ....
Thats all in hand ....
Never having been in this position before,it does get a little worrying and/or confusing.
My IFA has all pension plan details at his disposal etc,but I would need his help and advice with regards to National Insurance payments,etc .......
I plan to carry on paying for my N.I or stamp,myself ...
Again I would need guidance on how I would need to go about this.

[wayoutman]

i think you are paid up after so long with NI.

maybe 30 years,
my dad is just going down that road.

[guyscliffe]

Just to be clear in all this,folks ..... My GP is the boss in all this?
I'm signed off by her,until the end of August.
Signed off,as in SIGNED OFF ?

[pokos27]

speaking to atos over the phone, just tell them you have Drs notes, then they usually will request a face to face.
Ihr will only be issued after atos has give your dom a report, but they just want you back, and would like you to quit without paying you anything.

[pokos27]

royal mail are using atos more, just watch out with the questions, they will have you back.

[guyscliffe]

royal mail are using atos more, just watch out with the questions, they will have you back.

Watch out with the questions,pokos ?
Such as?
The questions he posed earlier,have already been asked a thousand times before ...

[baldrick]

with ill health retirement, i think you will only get it, due to physical conditions.

You can get IHR for mental health conditions too. Are you a CWU member and if so have you consulted your Branch Legal&Medical Officer?
There is a guy on this forum who is quite knowledgable about IHR. He was a CWU Rep and was IHRd for depression.
He hasn't been on the site since Monday so won't have seen your posts or he would probably have given you some advice.
You could try sending him a pm. His username is easter bunny. Also try using the search facility for ill health retirement, which will bring up some of his posts.
Good luck.

[mazza111]

Your GP over rules ATOS, if your GP says no work, then no work it is. Keep fighting, you can get IHR on mental health issues. Just keep up the counselling and go with what your GP says, it will come eventually.

[guyscliffe]

with ill health retirement, i think you will only get it, due to physical conditions.

You can get IHR for mental health conditions too. Are you a CWU member and if so have you consulted your Branch Legal&Medical Officer?
There is a guy on this forum who is quite knowledgable about IHR. He was a CWU Rep and was IHRd for depression.
He hasn't been on the site since Monday so won't have seen your posts or he would probably have given you some advice.
You could try sending him a pm. His username is easter bunny. Also try using the search facility for ill health retirement, which will bring up some of his posts.
Good luck.

Many thanks,baldrick ...
Am just gonna copy/paste basically my first post in this thread ....

[guyscliffe]

In his opinion,he didn't think that I would qualify for IHR.... < --- of course I should of said WOULD NOT qualify,for IHR.

[guyscliffe]

Just to add also,that between ATOS and Royal Mail it was arranged for me to see a doctor for a FACE TO FACE interview at my local mail centre.
Both of these appointments were totally cocked up (through not fault of my own ) given that I was away.
Recieved those two appointments,with the attached paperwork etc ....
It said that I could have someone come with me,for this interview for help and support (appeals to anyone ),so this was all arranged,for me to have some help and support at this interview.
Instead of that it was all sprung on me yesterday,by this guy OVER THE PHONE.
For someone who is currently going through a tough time,it was all rather upsetting to be honest.

[stokes11eg]

Just to add also,that between ATOS and Royal Mail it was arranged for me to see a doctor for a FACE TO FACE interview at my local mail centre.
Both of these appointments were totally cocked up (through not fault of my own ) given that I was away.
Recieved those two appointments,with the attached paperwork etc ....
It said that I could have someone come with me,for this interview for help and support (appeals to anyone ),so this was all arranged,for me to have some help and support at this interview.
Instead of that it was all sprung on me yesterday,by this guy OVER THE PHONE.
For someone who is currently going through a tough time,it was all rather upsetting to be honest.

Are you aying you now have a face to face? Maybe this will work out to your benefit.

[guyscliffe]

Just to add also,that between ATOS and Royal Mail it was arranged for me to see a doctor for a FACE TO FACE interview at my local mail centre.
Both of these appointments were totally cocked up (through not fault of my own ) given that I was away.
Recieved those two appointments,with the attached paperwork etc ....
It said that I could have someone come with me,for this interview for help and support (appeals to anyone ),so this was all arranged,for me to have some help and support at this interview.
Instead of that it was all sprung on me yesterday,by this guy OVER THE PHONE.
For someone who is currently going through a tough time,it was all rather upsetting to be honest.

Are you aying you now have a face to face? Maybe this will work out to your benefit.

No stokes11 ......
As far as I know,this phone appointment/interview call it what you will WAS my face to face (BUT SPRUNG ON ME,OVER THE PHONE)
He the proceeded to give me his train of thought,at what he'd come up with from my answering his questions.
As far as I know,this guy is gonna submit a report of his findings and recommendations to my manager,and a copy of that report comes to me.
After which I will be contacted by The Royal Mail.