IHR Lump Sum.

[22lenout]

Hi. I've been on the sick for nearly 12 months, apart from 3 days in March on 4 hours a day when I attempted to return. I have a prolapsed disc which has led to very bad sciatica. Am still in a lot of pain and unable to walk for more than 10 minutes without a walking stick. Because I am based in a delivery office RM have involved ATOS since June. After a face-to-face meeting with an ATOS GP this week, the GP has recommended in her report that RM can proceed with IHR. Although I am not too happy with this, I also know that a return to work anytime in the near future is unlikely. My consultant who I see next in a few weeks thinks I may need an operation, and even then he cannot say for sure that after recuperation I will be able to complete my normal delivery duties. I have read on the forum that IHR Lump Sum would be 34 weeks pay + 9 weeks PILON and then any leave owing which in my case would be all of this years + upto 5 days from 2010/11 leave which I was owed. Can anyone tell me if the 9 weeks PILON is paid at full pay rate even though from next week I will be on Sick Pay Pension Rate due to being off for so long. Thanks in advance if anyone knows the answer.

[keithposty]

you will have no problem as the doctor has reported ill health retirement, it will be on full pay

that is 34 weeks wages and its 12 weeks pylon, not nine with any outstanding holiday entitlement

the first 30,000 is tak free but you will pay tax on any holiday outstanding

[easter bunny]

It depends on length of Service if the Pilon is 9 or 12 weeks ...

[22lenout]

Thanks for your answers. My length of service is just over 22 years (for my sins!), so would that be the 12 weeks PILON?

[easter bunny]

Thanks for your answers. My length of service is just over 22 years (for my sins!), so would that be the 12 weeks PILON?

That's correct.

How long do you think before you will be able to do 'Similar' work ( and hours ) that you do now ?

If the answer is years rather than months you and your Rep should be fighting for immediate payment of your Pension.

[22lenout]

My consultant thinks that once I have had either spine injections or an operation I will, after an amount of recovery time, be able to work full-time hours, but not necessarily a job involving 4 hours on delivery carrying heavy weights. I was led to believe that I could only get IHR with full pension if my condition was going to be permanent and I would be unable to work for another employer in the future after leaving RM. Have I understood the differences between the 2 IHR options correctly.

[kitty1956]

i took IHR in aprilthis year after the same amount of service its the best thing i ever did not tired or snappy any more
even my ex customers say i look so much better. havent got a job yet but that will come just enjoying life

good luck to you

[easter bunny]

My consultant thinks that once I have had either spine injections or an operation I will, after an amount of recovery time, be able to work full-time hours, but not necessarily a job involving 4 hours on delivery carrying heavy weights. I was led to believe that I could only get IHR with full pension if my condition was going to be permanent and I would be unable to work for another employer in the future after leaving RM. Have I understood the differences between the 2 IHR options correctly.

Your condition does not have to be permanent to be 'awarded' early payment of your Pension. While there isnt a actual timespan, the RM/ATOS normally use the benchmark of about 10 years.

Once you are in receipt of your Pension there is nothing to stop you working again - as long you have been totally truthful about your condition to RM/ATOS.

[zorro38d]

been off sick for 4 month now with prolapsed disc and sciatica in left leg,been to 3 lots of physio with 2 more to come,still has not eased any,or made the pain any better.been with royal mail for 23 years now,and i am concerned if i will be able to carry on with my delivery duty,at the moment this looks unlikely.cannot walk for more than 10-15 mins without having to sit on a wall,constant fidgiting about trying to get comfortable whilst sat down at home,and cannot drive the car due to the pain running down my left leg.had a visit from my dom a couple of weeks ago,and basically his words were,isnt it about time you made an effort to get back to work.this was a bit of a surprise to say the least,me not being able to move or walk,or even sit in the same spot for a little time,might have something to do with me being off work,also the m.r.i scan confirming what is wrong with me.he was all heart.how the hell do they expect you to return to work to kill off deads,when you cant even sit or stand in one spot.like i said the physio isnt working,so what is the next option as far as work are concerned.is it i.h.r.im full time contracted on deliverys,there are no indoor jobs available at all,locker,or callers office,dom support etc,etc.or no move to another dept,processing is being moved from our office,they are relocating or taking redundency,so it doesnt look good at all.this injury to my back looks long term,if not for the rest of my life,royal mail will only pay you for so long on the sick,then get rid of you.my health is upmost of course,but the prospect of no job is worrying.

[mazza111]

Just a little note to say to those of you getting IHR. You can always claim contributions based ESA for a year. It's not much, but it helps pay the bills. Then the fun begins of trying to find work that you will be able to do. I tried office work, but knees are locking even when sitting, trapped nerve in spine and arthritis in hands isn't helping much with the typing speeds lately either. Depending on your conditions, the person who can't walk very far without a stick should also perhaps consider DLA which is a godsend for many.

Good luck to you all, just over a year since my IHR now and I've never looked back

[savo]

My wife has suffered with a prolapsed disc and associated sciatica, and i sympathise with anyone living with this condition.

Maybe this will be of some help... She bought an "inversion table" acouple of months ago, and after using 2 or 3 times a day, has had a definite improvement. You basically lie on the table then tilt it back, feels like you are upside down, but you are at a 30 or 40 degrees angle, and it stretches and loosens the spine..

Obviously ok this with your own GP/Physio.

She was told that an operation is pretty much the last resort.

[zorro38d]

dom phoned me yesterday asking if my condition was any better,or if there was any chance of returning to work soon.no change was my reply.next thing he said was he was putting me forward for ihr.i thought it was a doctor who advises the managers,i know the manager has the final decision on the ihr matter.then he said someone would be in touch with me,probably a phone call,or i wiil go see the works doc.is his mind made up to retire me off??then in the next breath he says i might not get ihr as ive only been off sick 3-4 months.ive worked for royal mail for 23 years and i have to say i do enjoy my job despite all the new changes.the prospect of not having one soon scares me somewhat as its all ive done.what is the normall pay off for ihr,1 years wages plus 12 weeks notice and any outstanding holidays owed to you,i have 5 weeks,what final figure could i expect to get.

[zorro38d]

got that wrong about ihr payoff regarding money,its 34 weeks plus 12 pilon then your outstanding holidays....i said 1 years pay then your pilon payment etc,etc..

[fishtank]

what final figure could i expect to get.

The pay to be used for calculating lump sum payments is the basic weekly or monthly wage/salary of the individual’s grade (i.e. the rate of pay that they would have been in receipt of but for sickness absence or leave purchase arrangements) on the date of retirement plus any personal reserved rights payment and geographical supplement (e.g. London/RRIS) where applicable. No other elements of ‘pay’ should be included. Confirmation of inclusive elements within basic pay is available from HR Services

[music4essex]

Hi Zorro,

I have had the same condition for 3 years but I do a smaller delivery, this was set up with Atos and union involvement
I also attend Chiropractor every other week out of my own expense even though it was an accident on duty.

The only slight difference is that the accident has been acknowledged under Disability.

After the initial accident when i had 10 weeks off, I try and do the delivery but it does cause a lot of pain

My dom tried to get me IHR but I fought it via atos try and see my other posts about it, though i am still
Having trouble with dom/lino over the delivery aspect

Good luck Essex mum