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To qualify for an ill health related retirement, a EAPF approved independent registered medical practitioner (IRMP) must certify that you're permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of your current Scheme employment, and that you're not immediately capable of undertaking gainful employment (whether in local government or otherwise).
Secondly, the IRMP will give their opinion as to when, if ever, it is likely you'll be capable of undertaking gainful employment, e.g. within 3 years, more than 3 years after retiring, or not prior to your normal pension age (NPA). Depending on this assessment, you'll be placed into one of 3 ill health tiers and receive ill health retirement benefits as follows:
If it is determined that you're unlikely to be capable of undertaking gainful employment before your NPA, then your pension will be enhanced by an amount of pension assuming that you had remained in the scheme until your NPA.
If it is determined that you're unlikely to be capable of undertaking any gainful employment within 3 years of leaving employment, but it is likely that you'd be able to undertake gainful employment before reaching NPA, then your pension will be enhanced by an amount equal to 25% of the Tier 1 enhancement.
If it is determined that you're likely to be capable of undertaking gainful employment within 3 years of leaving the employment or, if earlier, before your NPA, then there'll be no enhancement to your benefits though your benefits will not be reduced for early payment. The pension is paid for a maximum of 3 years and will stop if you enter gainful employment or, following a review, are deemed capable of undertaking gainful employment. Please note that Tier 3 pensions are subject to a review after 18 months.
If you're dissatisfied with the decision made by your Scheme employer, you have the right of appeal under the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure (IDRP).
An appeal should be made in writing within 6 months of the date of your Scheme employer’s decision and should be sent to the person specified by your Scheme employer in the first instance.
For more information about making an appeal, please see the complaints procedure or contact Capita.
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