Early Retirement

[Snappy]

Does anyone have any experience of early retirement in their thirties/forties, due to ill health?

My lupus diagnosis was about ten years ago.

I have hyperthyroidism, due to taking lithium carbonate for manic depression, long term. I also take drugs for IBS, asthma, anxiety and HRT for an early menopause – 14 drugs in all.

I work (very) part-time and am in receipt of benefits.

A while ago I heard about someone, in a similar sort of situation, taking early retirement and I wondered what the advantages might be.

Has anyone had any experience?

Cheers,
Snappy.

[Misty4U]

Does anyone have any experience of early retirement in their thirties/forties, due to ill health?

My lupus diagnosis was about ten years ago.

I have hyperthyroidism, due to taking lithium carbonate for manic depression, long term. I also take drugs for IBS, asthma, anxiety and HRT for an early menopause – 14 drugs in all.

I work (very) part-time and am in receipt of benefits.

A while ago I heard about someone, in a similar sort of situation, taking early retirement and I wondered what the advantages might be.

Has anyone had any experience?

Cheers,
Snappy.

Hi Snappy

Just yesterday my pensions advisor called me, last week I had asked him to look into early retirement through ill health..apparently, a person can take a 1/4 of their pension fund as a lump sum, then receive monthly payments, however, as far as I could make out in the conversation, your doctor would have to write and advise them that it would be UNLIKELY, that you would be able to work again..this does not mean that you cannot ever work again, and once you have been paid out on the pension, its unlikely that they take it back off you..

For me, I decided not to ask the doctor to fill in the forms, as I am in the frame of mind that , whatever is wrong with me, wont prevent me from getting back to my work..I know something is not right with me, and with the blood works I have had, and all the other symptoms, I am pretty sure its lupus etc..but until they finally give me a clinical diagnosis, I guess I am trying to be in denial that I am ill..

Hope this helps you..

(((hugs)))
Misty :)

[Snappy]

Thanks Misty.

I too experienced a long time in denial, although at the time of diagnosis, I hadn't worked for several years due to MD and other pyschy problems.

However, I'm now in my late thirties now and haven't been able to work full time since my early twenties and as the list of my conditions only lenghthens, I have to be realistic!!

I hope your diagnosis turns out not to be lupus!

Take care.
Snappy

[jude hall]

Hi Snappy, Just wondering what benefits you are able to clame and still work. Iwork part time 23 hrs which is too much some weeks if i had some benefits to claim i might be able to afford to reduce my hours. just a thought,

[Snappy]

Hi Jude,

I only work less than ten hours a week, over three mornings!!
(I did say very part-time!)

It's under the 'therapeutic earnings', that was, system - now called 'supported employment' or similar. I think you can work
up to 16 hours a week and earn no more than £20 a week -
so you don't do it for the money!

There is an alternative, where by you earn up to £70 (ish) per
week, but this is limited to 52 weeks, and you must be supported
by a job broker, social worker, or similar.

The Department of Works & Pensions (dwp.gov.uk) can give you
more accurate info.

Hope that helps.

Steph.