It really depends on the terms of your pension scheme. Some schemes rely on
the employee applying for a pension because they rely on the organisation to
manage performance and attendance. They also rely on the OH department to
advise on whether or not the person is fit for work. If not, and they have
been absent a certain length of time (timescales usually given in absence
policy) then they are dismissed. The employee is dismissed because they are
not at work and therefore deemed incapable. They then apply to the pension
fund to see if their reason for not being at work - presumably health
related - makes them elligible for a pension.
I also think it is a legal requirement now to ensure that the OH physician
who advises on the fitness for work issues is seperate to the physician who
advises on the eligibility for a pension, although this might just apply to
the Local Govt Pension Scheme which we use
There are usually two principles of a pension scheme. One is whether the
employee needs to be permanently incapable of all employment or comparable
employment. The local Govt Pension scheme is fairly job specific meaning if
an employee is incapable of their current or any similar job they are
eligible for a pension. This means in our organisation they might get a
pension for not being able to carry out a manual job but can still get
another job in another organisation that is non manual. Other schemes are
far more stringent and will only provide a pension if the employee is deemed
incapable on any work at all. The other prinicple is one of permanence.
Usually to get a pension the employee must be permanently incapable - which
usually means to normal retirement age.
Hope this helps
Lindsey Hall
National OH Manager
Environment Agency
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam Davies" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 4:30 PM
Subject: IHR
> I am interested to know how the procedure for IHR application works in
> other companies.
>
> We have a system where employees apply to the pension trustees themselves
> and I have encountered a number of problems recently.
> Namely employees who have been off on long term sick and apply for IHR
have
> no desire for OH to assist them to RTW.
> They then become angry when the Company OH Dr writes a report to the
> pension trustees stating that they could RTW, and do not recommend IHR !!
>
> I have also had two employees who have elected to go off sick as they were
> told by the pensions secretary that normally applications are received
from
> employees who are off sick !
>
> In addition, I have experienced employees who are unwilling to consider
> reducing their hours permanently even though it would appear that this
> would enable them to continue to remain at work, this is because it would
> affect their pension making it an unattractive option.
>
> Is it just me or does this seem a little crazy !!?
>
> I plan to inform our HR Director about these problems, and it would be
> useful if anyone could tell me how their system works (and if it works
> well).
>
> Many thanks
>
> Samantha Davies
> Occupational Health Adviser
>
>
>
>
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