Ill health
At a glance
If you have been a member for at least two years and become ill and can no longer carry out your role, or an alternative role within the police force, you may be entitled to take your pension early under ill health grounds (including deferred benefits).
You are in the
2015 scheme
Ill health retirement tiers
There are two levels of ill health retirement:
| Tier | Description | Value of pension |
|---|---|---|
| Lower tier | You are permanently medically unfit for performing the ordinary duties of a member of the police force | The value of your pension but without reduction for early payment |
| Enhanced upper tier | You are permanently medically unfit for performing the ordinary duties of a member of the police force and are also permanently medically unfit for engaging in any regular employment*. |
The lower tier pension PLUS Less than 5 years’ service – the lesser of:
More than 5 years’ service:
Final pay is your highest pensionable earnings in last 10 years. |
What is regular employment?
This means employment for an annual average of at least 30 hours per week.
Exchanging pension for lump sum
You can exchange some of your pension for a cash lump sum, in the same way you could if you were to retire at normal pension age. Find out more in the pension and lump sum section of this website.
There are some circumstances where a member may have paid reduced rate contributions where the police authority decided that they would not be eligible for ill health benefits.
Your ill health pension may be reduced by up to half if you substantially contributed to your ill health.
Eligibility
If you think you may be eligible for an ill health pension, your police authority will appoint a selected medical practitioner (SMP) to assess your health.
The selected medical practitioner will carry out an assessment and provide a report to both yourself and your police authority.
Ill health pension examples
Expand the accordions below to explore examples of ill health pensions.
After receiving your pension
Ill health reviews
If you are receiving an ill health pension, your police authority may review your health from time to time.
- For lower tier pensions: this can be at any time before normal pension age (age 60)
- For enhanced upper tier pensions: as determined by the scheme manager, but at no less than every five years before you reach state pension age.
You must ensure that you are not contributing to your illness by refusing to take medical treatment or being negligent. If the selected medical practitioner thinks that you are contributing to your illness you will be warned that it may result in your ill health pension being stopped.
If, within five years of starting to receive your lower tier ill health pension, you think your condition has worsened you can ask for your condition to be reviewed against the enhanced upper tier requirements.
Lower tier pensions
If your condition has got better and you are able to return to work in the police force, your pension will be stopped three months after you receive an invitation to return to work.
If, within five years of retiring, your condition has worsened, you may be eligible to receive the enhanced upper tier ill health pension.
Enhanced upper tier pensions
If your condition has got better and you are able to return to regular employment you would remain entitled to the lower tier pension, but payment of the upper tier enhancement would stop.
If your condition has got better and you are able to work as a police officer in a Home Office force, both your lower and enhanced upper tier pension will be stopped three months after you receive an invitation to return to work.
Appeal a decision
Medical appeals
If you do not agree with the decision made by the selected medical practitioner that your police authority has appointed to assess your health or review your ill health then you can appeal their decision.
Find out more in the medical appeals section.