Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Ill health

To qualify for an ill health related retirement you must have at least two years membership in the scheme, or have brought a transfer in to the LGPS, and the following two conditions must be met:

  •  you must be, permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of your employment with your employer because of ill health or infirmity of mind or body., and
  •  you, as a result of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body,  are not immediately capable of undertaking any gainful employment

 If you feel that this applies to you, then you need to contact your Human Resources department  who in the first instance,  if they feel it is appropriate, will refer you to your employers Independent Registered Medical Practitioner (IRMP) /Pension Fund Doctor. You will then be assessed and the doctor will determine whether or not your meet the criteria for ill health and recommend to your employer the level of award to be granted.  It is up to your employer to decide on the level of award, if any, based on the information received from the IRMP .

The three levels of award are:

Tier 1 - If it is determined that you are unlikely to be capable of undertaking gainful employment before your normal pension age then your pension will be enhanced by an amount of pension assuming that you had remained in the scheme until your normal pension age.

Tier 2 - If it is determined that you are unlikely to be capable of undertaking any gainful employment within three years of leaving employment but it is likely that you would be able to undertake gainful employment before reaching normal pension age then your pension will be enhanced by an amount equal to 25% of the Tier 1 enhancement.

Tier 3 - If it is determined that you are likely to be capable of undertaking gainful employment within three years of leaving the employment or before your normal pension age then there will be no enhancement to your benefits but your benefits will not be reduced for early payment. The pension is paid for a maximum of three years  and will stop if you do become gainfully employed again. It is subject to a review after 18 months.

Appealing the decision

If you are dissatisfied with the decision made by your employer, you have the right of appeal under the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure.

Appeals should be made in writing within 6 months of the date of your employers’ decision and should be sent to the person specified by your employer.

For further information please download a copy of the Ill Health factsheet or contact the Pension Fund.

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