- The Basics
- Decision Tree – Ill-Health Retirement
- Ill-Health Retirement – Decision Tree
- Official IHR Guide
- Ill-Health Retirement Information Booklet
- Ill-Health Retirement Appeals Factsheet
- Permissible Work After IHR Tier 1
Ill-Health Retirement (IHR) is provision for teachers, under the Teacher Pension Scheme, who become ill and permanently unable to continue to work. This may be in education, or alternatively in any gainful employment, depending on the extent to which you are incapacitated by your condition(s). IHR allows you to access your accrued pension benefits before your Normal Pension Age (NPA) without reduction and, in cases of severe impairment, with enhancement.
The Basics of Ill-Health Retirement
Ill-Health Retirement (IHR) is provision for teachers, under the Teacher Pension Scheme, who become ill and permanently unable to continue to work. This may be in education, or alternatively in any gainful employment, depending on the extent to which you are incapacitated by your condition(s). IHR allows you to access your accrued pension benefits before your normal pension age (NPA) without reduction and, in cases of severe impairment, with enhancement.
This video from TPS serves as an introduction: [https://youtu.be/5P0Rqz_Pyag?si=FwIzaxG6nxr_yHrk](https://youtu.be/5P0Rqz_Pyag?si=FwIzaxG6nxr_yHrk)
IHR forms can be found here:
[https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/…/ill-health…](https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/…/ill-health…)
IHR Decision Tree – Am I Likely to Fulfil the Criteria?
This decision tree explores the basic structure of the Ill-Health Retirement process on a step-by-step basis. It starts by helping you consider whether applying is suitable for you. It then goes through each stage of the process in turn, whether you are successful or need to appeal. There is no need to submit your answers at the end.
https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLScMKsR4HxW1kq…/viewform
The Official TP Ill-Health Retirement Guide
Here is a link to the most recent TP IHR guide
Ill-Health Retirement Information Booklet (Group Member Co-created)
This booklet is a collaborative effort by members of the group with experience of the IHR process. It gives tips about how to present your case, the specifics of the IHR criteria, how to work with your medical experts and how to begin preparing for an appeal. It also explores how to begin approaching IHR if you have Long Covid.
A guide created by someone with experience if not qualifications
TP Ill-Health Retirement Appeals Factsheet
If your application for IHR is unsuccessful, you have the right to appeal. Here, TP explain the appeals process and give examples. NOTE: if you are unsuccessful and decide to appeal, you are entitled to start drawing your AAB pension (Early Retirement) if 55 or over while you appeal. However, if the appeal process is unsuccessful, you are then committed to taking AAB (first section of page 3 of the document linked below).
Permissible Work After IHR Tier 1
If you have been awarded Tier 1 IHR, you are still allowed to work outside teaching with certain provisos.
This document sets out what you may or may not be able to do workwise under the TPS definition of ‘teaching, tutoring and lecturing’.