From August we’re contacting members with pensionable service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 who applied for Ill-health Retirement during that time.

When members applied, they were assessed against their likelihood of recovery before their Normal Pension Age under either the Final Salary or Career Average Scheme rules. Based on the evidence provided at the time, their benefits were either put into payment or they were deemed not to meet the criteria for Ill-health Retirement.

With the government’s remedy to the discrimination caused by Transitional Protection (McCloud) due to come into place from October 2023, we’ll be reassessing their Ill-health applications to understand if they would have been eligible for an Ill-health pension had they originally been assessed under the alternative scheme. From October 2023 we’ll then be able to provide them with information about what remedy choices are available. The reason for the delay is due to the number of reassessments to complete and the delay in legislation.

To carry out the assessment the original medical evidence needs to be reviewed by our medical advisers. This isn’t to reduce or alter benefits but to explore whether they would have been accepted for Ill-health Retirement in the alternative scheme. Any change will only occur after they’ve been provided with comparison information on the options/value of pension benefits under both schemes.

Please ensure members are aware that any pension currently being paid won’t be affected by this review and they don’t need to provide any further medical evidence or attend any assessments in person.

If members would like us not to pass their medical records as part of this review, please ask them to write to us by August outlining this.

The best place for general information about Transitional Protection for both you and our members is the dedicated section on our website.