Work Doctor OH
Ill Health Retirement Assessments
Service Details
What Is an Ill Health Retirement Assessment?
If you are disabled, your employer has a legal duty to consider reasonable adjustments to help you remain in work. For example, In many cases, changes to duties, hours, or the working environment can enable an employee to continue working safely and productively.
However, where an employee’s health has deteriorated permanently and all reasonable adjustments have been explored and exhausted, it may no longer be possible for them to continue in their role — or in any feasible redeployed role within the organisation.
In these circumstances, and where the employee is a member of a relevant pension scheme, they may be eligible to apply for Ill Health Retirement (IHR) depending on the criteria of the specific pension scheme.
An Ill Health Retirement Assessment is a medical evaluation carried out by an Independent Occupational Health Doctor to determine whether an employee:
- Is permanently incapable of performing their current role.
- Meets specific pension scheme criteria regarding their capability of undertaking any gainful employment immediately, or up until and beyond retirement age.
Our Ill Health Retirement (IHR) Assessment Service
We provide independent, doctor-led Ill Health Retirement Assessments for a wide range of public and private sector pension schemes. We work with employers, HR departments, and applicants to ensure the process is thorough, fair, and compliant with pension scheme requirements.
OH Physicians deliver:
- Objective and evidence-based medical opinions.
- Clear, scheme-specific pension reports.
- Comprehensive completion of pension and retirement application forms.
The assessment is based on:
- Medical history and diagnoses
- Symptoms and functional limitations
- Prognosis and likelihood of improvement
- Treatment history and future options
- Occupational demands and transferable skills
- Objective further medical evidence
Service Details
Pension & Ill Health Retirement Forms we Complete
Our doctors regularly complete and provide medical opinions for:
All reports are written in plain, defensible medical language aligned with pension regulations and employer needs.
Ill Health Retirement Application Forms
- Various Tiers of assessments (where applicable)
- Permanent incapacity and “gainful employment” opinions
- Scheme-specific medical certification
Pension Scheme Medical Reports
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- NHS Pension Scheme
- Teachers’ Pension Scheme
- Other private occupational pension schemes
Employer & HR Medical Questionnaires
- Medical capability and retirement suitability reports
- Fitness for work and redeployment opinions
- Long-term sickness absence and prognosis reports
Appeals & Review Reports
- Second opinions
- IHR appeal assessments
- Re-reviews following pension scheme requests
Pricing
Ill Health Retirement (IHC)
(Pension / Retirement Assessment)
Most assessments are completed within the standard fee of £295. However, where cases involve extensive medical records, multiple specialist reports, complex occupational history, or significant additional review time, an enhanced fee may apply.
Where additional work is required, this will always be discussed and agreed with you in advance before any work is undertaken.
Discounts are available for business clients or OH providers, please contact us for further details
Book Your IHR Assessment
Questions
What are the different types of Ill Health Retirements?
Ill Health Retirement is not a single process; it varies significantly depending on the specific pension scheme. Our doctors provide clarity by assessing against these common categories:
1. Permanent Incapacity for Current Role
Permanently incapable of performing in their substantive role (remove current) up until and beyond retirement age (this encompasses deferred pension applications).
2. Permanent Incapacity for Any Gainful Employment
The employee is permanently incapable of undertaking any regular paid employment in the future, often resulting in enhanced benefits.
View Tiered Retirement Categories (e.g. LGPS)
For schemes like the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), our doctors assess and clearly indicate which category applies:
- Tier 1: Permanently unable to work again.
- Tier 2: Unlikely to work again before pension age.
- Tier 3: Temporarily incapable, with potential for recovery in the medium term.
Why Use an Independent Occupational Health Doctor?
- Independent and unbiased medical opinions that ensure fairness for all parties.
- Specialist expertise in complex occupational health and pension regulations.
- Robust reporting designed to stand up to scrutiny from pension administrators.
- Efficiency: Reduced risk of administrative delays or rejected applications.
- Clarity: Clear, actionable guidance for both employers and employees.