Date posted: 01/02/2012
Audience:
- Staff responsible for referring cases to the Scheme Medical Adviser
- Staff responsible for paying the Scheme Medical Adviser
- HR managers Occupational Health advisers (where applicable)
Action:
- To note the availability on the Civil Service Pensions website of a new Ill Health Retirement Guide for Members and to point any staff wishing to apply for ill health retirement to this guide.
- To note revisions to the Ill Health Retirement – Procedural Guidance for Employers and to the forms IHR1 & IHR2 - application (order) forms for ill health retirement medical assessments. Guidance for employers on completing the IHR form is also now available in a separate document entitled IHR1 & IHR2 - notes for the employer.
Timing: The Ill Health Retirement Guide for Members (issue date: 01/02/12) is available for immediate use.
The revised Ill Health Retirement – Procedural Guidance for Employers (issue date: 01/02/12) is available immediately and replaces the previous version issued. The IHR1 & IHR2 - notes for the employer guide is available for immediate use.
Revisions to order forms IHR1 and IHR2 can be implemented immediately but will come into full effect from 1 April 2012.
The documents referred to in this EPN are available to view and download from Civil Service Website:
- The Ill Health Retirement Guide for Members (issue date: 01/02/12), can be found in the ‘Publications’ section on the Civil Service Pensions website.
- The revised Ill Health Retirement – Procedural Guidance for Employers (issue date: 01/02/12), is available on the website.
- The revised forms IHR1 and IHR2 and the IHR1 & IHR2 - notes for the employer are available to view and download from Employer Forms Section on the Civil Service Pensions website:
A copy of the revised Ill Health Retirement – Procedural Guidance for Employers (issue date: 01/02/12), revised forms IHR1 and IHR2 and IHR1 & IHR2 – notes for the employer are also attached with this EPN fore ease of reference.
Ill Health Retirement Guide for Members (issue date: 01/02/12)
- A new Ill Health Retirement Guide for Members has been produced in response to requests for a guide to be written to give members a better understanding of the ill health retirement medical assessment procedures from their perspective. It is also intended to explain more clearly what actions members, employers and the Scheme Medical Adviser should take in the ill health retirement assessment process and what the potential impacts are on that process if procedures are not followed as required or advised.
- The new guide was produced in consultation with a number of stakeholders, including employers and has been further developed with input from some members.
Revised Ill Health Retirement – Procedural Guidance for Employers (issue date: 01/02/12)
- The Ill Health Retirement – Procedural Guidance for Employers has been revised and replaces the earlier version published. Apart from some minor changes to the text in places that do not impact on the procedures, some key revisions have been made to:
- incorporate information previously circulated about the possible impact of the new HMRC Annual Allowance restrictions on the ill health retirement process (see para. 5.2 and Appendix I in the revised guide);
- explain more clearly what actions members and employers can take at the point when the member can receive a copy of the Scheme Medical Adviser’s assessment report. This includes a clear explanation of the impact that withdrawing consent for the Scheme Medical Adviser to send their report to the employer can have on the ill health retirement process (see para. 6.1 and 6.2 in the revised guide);
- incorporate changes to the name and contact details for Capita Health & Wellbeing.
Revisions to forms IHR1 and IHR2
- The forms IHR1 and IHR2 have been revised in light of feedback and suggestions received from employers and other HR representatives with a view to:
- improving the IHR application process and reducing the number of applications that need to be returned because they are incomplete;
- making it clearer what medical and legal requirements need to be met and why;
- restructuring the forms so that they are easier for members and employers to use;
- explaining more clearly on the form what actions members and employers can take at the point when the member can receive a copy of the Scheme Medical Adviser’s assessment report and ensuring that advice reflects that which is given in the new Ill Health Retirement Guide for Members.
IHR1 & IHR2 - notes for the employer
- Guidance for employers on completing the IHR form that was previously incorporated in the form has been separated and revised and is available in standalone document entitled IHR1 & IHR2 - notes for the employer.
Actions to take
- The guidance and forms issued with this EPN can be used immediately.
- You must use the revised order forms IHR1 and IHR2 for referrals to the Scheme Medical Adviser from 1 April 2012. The Scheme Medical Adviser will return any new cases received on old forms from 1 April and you will need to complete the new forms.
Contacts
Enquiries regarding distribution or to receive in a different format
Mycsp.basingstoke@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Attachments
