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Is T2 grounds for ill health retirement?

D

Dashound

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Hi- Apologies if this is covered elsewhere. I have type 2, I am over 60, I have no energy to do anything much, I have a outdoor manual job, suffering from numb fingers and aching feet, the lack of ability to continue my job is causing mental problems. I am very much doubting it, but are these facts any qualification for ill health retirement? I assume whether or not I am LIKELY to get another job, most people would say 'get a different job'. Yes being a desk jockey until I'm 67 would be nice, however I doubt it would happen.
 
Dashound said:
Hi- Apologies if this is covered elsewhere. I have type 2, I am over 60, I have no energy to do anything much, I have a outdoor manual job, suffering from numb fingers and aching feet, the lack of ability to continue my job is causing mental problems. I am very much doubting it, but are these facts any qualification for ill health retirement? I assume whether or not I am LIKELY to get another job, most people would say 'get a different job'. Yes being a desk jockey until I'm 67 would be nice, however I doubt it would happen.
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My dad had to finish early but he had virtually every complication you can think of from blindness to Charcot foot and everything inbetween. He was physically incapable of working near the end

As for early retirement on ill health, you can retire when you want, whether your pension scheme will pay for this is a whole different matter and one for them to let you know.
 
Dashound said:
Hi- Apologies if this is covered elsewhere. I have type 2, I am over 60, I have no energy to do anything much, I have a outdoor manual job, suffering from numb fingers and aching feet, the lack of ability to continue my job is causing mental problems. I am very much doubting it, but are these facts any qualification for ill health retirement? I assume whether or not I am LIKELY to get another job, most people would say 'get a different job'. Yes being a desk jockey until I'm 67 would be nice, however I doubt it would happen.
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That must be very frustrating for you, @Dashound . No wonder it is affecting your mental health, too. Your GP should bevable to advise on your ability to work or not. Should you wish to be retired on health grounds you can expect your employer’s HR dept to refer you to an occupational health medical service for a full assessment. If you choose that route be prepared to have your medical records scrutinised and to have an ‘interrogation’ by a medical professional, who may appear to be questioning your integrity and honesty. Likewise if you were hoping to claim State Benefits.
 
Dashound said:
Hi- Apologies if this is covered elsewhere. I have type 2, I am over 60, I have no energy to do anything much, I have a outdoor manual job, suffering from numb fingers and aching feet, the lack of ability to continue my job is causing mental problems. I am very much doubting it, but are these facts any qualification for ill health retirement? I assume whether or not I am LIKELY to get another job, most people would say 'get a different job'. Yes being a desk jockey until I'm 67 would be nice, however I doubt it would happen.
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Is there anything you can do to make yourself feel better and more able to continue? For example, numbness in hands and fingers might not be diabetes-related, perhaps it could be carpal tunnel syndrome which is very fixable.
I don’t know how you manage your diabetes? If your symptoms are due to running your BG high, are there any changes you could make to either diet ofr medication which could reduce your BG and hopefully make you feel generally better and more able to cope?
 
Whatever happens about your job it sounds to me as if you might need more support in controlling your blood sugar and avoiding diabetic complications.
Apologies if you already do all this, but do you test your blood before and after meals? Do you know what you can eat without triggering too high a rise in blood sugar after meals?
 
Complications from type 2 diabetes might give you reasons for early retirement? You'd need to get an assessment from Occupational Health to assess your capability and what could be done to remedy this or whether you can 'ride a desk' instead.
However even if you can afford to draw down your pension right away, would you want to given how rotten you're feeling now? Perhaps you could do with some kind of 'M.O.T' after which you could work to improve your blood sugars (I am assuming that high levels might be causing you to be very tired and mentally drained).
Maybe you could get some time off to address these health needs given how physical your job is but having worked this hard so far, it'd be shame to struggle on until retirement only to be unable to enjoy it when you do.
There's plenty of stuff you can do without a doctor to feel a lot better so don't give up on your health (sounds a bit like you are doing that and I am really sorry that you're feeling that bad).
 
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