Hi Meaney,

I guess that depends on what pension scheme you’re enrolled with. It is worth checking the full details before you commit to anything.

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 with a limited life expectancy at age 55. At the time I was working for the NHS and I had just reached the minimum retirement age for their scheme.
I was given three options. All had a cash payment plus -

1) take normal retirement - number of qualifying years divided by 80, multiplied by my annual salary;
2) apply for medical severance - they’d supplement my qualifying years served up to age 60 divided by 80, multiplied by my final salary;
3) terminal illness severance - as 2) but commuted to a single lump sum (worth 3 years pension) with no further payments.

I was tempted by the terminal illness severance payment because at the time six months had passed since my diagnosis with a prognosis of 3 to 18 months, maybe 2 years if the chemo was unusually successful. 

I’m not sure why but I went for Option 2. I’m so glad I did as, completely unexpectedly, I went into full remission following chemo. 

If you have a terminal prognosis (less than a year) you should qualify for a fast tracked PIP application through MacMillan. It isn’t a lot of money (£108 plus £75 mobility) but it isn’t means tested or taxed and would be backdated to the date of your diagnosis. 

Good luck
Dave

Hi Meaney,

I guess that depends on what pension scheme you’re enrolled with. It is worth checking the full details before you commit to anything.

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 with a limited life expectancy at age 55. At the time I was working for the NHS and I had just reached the minimum retirement age for their scheme.
I was given three options. All had a cash payment plus -

1) take normal retirement - number of qualifying years divided by 80, multiplied by my annual salary;
2) apply for medical severance - they’d supplement my qualifying years served up to age 60 divided by 80, multiplied by my final salary;
3) terminal illness severance - as 2) but commuted to a single lump sum (worth 3 years pension) with no further payments.

I was tempted by the terminal illness severance payment because at the time six months had passed since my diagnosis with a prognosis of 3 to 18 months, maybe 2 years if the chemo was unusually successful. 

I’m not sure why but I went for Option 2. I’m so glad I did as, completely unexpectedly, I went into full remission following chemo. 

If you have a terminal prognosis (less than a year) you should qualify for a fast tracked PIP application through MacMillan. It isn’t a lot of money (£108 plus £75 mobility) but it isn’t means tested or taxed and would be backdated to the date of your diagnosis. 

Good luck
Dave