Hi @trudiA. was just wondering how you were doing?
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Thank you, life went a bit crazy, we had a death, birth and puppy in the space of 7 days! just trying to readjust and get my feet back on the ground!
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Oh @trudiA, I am sorry for your loss. You must have gone through such a mixture of emotions in the last week. We are here for you if you need us and you can contact the wonderful Blood Cancer UK Support Services Team on 0808 2080 888 10am-7pm Monday-Friday and 10am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk if you would like to talk. Please give yourself time to readjust, take stock and get your feet back on the ground, oh, and take care of yourself.
Gosh @trudiA. That’s a lot to happen in the space of 7 days. Hope you are looking after yourself. Keep us posted on how you are doing x
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Can’t add much to the discussion, as I had taken early retirement nearly a decade before being diagnosed! I was very lucky; because our daughters were both independent while I was still in my 50s, could afford to put in additional contributions to employer’s pension scheme, which gave me the maximum allowed total contribution by 60th birthday. But my wife had a real battle with her employers to even get on to the pension scheme. She worked part time, and employers refused to let part-timers join the scheme. With the help of her union, she took them to an employment tribunal, and when we got there, the employers just caved in. She had to pay her backdated contributions to the scheme, but she’s lived long enough to get those back many times over! So well worth fighting via your union if you have one.
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Hi there - this is the first time I’ve contributed to this feed . I was diagnosed with CML 18 months ago at that time I was teaching full time- the diagnosis affected me mentally as well as dealing with the physical impacts- I was signed off work for many months - and looked at taking early retirement on the grounds of ill health - the amount of paper work and ‘hoops’I had to jump through made me give up and I just took early retirement - I was 2 years off my retirement date - I am fortunate to have been able to afford to do this - especially in this current pandemic- I definitely wouldn’t like the worry of having to be in the classroom at the moment !
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Hi @Lynda, a warm welcome to our forum. This has turned out to be a useful topic and it just shows you how many of us have had similar issues and the value of the forum. As most of us were diagnosed prior to having these issues it shows how we often have to fight things when we least feel like doing so emotionally, physically, financially and practically.
You say you had been signed off work for many months so how are you feeling now and how has lockdown been for you?
Hello, I’m in my 10th year of Myeloma and aside from 5 months sick leave, I’ve continued to work full time. I did this for financial reasons but also because I really love my job and felt able to continue.
However I am now beginning to feel like I’m running out of gas and I’d be interested in any advice members could give of applying for early retirement for ill health. I work in the education sector so particularly any advice the teachers pension scheme would be great but any other insights or advice from anyone gratefully received. Apologies for cross posting.
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Hi @Mothas. Good to hear from you. I’m not sure how it all works but hopefully others or the blood cancer uk support line may be able to help more. I work in education as well and am part of the pension scheme. Have you got a contact there who you could discuss it with? I did look out of curiosity last year and there was lots of info on the pension website. Have you had a look?
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Hi @Mothas a great big welcome to our forum, I know the feeling of running out of gas, fatigue is a well known side effect of blood cancers.
I wonder if you are a member of any union or have free legal advice available to you through any policies you might have. There is always Citizens Advice, but I am not sure if they are doing any face to face appointments because of Covid.
Take care and please let us know how you get on.
A warm welcome to the forum @Mothas! Hope you don’t mind but I moved your topic to an existing topic around this so that you can see what other people have said around this.
It’s so understandable you feel you’re looking into applying for early retirement on the grounds of ill health.
In case it’s helpful for you at all, there’s some information around this on this government ‘Pensionwise’ webpage - Ill health and pensions. You can also book a phone appointment with a specialist, here
The Money Advice Service also have some general info around this here
Are you a member of a Union who could offer you personalised advice on your situation?
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I applied for my Teachers Pension early, and originally was refused, but as my health had deteriorated further my consultant sent another update and I did get it. It was also backdated to when I had applied. Teachers Pensions do have information about applying. Good luck
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@Pisces56 thanks so much for sharing this - I had a quick look and found this factsheet from Teachers Pensions which might be helpful for you @Mothas? Here is is - https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/-/media/documents/member/factsheets/managing-your-pension/ill-health-retirement-factsheet.ashx?rev=69a36f3dffbd47ff926d57df0dedf554&hash=BDAC31A1F52FDBEA3BD8DE0515568FB9
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Like some of you I think I’d quite like to take early retirement but would be terrified by the prospect eg wuld I have enough to live, how would I cope without the social contact? I’m sure in the years to come I’d have to give it serious consideration but I wouldn’t really know where to start from a practical point of view.
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Thank you Alice. I had operation on Thursday and am slowly recovering, but wanted to put something, although not as active on the forum, and not got energy to find link xx
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Update: I’m still battling on with all the hoops of fire required to be completed to go down the early retirement process that is in place in education! I’m getting there! 
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Hi @Kimmie17, really good to hear from you and the early retirement process really does sound a battle when perhaps you do not need the stress, battling and fatigue, it would be all too much for me.
Please keep us posted how you are getting on and take care.
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How have you been apart from fighting retirement! Keep us posted X
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Sorry for late reply, I’ve been occupied with fighting for my early retirement which I’m delighted to say I got! I now look after myself better, manage my stress levels better, meditate, swim 3 times a week walk most days have started an art class and most importantly have had time to make lots of memories with my grandchildren. Its the best thing I have done and stress eliminated overnight, 3 monthly appointments excepted!
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Wow, what a huge change. Your life seems to have so many lovely things in it and I’m so glad you pushed through and got it. Bring on the good times 
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