Ill Health Benefits

Sick pay

Officers/NHS Employees

If you are a member of this group you are entitled to Sick Pay in the event that you cannot pursue your occupation due to either sickness or accident.

The standard structure is full pay for the first six months of incapacity, half pay thereafter, after which time you could qualify for an Early Retirement Pension from the NHS, providing you have been unable to work for a minimum of 12 months. Due to the reduction in the NHS ill health pension benefits since 1st April 2008, it is recommended that you review your income protection cover.

Practitioners

If you are a GP or Dental Practitioner your sick pay arrangements will very much depend upon your contractual arrangements.

In the case of a GP working within a practice, a practice agreement may exist whereby you receive your full GP income entitlement for the first twelve months of incapacity after which time you may be eligible for an NHS Ill Health Pension. Practices will usually have a locum assurance agreement to cover the cost of a locum for those first twelve months whilst you are incapacitated. The alternative to this is the co-operative arrangement whereby a GP from another practice will provide cover for an incapacitated colleague.

If you are a Dentist working in practice you will by and large have to make your own income protection arrangements. However there are some excellent private arrangements, which offer very good benefits such as:

• Very competitive fixed premiums
• Benefits paid from day one in the event of a claim
• HIV cover
• Refund of part of your contributions upon the cessation date of the plan
• Cover only available to Dentists
• Claims treated on an “Own Occupation” basis (i.e. maintaining your present career definition throughout the claim)

Please contact us for further advice regarding your Income Protection needs

Next: Ill Health Retirement