Tier 3 reviews
Overview
- 18-month review: Check if the member can now undertake ‘gainful employment’. If they can, you must suspend the pension. If not, in certain cases, it can continue for up to three years from when employment ended.
- Further reviews: You don’t need to review again unless new medical evidence arises. Employers can upgrade to tier 2 benefits with supporting medical evidence.
- Assessment: Employers must consult an Independent Registered Medical Practitioner (IRMP) pre-approved by the Pension Fund. This IRMP can be the same as the one who provided the original certificate.
Key decisions at the 18-month review:
- Continue tier 3 benefits for the remaining three years.
- Stop benefits if the member is capable of ‘gainful employment’.
- Upgrade to tier 2 benefits if the member is permanently incapable of their previous role and unlikely to undertake gainful employment:
- before normal pension age
- within 3 years of leaving, but is likely to be capable of gainful employment before reaching normal pension age.
You can find more information on our ill health resources page. Specifically:
- Guidance note 3A: Before 1 April 2014 retirements
- Guidance note 3B: After 31 March 2014 retirements.
