FAQs on Ill Health

Generally, we would start making FAS payments to you when you reach your FAS normal retirement age, which is based on the rules of your former scheme. We can begin payments sooner in the following health-related situations:

• ill health
• severe ill health, or
• terminal illness.

There are different rules for what you can receive depending on your health situation, but in all cases we start by working out how much you’re entitled to receive as a FAS member. We calculate this as an annual payment amount. 

It’s important to be aware that ill health, severe ill health and terminal illness calculations only include increases known as revaluation, up to the date of applying for ill health, rather than up to your FAS normal retirement age. This means you may get less than if you’d waited until your FAS normal retirement age. 

If you take ill health other than on the grounds of terminal or severe ill health then a reduction will be applied to the payment from the date of application. You will receive a reduced amount if you take ill health because we will be required to pay your FAS payment over a longer period of time.

If you think you’re entitled to receive early FAS payments because of ill health, please call us as soon as possible on 0330 678 0000 or +44 (0)208 406 2121 if you are overseas. We may need to ask you about the condition or disease you’re suffering from so that we can send you the appropriate form.

If you’re suffering from a progressive disease or condition and have been diagnosed as having less than six months to live, your FAS payments can start at any age. However, they can’t be paid as a lump sum.

Your health-related illustration form shows you how much you can receive. It’s important that you check you’re happy with the figures we’re quoting. You may want to speak to a financial adviser to help you with this.

If you’re happy with the details on your illustration form, you must get your doctor to complete their declaration which confirms your illness. You’ll also need to provide your bank details and complete your own declaration section. If any of these parts aren’t completed correctly, we won’t be able to set up your payment.

If you take your FAS payments early because of ill health, your spouse, civil partner or relevant partner may be able to receive payments from us after you die. A relevant partner is someone of either sex who you aren’t married to, or in a civil partnership with, but who you live with as if you are married or in a civil partnership. A relevant partner will only qualify for FAS payments where your former scheme rules allowed it.

Your children would also be entitled to FAS payments after you die if they’re:

• under 18, or
• over 18, but under 23 years old, and: 
• on a relevant full-time educational or vocational course, or 
• unable to work full-time due to disability. 

Any payments due to your spouse, civil partner or relevant partner will take into account the level of assistance you were receiving. For more information about payments to your family when you die, please take a look at our 'Early Payment for Ill Health' booklet.

If you disagree with certain decisions about your application for ill health or severe ill health payments, you can ask for a review - this must be done within 1 month. If you disagree with the outcome of the review, you can appeal against it. 

For further information please read our 'Early Payment for Ill Health' booklet.