Something YOU Can Do!
Morning everyone - before I check on our emails and DMs, there is something we would like our supporters to do.
We would like you to write to your elected representatives (please write to your MP as well as locally devolved Parliament or Senedd representative) to get them to please write to the public pension agency and relevant pension minister (if applicable) for their country and ask the following questions:
1) How many people have applied to them for Ill Health Retirement (IHR) with Long Covid?
2) How many people have been rejected for Tier One and/or Tier Two levels of IHR when applying with Long Covid?
3) What evidence (listing guidance and research evidence) they are using to reject or confirm applications for IHR with Long Covid?
Find your MP here
Find your MSP here
Find your MS here
Please note that in Scotland or Wales you may wish to write to a regional as well as your constituency elected member.
We do intend to contact these agencies with the same questions, but it would be useful if we can start to get elected members asking questions ahead of time. If you get a reply, please share this with us by email - we would need to see a photo or scan of the information, but please cover any personal information as we might like to use it in our campaigning.
When writing, if you have been personally affected by this issue, please let your elected members know. Tell them what, if any, benefits you’ve been able to claim, how long you’ve been waiting or why you’ve been turned down. Tell them about your personal situation - or ask a friend or loved one to do this for you. If you were turned down, tell them of any restrictions were put on appeal - particularly important in a region where you’re being told you have to see a Long Covid clinic and there aren’t any!
If you’ve had any further issues relating to IHR, such as employers refusing to assist and so on, it’s worth letting your elected representatives know as well.
Thank you in advance - there will be more to come in the coming days.