Information you should include with your application

Where you have received a Stage 1 decision, a copy of the decision letter and most importantly, an explanation of why you are dissatisfied with it should be explained on the appeals form.

Open Medical IDRP2 Application form (PDF)

Download Medical IDRP2 Application form (Word)

Please include as much supporting evidence as you can - this includes:

• copies of all relevant information from your GP/Consultant about your medical condition(s), including specialist/consultant reports
• copies of any DWP awarding letters/medical reports, and
• any other relevant correspondence.

Please provide a letter from your GP/consultant which sets out the symptoms, procedures undertaken so far and all medications. It would also be helpful to have their expert opinion as to the short and long-term outcomes of this condition.

If you do not have this when completing your application, please request this from your GP/consultant and provide to us once received. Due to current time delays in dealing with the NHS, do not wait for a GP letter prior to sending in your application form. It is important we receive your application form and other supporting information within 6 months of the date of the Stage 1 determination letter.

It is important to note that in most cases, a decision to refuse ill health retirement is unlikely to be overturned unless you can provide additional medical or other evidence i.e. DWP Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Benefit letter, in support of your original application which could and should have been available with the original application. The dispute process is designed to test that decisions have been made properly and have taken account all the appropriate evidence.

Please sign the relevant mandates included with the application pack (an electronic is acceptable). Please note that if someone else is acting on your behalf, we will require the ‘Representative’s Mandate’ to be completed before we can liaise with them on your behalf.

The IDRP Process

An application is only accepted once a fully completed application form is received. This includes any additional evidence that was not presented to either the ‘First Instance Decision-maker’ or the Stage 1 Appointed Person, and the Stage 1 determination letter, if available. 

1. We will acknowledge receipt of your application at the start of the IDRP Stage 2 process and write to the Stage 1 Appointed Person, requesting the evidence used to determine the outcome at Stage 1 of the IDRP.
2. SPPA will review the information, to ensure all relevant evidence has been provided and request additional information if required.
3. We will refer the evidence to our Medical Advisors for their expert opinion.
4. After considering all the evidence available, the Head of Policy will make a decision and issue the determination letter to the appellant (or their representative), the Stage 1 Appointed Person.

Appeal timescales

SPPA must receive your IDRP stage 2 application no later than six months from the date on your stage 1 determination letter.

Once received, the Pensions Regulator expects SPPA to complete an appeal within four months of the application being received. This may take longer if we need to request further information.  If it is not possible to complete your appeal within that time, we will write to you to explain why.

We typically expect to determine your appeal within two months of receiving all of the relevant information.

Appealing the decision

If you do not agree with the outcome of your Stage 2 appeal, the Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) may investigate and determine any complaint or dispute of fact or law in relation to the LGPS that remains unresolved at Stage 2 of the appeals process.

Contact with the Pensions Ombudsman about a complaint needs to be made within three years of when the event(s) you are complaining about happened or, if later, within three years of when you first knew about it (or ought to have known about it).

There is discretion for those time limits to be extended.

Data protection

For medical appeals, your information will be shared with our medical advisors. Information from  our medical advisor’s rationale will be shared with the Stage 1 Appointed Person when we issue our Stage 2 determination letter. 

If we receive further information that was not considered as part of the Stage 1 process, we may remit your appeal back to the Stage 1 Appointed Person asking them to review, including any new evidence that we have received.

You can view our data protection and privacy policy for more information about your rights and protections regarding the information you share with us.
 

Information you should include with your application

You should explain your dispute as fully as you can, enclosing copies of any documents you think may be helpful. You should set out why you disagree with the decision taken, and what action you are seeking to put things right. Where you have received a Stage 1 determination letter, a copy of this should be provided with the application form.

Open Non-Medical IDRP2 Application form (PDF) 

Download Non-Medical IDRP2 Application form (Word)

Please sign the relevant mandates included with the application pack (an electronic signature is acceptable). Please note that if someone else is acting on your behalf, we will require the ‘Representative’s Mandate’ to be completed before we can liaise with them on your behalf.

The IDRP Process

An application is only accepted once a fully completed application form is received. This includes any additional evidence that was not presented to either the ‘First Instance Decision-maker’ or the Stage 1 Appointed Person, and the Stage 1 determination letter, if available. 

1. We will acknowledge receipt of your application at the start of the IDRP Stage 2 process and write to the Stage 1 Appointed Person, requesting the evidence used to determine the outcome at Stage 1 of the IDRP.
2. SPPA will review the information, to ensure all relevant evidence has been provided and request additional information if required.
3. After considering all the evidence available, the Head of Policy will make a determination and we will issue this to the appellant (or their representative), the Stage 1 Appointed Person and the relevant pension fund for information.

Appeal timescales

SPPA must receive your IDRP stage 2 application no later than six months from the date on your stage 1 determination letter.

Once received, the Pensions Regulator expects SPPA to complete an appeal within four months of the application being received. This may take longer if we need to request further information.  If it is not possible to complete your appeal within that time, we will write to you to explain why.

We typically expect to determine your appeal within two months of receiving all of the relevant information.

Appealing the decision

If you do not agree with the outcome of your Stage 2 appeal, the Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) may investigate and determine any complaint or dispute of fact or law in relation to the LGPS that remains unresolved at Stage 2 of the appeals process.

Contact with the Pensions Ombudsman about a complaint needs to be made within three years of when the event(s) you are complaining about happened or, if later, within three years of when you first knew about it (or ought to have known about it).

There is discretion for those time limits to be extended.

Data protection

For non-medical appeals, we may need to share  any new evidence with the Stage 1 Appointed Person or your employer. 

If we receive further information that was not considered as part of the Stage 1 process, we may remit your appeal back to the Stage 1 Appointed Person asking them to review, including any new evidence that we have received.

You can view our data protection and privacy policy for more information about your rights and protections regarding the information you share with us.