Capability, redeployment and ill-health retirement are connected but separate routes. Capability asks whether employment can continue in the role. Redeployment looks for suitable alternative work. Ill-health retirement is a pension decision under scheme criteria and medical assessment.
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Do not treat the routes as interchangeable
A person can be medically unable to continue in one role yet capable of other work. A department may consider redeployment before dismissal. Ill-health retirement has its own qualifying service and medical criteria, and an OH suggestion to consider it does not decide eligibility.
Check which scheme and policy apply
Civil Service pension arrangements differ by scheme. Current central guidance states that ill-health retirement generally requires at least two years of qualifying service and a breakdown in health likely to prevent work until retirement age, with scheme-specific tests and tiers. Obtain the current member guide and case-specific pension information.
Members can unlock: a route-comparison framework, capability defence checklist, redeployment search plan, ill-health retirement evidence map, questions for HR and pension administrators, and wording for keeping the routes accurate and properly sequenced.
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