Off work long term - scary thought??

[Four Litre]

Has anyone ever been off work ill for the long term or had to retire early - say 45+

My health has really suffered of late and in all honesty not sure how much longer I will be able to work for. I'm self employed so when I stop so does the job.

I've always worked hard and earned good money, however the thought of just 'being ill' at home scares me more that the symptoms! Has anyone done this and if so WTF do they do with their lives???

I'm not one for giving up easy, but currently feeling the stress of it all...

P.S I know I spelt scary wrong before somebody points it out!!

Edited by Four Litre on Wednesday 20th June 14:47

[jonamv8]

Can you reduce your hours?? ie keep you feet in the water but not stress you out??

I'd be worried that doing nothing would finish me off.

My Dad retired a few years ago and I do everything in my power to keep him busy or he would decline quickly

[vindaloo79]

Nanook said:

You got decent insurance in place?

If I'm unable to work, after 6 months my policy kicks in, and my insurance pays out £2500/month until I'm back at work, or until my mortgage is cleared.

Curious what kind of price a policy like that is costing, care to share? They always looked more money than i felt it was worth when younger, but I can see a use for such a product.

[Zippee]

Nanook said:

vindaloo79 said:

Nanook said:

You got decent insurance in place?

If I'm unable to work, after 6 months my policy kicks in, and my insurance pays out £2500/month until I'm back at work, or until my mortgage is cleared.

Curious what kind of price a policy like that is costing, care to share? They always looked more money than i felt it was worth when younger, but I can see a use for such a product.

Think I pay £145/month for that, along with critical illness and death cover.

So if either my wife or I get a critical illness, or one of us dies, the mortgage gets cleared, if I'm unable to work for 6 months or more, they pay out £2500/month til the mortgage is cleared, or I'm back in work.

Actually no, it's not til the mortage is cleared, it's til I'm 65.

Would have been cheaper, but we're both very occassional smokers.

Jumping in here as well, do you mind if I ask which insurer? My wife is self employed as well, her brother recently had a major accident (I say accident - more the stupid bh that drove into him was looking on her phone and didn't even brake) and being SE himself we are seeing first hand just what effect this has.

[super7]

I would be carefull with the small print in these Income replacement policy's. I had one many years ago when I started out as a Contractor, employed by my limited company..... The policy was completly missold, as if I was out of work, ie no contract work bringing money in, I wasn't technically unemployed as I was still an employee of my limited company....

To be able to claim on the policy I would have to have made myself redundant. One clause of the policy was that I couldn't actually do that, because I was terminating my own employment..... Not covered.

[toon10]

Retiring at 45 is a dream. I'm 44 this month and if I could stop work altogether now I would. There's house chores, walking, biking, PlayStation, movies, TV box sets, camping excursions, HIIT classes, the odd lunchtime special at the pub and a whole host of things I'd rather be doing than sitting in 5 hour unified comms meetings. I struggle to understand how I find time to live when work gets in the way and certainly don't get how anyone couldn't fill their time with things they want to do rather than things they have to in order to bring in a wage. We're all different I suppose but personally, if I could afford to keep my current lifestyle or even reduce it slightly and not work, I'd be in my bosses office right now s41tting on his desk.

[Puggit]

I also have similar insurance. Organised through St James Wealth Management (and reimbursed by work!).

Happy to introduce if required.

[Adam B]

toon10 said:

Retiring at 45 is a dream. I'm 44 this month and if I could stop work altogether now I would. There's house chores, walking, biking, PlayStation, movies, TV box sets, camping excursions, HIIT classes, the odd lunchtime special at the pub and a whole host of things I'd rather be doing than sitting in 5 hour unified comms meetings. I struggle to understand how I find time to live when work gets in the way and certainly don't get how anyone couldn't fill their time with things they want to do rather than things they have to in order to bring in a wage. We're all different I suppose but personally, if I could afford to keep my current lifestyle or even reduce it slightly and not work, I'd be in my bosses office right now s41tting on his desk.

attended a presentation on manager resilience at work yesterday - all about mental well-being and how it impacts work

one fact was people's mental (and physical) health deteriorates far more rapidly in those that give up work suddenly, vs those who fade it out gradually - due to loss of purpose, sense of worth, human contact, work friendships

can well believe it

[Terminator X]

Nanook said:

Think I pay £145/month for that, along with critical illness and death cover.

£78k in payments over say 45 years though

TX.

[Saleen836]

Curently a little over 19 months of sitting at home bored out of my brains (car accident), first 12 months I was covered by income protection I had in place, the past 7 months have been....very frugal and living like a student, don't know as yet when I will be able to return to work

[Four Litre]

Fingers crossed your back soon. Funny how people think that being off work genuinely sick is like retirement and you have time to do all the things you love, when in reality you cant as you ill or injured!!

I hope to soldier on but mine is eye related which causes problems!!

[Wacky Racer]

Four Litre said:

Fingers crossed your back soon. Funny how people think that being off work genuinely sick is like retirement and you have time to do all the things you love, when in reality you cant as you ill or injured!!

I hope to soldier on but mine is eye related which causes problems!!

Good luck

[Munter]

Four Litre said:

Fingers crossed your back soon. Funny how people think that being off work genuinely sick is like retirement and you have time to do all the things you love, when in reality you cant as you ill or injured!!

I hope to soldier on but mine is eye related which causes problems!!

I guess the good news is that you live in an age where the internet exists. Your home is literally connected to most of the money in the world in other peoples homes. I don't know if you are going to end up blind, or just pondering if that shadow on the worktop is the kettle, or a cat. Either way, you're already a resourceful self starter. So self start something from home now, ready for later. Believe it or not, you probably don't need your eyes to buy and sell stuff on the internet. Yeah sure, you're going to have to work at it. But what the fk else are you going to do with your time?

(This motivational speech is brought to you via more Fursty Ferret than one should realistically drink on a Wednesday)

[vindaloo79]

Four Litre said:

Has anyone ever been off work ill for the long term or had to retire early - say 45+

My health has really suffered of late and in all honesty not sure how much longer I will be able to work for. I'm self employed so when I stop so does the job.

I've always worked hard and earned good money, however the thought of just 'being ill' at home scares me more that the symptoms! Has anyone done this and if so WTF do they do with their lives???

I'm not one for giving up easy, but currently feeling the stress of it all...

P.S I know I spelt scary wrong before somebody points it out!!

Edited by Four Litre on Wednesday 20th June 14:47

Thanks to others for their replies.

Secondly and more importantly, OP: I hope that you find comfort from the stresses you're under Four Litre. Maybe you can follow the suggestion/advice from the poster who mentioned finding ways to create a plan B whilst you are able to

All the best.

[Saleen836]

Four Litre said:

Fingers crossed your back soon. Funny how people think that being off work genuinely sick is like retirement and you have time to do all the things you love, when in reality you cant as you ill or injured!!

I hope to soldier on but mine is eye related which causes problems!!

Thanks, other side of it being just because they can't see any physical injuries they assume there is nothing wrong and just ask why you're not at work!
Being off work is very stressfull both physicaly and mentally, I have no idea how benefit scroungers decide this is the life they want to lead, I guess it is just a different mindset.

Hope your problems work out for the best!

[toon10]

Adam B said:

attended a presentation on manager resilience at work yesterday - all about mental well-being and how it impacts work

one fact was people's mental (and physical) health deteriorates far more rapidly in those that give up work suddenly, vs those who fade it out gradually - due to loss of purpose, sense of worth, human contact, work friendships

can well believe it

Yeah I've heard similar said in the past. I actually think my physical health would be better as I'm a desk junkie and it would give me more opportunity for the gym, walks or even get out on my bike. Stuff I don't do now after a long day at work then home to parent my 2 year old until Mum gets in.

I suppose the sense of worth could be fixed by replacing a meaningless 9 to 5 role with something more worthwhile like volunteering for charities a few hours a week. I know a very senior guy who retired younger (well mid 50's) and drives kids to hospital appointments for that daft as a brush charity.

On the topic of mental health, I think it depends on your job. I'm a department head at the minute and for the first time in my life, I'm not sleeping, I'm constantly stressed about work and it's a horrible place to be. I suppose that's why I long to retire. I'd be able to concentrate on the fun me again and be a little less moody at home.