After 45 years working in HMRC, Gerald had big plans for his retirement. But those plans were turned upside down when health issues rendered him too ill to work.

In this episode, Gerald talks to Rob and Emily about his experience of having to leave work through the Ill Health Retirement route, earlier than he had planned.

Navigating retirement with an invisible illness brought a unique set of challenges for Gerald. One of the toughest decisions was to leave behind the attachment he had to his career in the ‘Tax Office’, such as his reference books and professional registrations.

In time, things got easier and he was able to focus on something he’s always enjoyed – literature. After trying his hand at writing historical crime fiction (the kind of books he’d always reached for), he landed a publishing deal, three months of completing his first book.

He’s now in the process of writing the fifth book in his series, and shares his perspective on this new line of work in retirement.

Useful links:
Ill Health Retirement

After 45 years working in HMRC, Gerald had big plans for his retirement. But those plans were turned upside down when health issues rendered him too ill to work.
In this episode, Gerald talks to Rob and Emily about his experience of having to leave work through the Ill Health Retirement route, earlier than he had planned.
Navigating retirement with an invisible illness brought a unique set of challenges for Gerald. One of the toughest decisions was to leave behind the attachment he had to his career in the ‘Tax Office’, such as his reference books and professional registrations.
In time, things got easier and he was able to focus on something he’s always enjoyed – literature. After trying his hand at writing historical crime fiction (the kind of books he’d always reached for), he landed a publishing deal, three months of completing his first book.
He’s now in the process of writing the fifth book in his series, and shares his perspective on this new line of work in retirement.
Useful links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/your-pension/work-life/illness-and-injury/ill-health-retirement/">Ill Health Retirement</a></li>
</ul>

The Civil Service Pension Scheme is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the UK public sector. But what makes it so good?

We want members of the scheme to feel informed and empowered when it comes to planning for their financial future, but we know that pensions can feel complicated and difficult to understand.

This podcast aims to make things simple - whether you're working or retired, if you've left the Civil Service - or even if you're thinking about joining the Civil Service - there's something for everyone.

Hosts Rob Walker and Emily Eccles from MyCSP (the scheme administrator for Civil Service Pensions) take things back to basics. Their conversations will help you get to grips with your pension and even make some informed decisions about your future. No question is too small and no answer is too complex.

Each episode explores different aspects of the scheme. With expert guests and members talking about their life experiences and perspectives, and how these events have affected their views on retirement and their pension. Each informative episode could help you think about your pension in different ways.

Many people believe that a pension is something to think about later in life, or something to get round to dealing with eventually. That just isn't true. It’s never too early to start saving or planning for your future beyond work.

Your pension is one of your most valuable assets and the decisions you make now can have a huge impact further down the line. It is a crucial personal financial benefit and your ticket to living your best life when you're no longer working. It's key to making your retirement years as fulfilling and rewarding as possible.

From learning the basics, we explore a number of topics surrounding pensions and the scheme itself. Our first series features case studies of members in their 20s and 30s through to retirement, as well as discussions around the Gender Pension Gap, discovering how common life events can affect your ability to save for the future and the steps you can take to boost your pension.

Even if you've never worked for the Civil Service before, this podcast is full of useful information and advice for anyone with a workplace pension. We hope you enjoy it.

To find out more about the scheme, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

The Civil Service Pension Scheme is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the UK public sector. But what makes it so good?
We want members of the scheme to feel informed and empowered when it comes to planning for their financial future, but we know that pensions can feel complicated and difficult to understand.
This podcast aims to make things simple - whether you're working or retired, if you've left the Civil Service - or even if you're thinking about joining the Civil Service - there's something for everyone.
Hosts Rob Walker and Emily Eccles from MyCSP (the scheme administrator for Civil Service Pensions) take things back to basics. Their conversations will help you get to grips with your pension and even make some informed decisions about your future. No question is too small and no answer is too complex.
Each episode explores different aspects of the scheme. With expert guests and members talking about their life experiences and perspectives, and how these events have affected their views on retirement and their pension. Each informative episode could help you think about your pension in different ways.
Many people believe that a pension is something to think about later in life, or something to get round to dealing with eventually. That just isn't true. It’s never too early to start saving or planning for your future beyond work.
Your pension is one of your most valuable assets and the decisions you make now can have a huge impact further down the line. It is a crucial personal financial benefit and your ticket to living your best life when you're no longer working. It's key to making your retirement years as fulfilling and rewarding as possible.
From learning the basics, we explore a number of topics surrounding pensions and the scheme itself. Our first series features case studies of members in their 20s and 30s through to retirement, as well as discussions around the Gender Pension Gap, discovering how common life events can affect your ability to save for the future and the steps you can take to boost your pension.
Even if you've never worked for the Civil Service before, this podcast is full of useful information and advice for anyone with a workplace pension. We hope you enjoy it.
To find out more about the scheme, visit <a href="http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk">www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk</a>

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