FAQs on Terminal Ill Health

Yes, provided you are eligible, you can receive a terminal ill health payment at any age before your normal pension age.

To be eligible for a terminal ill health payment, you must be diagnosed with a terminal illness and have six months or less to live. This diagnosis will need to be confirmed by a doctor.

You must also not have received any compensation from us previously.

If you believe you’re eligible for a payment, you should call, send us a secure message (when logged into this site) or write to us and we'll send you the relevant paperwork and quote.

Our address is:
Pension Protection Fund
PO Box 254
WYMONDHAM
NR18 8DN

Phone number: 0330 123 2222

Receiving a terminal illness lump sum will not affect your dependant(s) eligibility for compensation after your death.

Whether or not your spouse/civil partner/relevant partner is eligible to receive PPF compensation, following your death, will depend on the rules of your former pension scheme.

If you leave any children, they may also be eligible for compensation.

Should you take a terminal illness lump sum, any dependant pensions will be calculated on the basis that you attained your Normal Pension Age on the date of your death, and will not be reduced for having taken the lump sum.

Please see our 'Terminal Ill Health' booklet for further details on survivors' eligibility for compensation.

You won't have to pay back the terminal illness lump sum you've received, but we won't be able to make any further payments to you.

You will need to fill in a form called a Terminal Ill Health Retirement Illustration form. This will need to be signed by your doctor or medical practitioner.

When you return the completed form and you have completed the payment details, we will take this to mean that you would like to progress with the payment of the terminal ill health lump sum. If approved, we will make arrangements for this to be paid into the bank account you have provided. No further payments will be made to you after the lump sum has been paid.

Further information is available in the 'Terminal Ill Health' booklet.