Your union should have an officer specially trained to give advice on pensions.  It might be at Headquarters, but have a look on their website.  Mine was invaluable.

I think I am right in saying that, if you get ill-health retirement from teaching (as opposed to from all kinds of employment) you cannot then go back to teaching of any kind unless you notify Teachers' Pensions and halt your pension payout.  I have ill-health retirement and that's certainly what the trems and conditions of my pension says.

I cope you soon feel better and things imrpove with your husband. Not a good situation to be in at all.

Just a thought.  I know that it is possible to get a phased retirement.  Might your school consider having you back on a part time basis, when your doctor thinks you are well enough to return.  your union will definitely have this information.

tabathadrew:

have been off with stress and depression since the start of term.

If your doctor thinks you need more time off, why not take it? The time off will count towards your pension.

tabathadrew:

I have decided to leave because I am no longer able to cope

That sounds like a good reason, but when you are feeling better, you may change  your mind. Why not take as much time as you need to recover?

I think your pension will be reduced to about 80% of of your 25 years if you retire at  55 but check on the Teachers' Pensions website.

Perhaps the important question is whether you can afford to take ARB and whether you need the additional amount you would get if you were able to get ill-health retirement.

Thank you for the advice everyone. My Union is pretty useless and I only joined them at the end of last year (long story). I just feel like giving up. There seems to be no way out for me.

I  cant see a way out. I guess that I will be fast tracked out within a couple of months.