Police Medical Retirement and PTSD: Leaving the Job and What Comes Next

6 November 2026

Most officers picture leaving the police on their own terms, with a send-off after thirty years and a plan for what comes next. For some, PTSD changes that. The decision to leave is made partly by doctors and a pensions process, often at a time when they are least able to face paperwork, appointments and assessments.

This guide is for serving officers who are facing ill health retirement because of PTSD or another psychological injury, for those who have already left, and for the people around them. It covers how the process works in outline, the emotional side that the forms don't mention, and where to find support. It isn't legal or financial advice. For your own case, the Police Federation, your pension administrator or a specialist adviser are the right people to ask.

How ill health retirement works

The detail depends on which police pension scheme you are in, but the shape is similar. For officers retiring from the 2015 scheme, the main steps are:

Occupational health. The force's occupational health service assesses your condition, how it affects your duties, and whether adjustments or a different role could keep you in the service.
The Selected Medical Practitioner. If retirement is being considered, the police pension authority, usually the chief constable, refers the medical questions to an independent doctor known as the Selected Medical Practitioner (SMP). The SMP decides whether you are permanently medically unfit for the ordinary duties of a police officer.
The tier. If you are, you meet the medical test for a lower tier ill health pension. If the SMP also decides you are permanently unfit for any regular employment, you qualify for the upper tier, which is paid at a higher rate.
Appeal. If you disagree with the SMP's decision, you can appeal to the Police Medical Appeal Board (PMAB). Time limits are short, often 28 days from being told the decision, so get advice early.

An injury award is separate. If your condition was caused by an injury received in the execution of duty, you may also be able to claim under the Police (Injury Benefit) Regulations 2006, and that award can sit alongside an ill health pension. Officers in the older 1987 and 2006 schemes, or with service affected by the McCloud remedy, may find different rules apply. Police staff are usually in the Local Government Pension Scheme, which has its own process.

Firefighters and ambulance staff face similar processes under their own pension schemes. The principles in the rest of this guide apply to them too.

Getting help with the process

You don't have to manage this alone, and you shouldn't try to. The Police Federation trains representatives in ill health retirement and represents members at appeal boards. Police Care UK has an Ill Health Retirement Commitment, written with people who have been through it, which sets out good practice for forces, and it runs a support programme for anyone considering, going through or adjusting after ill health retirement. The Injury on Duty Pensioners Association and Blue Light Leavers also offer guidance.

Some practical points that help:

keep copies of every letter, report and decision in one place
take someone with you to meetings and assessments if you are allowed to
ask for adjustments, such as written information or breaks, if your concentration or memory is affected
ask your representative how medical evidence will be used in your case before you sign anything

Some people worry that getting better in therapy could affect their case. Treatment should be about your health, first and last. If you are unsure how it might affect a decision, ask your Federation representative or adviser to explain, rather than holding back from help you need.

Looking after yourself during the process

Ill health retirement can take many months, and for some people well over a year. During that time you may be off sick, on restricted duties or in limbo, waiting for letters and appointments. For someone with PTSD that waiting can be hard in itself.

Assessments can stir up the very memories that made you unwell. You may be asked to describe incidents, symptoms and their effect on your life, sometimes more than once and to people you have never met. It is reasonable to ask what an appointment will involve beforehand, to bring someone with you where that is allowed, and to plan something steadying for afterwards. Expect to feel worse for a day or two after a difficult meeting, and don't read too much into it.

Many people find it helps to keep some structure to the week, even when there is no work to go to. Regular sleep and meals, time outside, some exercise and contact with at least one person you trust make a real difference to how you cope with the uncertainty. If you are having treatment, tell your therapist when key dates are coming up, so the work can take account of them.

Money worries are common too, especially if pay has dropped during long sickness absence. Police Care UK offers financial support and advice, and the Federation can help you understand what you are likely to receive. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to claim benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, which is based on how a condition affects daily life rather than the diagnosis itself. Citizens Advice can explain what you might be entitled to.

The emotional side of leaving

The process is administrative. The experience is not. Officers who have been through it often describe it as one of the hardest parts of their career. Retired PSNI officers interviewed by ITV called it "long, lonely and retraumatising" (ITV News, 2023).

Losing more than a job

Policing is rarely just a job. It brings an identity, a team, a routine, a sense of purpose and a way of seeing the world. Leaving because of an injury can mean losing all of those at once, often without the goodbyes and recognition that come with a planned retirement. For many officers, losing the team is as hard as losing the work itself.

Grief, anger and relief

It is common to feel several things at once. Grief for the career you expected to have. Anger at the incidents that caused the injury, at how you were treated, or at how long the process took. Shame, even when there is nothing to be ashamed of. And sometimes relief, which can bring its own guilt. All of these are normal reactions to a major loss, and none of them means you are coping badly.

Telling people

Working out what to say to friends, family and former colleagues can be surprisingly hard. You don't owe anyone the details of your health. A short, honest line, such as saying the job took its toll and you have had to step away, is often enough. Partners and children may need more, and helping someone with PTSD is written for them.

Feeling cut off

Leaving can mean losing daily contact with the people who understood the job best. Some former officers find old colleagues drift away, or that they avoid them because seeing them hurts. Staying connected on your own terms, whether through a few trusted friends, peer support or groups like NARPO, can make a real difference.

Life after the police

Many people find a new sense of purpose in time, through retraining, volunteering, mentoring, a quieter job or simply more time with family. That rarely happens straight away, and it doesn't need to. The skills and values you brought to policing don't leave with the warrant card.

Treatment for PTSD doesn't stop being worthwhile once you have left. For some, leaving is what finally makes room to deal with what happened, without having to keep going back to the job. EMDR for emergency services staff explains one option, and person centred counselling can help with the loss of identity and direction that often follows. If questions of guilt or feeling let down by the service are part of it, moral injury may be worth reading about. PTSD in emergency services workers explains why symptoms can surface years after a job.

Frequently asked questions

Can you be medically retired for PTSD?

Yes. PTSD and other psychological conditions can lead to ill health retirement if the SMP decides you are permanently medically unfit for the ordinary duties of a police officer.

What is the difference between the lower and upper tier?

Under the 2015 scheme, the lower tier applies if you are permanently unfit for police duties but could do other work. The upper tier applies if you are also judged permanently unfit for any regular employment, and it pays more.

Can I work after I leave?

Many people do, particularly on the lower tier. Ill health pensions can be reviewed in some circumstances, so check with your pension administrator how work might affect yours.

Can I get benefits for PTSD?

Possibly. Benefits such as Personal Independence Payment depend on how a condition affects your daily life, not on the diagnosis alone. Citizens Advice can help you check what you might be able to claim alongside a pension.

Is support still available once I've retired?

Yes. Police Care UK supports serving and former officers, staff, volunteers and their families who have been harmed by policing, including after they have left.

Will having therapy count against me?

Therapy is about your health, and you shouldn't put it off. If you are worried about how medical evidence is used, ask your Federation representative or adviser before the assessment.

Talking to someone

I'm a BACP registered counsellor offering person centred counselling and EMDR therapy in Nottingham and online. I've worked with police officers who have been exposed to many traumatic incidents over their careers. If you are facing ill health retirement, or adjusting after it, you can get in touch to talk it through.

Sources

More about person centred counselling