General Chat

I used to work for the Civil Service when the retirement age was 65 for men and 60 for women. Then they announced that everyone would retire at 60. There was an outcry - from the men! Most of them did not want to retire at 60.

Eventually it was accepted and all was well, until it was changed again. Even with several years warning, people do not like change.

The other thing that happened was that lots of perfectly healthy men and women in their 60's were getting part-time jobs to occupy their time. So fewer jobs for youngsters. (I might add that employers prefer older people, because they are considered to be more reliable.)

I agree Kath good idea Maggie I had to take early retirement due to bad fall at work.I was 59 should have retired at 60 so was on sick pay pluss wages for 6months then pension .to me it's unfair people Men & women have to work so late in their lives .good luck Maggie x Barbara :-)

Problem is, when/if you become unemployed, if you have savings, you will get minimal help - until all your savings have gone!

"At least 300,000 applications for universal credit during the first four months of pandemic were deemed ineligible because those trying to claim had over £16,000 in savings or their partners were deemed to earn too much under strict means-tested welfare rules, according to official figures"

The 120% increase in unemployment since covid has come as an awful shock to those who thought people 'lived it up' on Universal Credit, and only needed foodbanks because (and I quote an MP) 'They can't manage their money'.

I think 60 would be a good age for everyone to retire, but only if they are allowed to take on a young person and train them up for a couple of years before they leave so that the young person can take on their job. Obviously some jobs would need more training but young people could be mentored by people getting ready for retirement.

Everyone should also think about saving for their old age right from their very first job as no one wants to have to try and have a good retirement on only a state pension.

Kath. x

One of the reasons they put the pension age up, was because people were living longer. Well, there's living longer, and there's living longer, and being healthy!
However, this didn't come into the equation.
Between 2014 and 2019, life expectancy actually fell in the UK, this was ignored.
Since Covid, life expectancy has fallen even more :-( :-(

As one of those affected by the age rise, who was getting along fine doing 'temp' work for years, with the vast increase in unemployment we're now experiencing, I can't see me being offered a job soon, and would happily 'survive' on Pension Credit - except the Government got rid of it in about 2015.
So, I, and my 'ilk' will just inflate the unemployment figures! :-D

Making people work till they are sixty six is disgusting what life have you got left What do you think should be age to stop working & get a pension I would say Sixty Two Men & Women .suppose with the virus its hard to predict but if we were living under normal times ? Barbara