you can't complain about not having enough money as a pensioner if your able to work

[madhurjazz]

Just that really, certain person I know complains about not having enough but they have no health conditions and have enough to get by. No reason why they couldn't work.

Aibu to just say get a job and late 60s isnt really that old thee days?

DH retired 2 years early, as the toll on him of all the commuting and European travel was too much - just as well, as we then found he had a serious heart condition, and would have died within a year without massive surgery, despite the fact that he looks the picture of health. He worked from age 15 to age 63.
I think a lot of you forget that company or individual pensions were not the norm years ago. We grew up being told that paying your 'stamp' would entitle you to a reasonable state pension, and I think it was called superannuation or Stage II or something, would top up higher earners. We did all that. We planned things knowing I would get a state pension 2 years after dh - when we were doing the detailed financial planning just prior to his retirement, it snuck up to 5 years - now we find it will be 8 years.
We do contribute to society, he pays income tax, the money we spend includes VAT, we are both as active as we can be in the community. What are we supposed to do - crawl in a corner and die?
In some ways it is fair to expect people to work a bit longer, if life expectancy is going up, but surely you can't expect someone to be a road labourer or a brickie at 70 - most people are quite simply too old, worn out. I have been physically unable to work for a few years, and I'm only 61. (I get zilch from the state, except for 2 prescriptions a month)
I think it would be far better to allow people to take an earlier state pension if they wish, and let the young people have the jobs. Active older people still have so much to give to the community, but it doesn't have to be conventional employment.
As for moaning she doesn't have enough money - well, so what - a lot of people have that complaint. There just aren't the jobs out there for older people, even if they want them, even if they can do them.
Everyone knows a working 80 year old - just like everyone has a great uncle who lives to be 95 despite smoking 60 a day - the wild exception to a general rules proves sod all.

Chikara I am one of those recruiters born in the 80s and I prob shouldn't say this but prefer the older people. You quite off end up with a steady, dependable person with a good work ethic. I'm sick to the back teeth of the "youngsters" and their dramas the high level of sick days and lack of drive

Omg I'm in my 30s and already thinking about what desk jobs I can go into in around 15 years time! Pensioners should absolutely not have to work part time to make ends meet once they reach retirement age!

At one time the Ideal was that "one day", with increasing mechanization and computerisation and 'Labour Saving Devices', we'd all be freed from work so we could get on with, you know, Life.

People seem to have really swallowed some kind of hype these days. Nowadays Work is spoken of in great glowing terms as if it's the actual point of life, the only way to have self-esteem, the only way to be 'validated'.

well, the trouble with labour saving devices and mechanization is that it is both saving us manual labour AND giving us more stuff. we certainly live in a time where some people can live off other people's labour because of labour saving devices. and, in addition to that, unlike even 50 years ago, many can afford to flights annually, if not more.

You can tell a lot about a society by looking at how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.
Ours is on a slippery slope.

Op yabvvu it is not easy for older people to get a job, what they fall from the sky!

OP, you are being given a harsh time but not for the reasons you think.

There is an overly narrow view of when people 'should' stop work, and it sounds as though your friend has fallen foul of this. But so have workplaces as a whole.

I work with a woman in her early 70s who is an absolute joy to work with (hope that doesn't sound too patronising but she is one of the nicest people I have ever worked with). She is PA to the director of my division at work, and as an old school, properly trained secretary with decades of experience who will prove very difficult, if not impossible to replace. Ideally she should be in some kind of consultancy/training role but is v happy working part time (though still 3-4 days a week) in a role she has been in for a long time. She's sharp and fun (comes out for a couple wines with us on occasion!) and imo should be in work. Its good for us, its good for her, its good for the work place.

Similarly I had a genetics lecturer at uni who was 81! He was a gorgeous old man who winged that the uni were trying to retire him which was why he was only in one day a week. But his presence means I had lectures from a person who had been around since the dawn of genetics, and therefore was able to make a complicated subject very accessible by explaining how we got to where we are now. We used to joke about his dead sea scroll slides, he laughed and made filthy jokes. Im probably one of the last people to have been lectured by someone who had been around since the dawn of that subject and that was only made possible as he worked until he was (at least) 81.

However OP, both of these people were willing and able to do so. By knowing them I don't look at my life as a deadline extending towards the knackers yard when I retire. On the other hand, I will be lucky if I reach their ages and I am still as young in body and mind as these two were.

There needs to be a better attitude towards older workers, but also more willingness to consider work on an ability rather than needs basis. Some of it is more in the mind than actuality imo.

We need to have a serious debate about making hard, physical careers such as teaching, retail and nursing more accessible to older and disabled people with expertise to share.

My friend can't get a job and is 50. She was made redundant.
We're retiring at 55 and have made reasonable provision, but as no-one knows how long they will live it's always going to be a bit of a gamble. I would rather us go for it and have some happy times, then live a bit more frugal if needed than be too scared to retire and keep going to work then drop dead the day after.
Most people we know are burning out in their 40's.

Well said Annie.
My dh luckily had an asset otherwise I don't know what we would have done.

These pesky old people eh? If only they would have the decency to stop living so long. They're such a burden.

ethelb those are lovely stories

OP , you are being stupidly unreasonable.

I found it nigh on impossible to get back to work in my 40s because I was deemed too old. It took years of rejection and not even getting interviews, and a DH who was just like you and couldn't see why on earth I wasn't able to just magic extra income out of thin air. I very nearly dumped him because of it and he knows that.

Another saying that ageism remains alive and kicking.

Hi OP. I haven't read the whole thread but I think I understand what you are saying. Your friend has reached retirement age, receives a standard SP and is surprised that their standard of living has fallen? Then moans but won't do anything about it? That would irritate me too so YANBU IMO but maybe IBU because I'm more of a fixer than a sympathiser. A friend of mine recently cried on my shoulder about being overweight so I earnestly started discussing weight loss clubs, exercise preferences etc with her. Apparently that wasn't the response she was looking for Your friend probably wanted a "there there". It must be a shock for her.

FWIW I don't think anyone should have to work past retirement age. It must also be very difficult to find work at that age. My own mum is struggling to work to retirement age due to health issues so will not be looking to extend her working life. However, if a person expects a certain standard of living at the point the options seem to be:

1. Save/Private Pension (not always an option)
2. Work to subsidise SP (not always an option)
3. Survive on SP

That's it.

I have no issues with my taxes being used for SP and any support of the elderly. I think we need to do more for our ageing population. I don't think anyone can expect to have the same luxuries they may have had during their working lives though unless they have saved for it. If your friend hasn't been able to do option 1 then options 2 or 3 are what is left.

To be fair a lot of women were stuffed into unpensionable multiple part time jobs to build up a full time portfolio before the law changed in 2000 saying they had equal rights to employers paying pension contributions on their behalf.

There are still many women around who paid the 'married women's stamp' eg encouraged to pay lower contributions as the state assumed they would be supported by their husband's pensions.

YABVU

Perhaps you can re-visit your views again when you reach that age after 40-50 years of working when you realise you want to enjoy your latter years not working.

My healthy dad was made redundant at 60 and was unable to find work again having worked since he was 14.

I'm 43 so not speaking as a pensioner

I don't think anyone over 65 should b obliged to work. I am 72 and since retiring from teaching I do exam marking, invigilation and private tutoring.
I would never go back to an obligatory set hours and working for a boss. Been there, done that and have several tee shirts.

I think there's a difference between holding down a ft job and doing a bit of work here and there. I don't want to stop doing the latter as I have lots of little projects I want to be doing. FIL did this and it kept him occupied and feeling needed and allowed him to share a lot of wisdom and expertise.

wayway13 said everything i wanted to. Some of the venom on here for the OP seem to be from people not reading the post correctly.

As for ApplesinmyPockets ridiculous post : it's work, they are paying you, you work the hours they want that you agreed too and yes you do what they want.... FFS.

I've read the OP. Understanding it wasn't particularly demanding.

I stand by everything I've said. This poster pushes this agenda regularly on other threads and it was only a matter of time before we had another thread on it.

And I speak as someone who secured new offers of work at 58 and 59. I work full time, am self employed and while my health remains have no intention of giving up work. I just think the OP is being typically goady.

YABVU and ageist but some of you on here hold ridiculously idealistic views. Firstly, being over 65 does not automatically make you a vulnerable citizen. Secondly, people are living longer lives but not necessarily in good health. The impact this is having on the NHS and social care is enormous. It's totally unsustainable.

The younger generations will have no choice but to work into their sixties and seventies. I do think older generations needs to remember that and have some compassion when talking about their rights. That said, I do not excuse ageism or picking on those who are older and vulnerable due to ill health or other reasons. Those who are truly vulnerable need more protection, more services and more money.

Probably been said but you can't even claim a pension at 60 now. Yabu

Sorry misread op. You said late ,60's

I was told at the grand old age of 40 not to put my age on CT btw