To feel sorry for women having to work till they're 66

[lazylab]

I have 2 friends, one 60 the other 61 who are just so tired and worn out. The 60 year old works full time in a factory, she's totally shatttered at the end of her shift. Basically they're just desperate for retirement, but no chance of that till they're 66. Both these women are single, still paying mortgages, one of them earning fairly good money but the other is basically working just to live, can't afford luxuries or holidays etc. It's just soul destroying. These are just two examples of the plight of those affected by the changes to pension age.

Working full time as a young woman is definitely not the same once you hit 60, the body struggles to cope. I realise it's the same for men too, especially the ones doing physical jobs.
Sorry if it sounds like i'm moaning, but isn't life just shit for some people.

[StillDrivingMeBonkers]

They get to retire 2 years before me.

But some women apparently demanded equality and now we've got it. Even the bad bits. So I'm afraid, it's a "suck it up" situation.

You do know 66 etc is just the state pension age? They can take their private pensions from 55?

[harderandharder2breathe]

My generation will be working til we drop

I know that retirement was only ever meant to be maybe ten years, and 60/65 was set whenpeople didn't live as long. But it's a bitter pill to swallow to be the generation that saw our grandparents and our parents retire in the 60s while still mostly in decent health and be able to afford to enjoy their retirement. Knowing my generation won't get that chance, unless you're lucky enough to be very rich.

So yes, I have some sympathy for people who are having to work a year or two longer. But mostly my sympathy is saved for the ones who will be working into their 70s and not through choice

[BabsGanoush]

Are you saying it's unfair, because it's it totally fair. It is important to get
a good career and to have a private pension or other savings so you can either retire earlier, or go part time.

And as Bonkers said, it's equality.

[MotherOfMinions]

I agree and think anyone over 60 should be allowed the option to go part time in the role they currently have. This age group just doesn't have the energy that younger people have and often start to have various health problems too. However, I do think that the pension age should have gone up a long time before it did as life expectancy has increased dramatically since state pensions were introduced- but it should have risen slowly instead of the sudden increase a few years ago which was very, very unfair.

[CbeebiesAddict]

It is right that women are brought in line with men although as someone in my twenties I do wonder when I will be able to retire. DH and I will work hard to try to ensure we can retire by 60.

Not everyone can have a good career Ganoush, we would fall apart if we were all doctors and lawyers etc.

[Babyroobs]

Yes I see it a lot in my job. Women over 60 trying to carry on working. It is tough for some. However I think if you are over 60 you can work less hours and claim working tax credits to top up your income. It may be worth looking into.

[Babyroobs]

I am only 50 but struggling with full time work. There is no way I can carry on doing 12 hour nursing shifts when I'm 60. Hopefully I will be able to take my NHS pension early and go part time.

[DrDreReturns]

People are living longer, therefore people need to work longer to pay for their retirement.
I'm 40, and I fully expect to be working in some form into my seventies.

[TittyGolightly]

It is right that women are brought in line with men

Yippee. When can we women give the responsibility of growing new humans to men?

[lazylab]

I also have sympathy for the men who do very physical jobs, bin men, roofers, builders etc. To expect a man to go up on a roof at 65/66 is ridiculous. Private pension plans were unaffordable to a lot of people.

[Underparmummy]

Of course retirement age should be the same. That is absolutely part of equality. Not sure what babies has to do with 66 year old women tbh!

Our generation is unlikely to ever retire and private pensions will be unaffordable for an even higher %.

[Alicia555]

I can't see there being any sort of state pension available when i retire, or it don't kick in toll I'm nearly 80 and going by my family track record I'll be dead by then. So diddums op

[Alicia555]

Doesn't not don't ffs!

[SlothMama]

Well I won't be until 68, which is ridiculous! I just know that I need to get a private pension and savings behind me. I don't want to be working past 60, and as the population ages then the retirement age will just increase.

[Addictedtocustardcreams]

I kind of agree with both sides. Retirement age has to go up as we are living longer but especially those doing physical jobs will not be able to work at the same intensity at 60 plus. There needs to be ways to help people move into other roles which are more appropriate to their age & physical health. The move upward in retirement age will affect those in manual lower paid jobs (from both sexes) the most.

[TimeFliesWhenYoureHavingGin]

My Mum is almost 70 and still works 3 days a week. Can be quite a stressful job but not physical.

We're living longer, I agree that we should work longer. I can't imagine I'd be ready to retire in 14 years.

[maggiethemagpie]

Titty are you talking about growing new humans in utero or after they've been born too? From what I remember, most of human growth takes place outside of the womb - 18 years compared to 9 months. And men are perfectly capable of doing childcare too. My husband for example is a SAHD. And he's not the only one.

It's not fair that anyone, man or woman is working when they are too old to. But I do think retirement age should be the same for both. My dad is 74 and has sight and hearing problems. He is still working. Partly because of his financial situation, party because he thinks he will bored when he retires. He struggles to hear on the phone though, and has double vision due to a botched cataract operation, so I do worry about him.

[seventhgonickname]

What about the knock on effect,some women may not be able to work if grandparents aren't available to childminder if they are still working.

[Lucisky]

It's not the fact that the pension age increased, equality is fair enough, but it was the way it was done. For , I think it is about 100,000 women in my age group (born 1955), it went up to 65, and then they increased it again to 66 a couple of years later. My partner, who is 18 months older than me, gets his state pension at 65 though! I am retired fortunately because I have pensions from years of employment which I received at 60. I am glad I no longer have to work, it gets tougher as you get older.
Anyone relying on just the state pension when they retire is going to find life very hard financially. It is so important to make your own arrangements for your later years.

[lazylab]

But correct me if i'm wrong but surely making people work till 66 and beyond will make jobs for young people and school leavers few and far between. There'd be a bigger jobs market for young ones if people retired earlier?

[lidoshuffle]

I'm one of those hit by the rise of state pension age from 60 to 66 and also radical changes to my occupational pension, but it is what it is. I'm taking the hit and retiring at 60 later this year, while I'm young/healthy enough to enjoy it. I can do this due to my occupational pension and AVC which I've been maxing out over the last few years.

The reality is even the maximum state pension isn't enough to live on, and that's why I've really pulled my belt in to pay extra into a pension. I wish I'd been more proactive years ago and can't stress enough the importance of looking at this when you're young enough for it to make a difference.

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

I'm 22. I expect to be working until I'm dead.

[TittyGolightly]

Not sure what babies has to do with 66 year old women tbh!

Titty are you talking about growing new humans in utero or after they've been born too? From what I remember, most of human growth takes place outside of the womb - 18 years compared to 9 months. And men are perfectly capable of doing childcare too. My husband for example is a SAHD. And he's not the only one.

Good for him, but that isn't standard (not saying it shouldn't be). I work for an organisation of 1000 staff and we have around 50-75 pregnant staff per year. In the past 5 years only 1 has ever done shared parental leave. It's still more likely that women will take maternity leave, work part time or in lower paid jobs while male partners continue to work full time and get promoted. Women have generally less opportunity to earn the same as men. Yet in retirement everything must be equal?

[TheFairyCaravan]

My mum is 72 and still working. My dad is 74, he works too.

The retirement age was brought in years ago when people died younger. We were never meant to receive a state pension for 20 or even 30 years.

My kids in their 20's, and folk in their thirties, will be lucky to get any state pension and will be probably working until they drop dead.

[muckypup73]

If the Tories stay in power, everyone will be working till they are 90!