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.

By stating unpaid work in the home I meant on top of full time work to be clear
Even in these days of “equality “ the average woman is in lower paid work, has caring responsibilities and the larger proportion of responsibilities in the home as well as full time work in some cases.

What about women who never have children? Are you saying they should have the same retirement age as men, and that women who have had children should be able to go earlier?

Yes it’s not fair and if everybody had great careers who would do the donkey work. Society needs all skills male and female to function. Some women are knackered before 66 and some men are too before 66 and if they have made full NI contributions I think they should be entitled to claim it. If you have paid all the qualifying years into a private pension you would be able to claim that. Instead people who are totally and genuinely unfit for work are made to wait especially manual workers. One size definitely doesn’t fit all that’s what I’m trying to say.

Considering this post is 5 years old, I doubt you're going to get a reply!

Many will have to work until 68. I only work part time as I have disabled children. I will never be able to retire as i do not earn enough to put anything decent into my private pension. I think many are in the same position. 66 isn't really too bad.

How long will you be working, OP? Did you check your retirement age?

@WhatALoadOfOldBollocks historically, pension ages were set with a view to men and women couples retiring at the same time. Men tend to be older, hence the idea that men would retire at 65, women at 50

This is a ZOMBIE thread from 7 years ago. Highly doubt the original poster is going to respond now.

What about marriage etc and their husbands?