To think that constantly increasing retirement age will just cause an increase in health related benefit claims?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I am early 50's and have worked in hospitality for years, a very active job.

I am feeling it now, I really am. Back, general fitness and plantar fasciitis. Longer to recover from physical exhaustion. On it goes.

Surely people in physical occupations like mine, nursing, trade, retail etc are going to need to stop far sooner than people in desk based occupations? When we physically cannot keep going (my retirement age is 67 currently) what do we do?! Our health issues are often caused (or at least, exacerbated) by our careers, and our skills are not those that would transfer into office based jobs. Even if they were, there simply are not enough jobs for us all on top of the people our age already doing them.

So what is the alternative? I cannot see any other way than to claim benefits until state pensions kick in. And dont forget that a lot of people in manual jobs dont have private pensions as these have always been traditionally lower paid jobs. Those of us born in the 60's/70's were sold the state pension dream, we didnt need to worry about private pensions. It only became clear that actually we did when it was too late for those of us on lower salaries to make enough provision for old age.

I think if the government want us to work longer and have less sickness then surely more needs to be done to improve the overall health of the population?

Getting the NHS in a place in can do what is needed to get people who can be fixed and back to work quickly and also using other methods like nudge theory or getting the bbc and government/ public ally funded institutions to promote and teach wellness/ health tips/ exercise/ cooking

It's not aboit the government wanting you to work longer - you vam retire when you want. It is about it being unaffordable for everyone to claim their state pension at 65.

Your choice is lay more tax (a lot more) or see the state pension age rise Were do you want this choice to fall?

You have to retrain to something less physical and work part time basically. The bigger problem is low wages and widening inequality and economic stagnation.

If you think you can't do office work, there's things like training to be a counsellor, allied health care roles etc.

I'm 46 and fully aware no one is coming to save me in my older age so am trying my best.

As a TA you are probably a very low earner.
You also work part time, unless your school gives you extra work. You also get 13 weeks holiday.
Anyone who values a good pension would probably not be a TA!

I believe TAs enrol in the LGPS pension scheme, which is one of the best around today. So even a low earner enrolled in that scheme will be better off than people earning a bit more but making minimum contributions to a defined contribution scheme in the private sector.

I also don’t think it’s fair to say people in low income jobs don’t value their pension. Getting a well paid job and good pension isn’t easy for everyone or we would all be doing it. And then who would be working in the essential lower paid jobs?

Don’t for get the thousands whose claims are refused and are appealing. At least they’ll be keeping law firms in work. Then the benefits kick in for those who are given asylum but have no transferable skills or can’t speak English.

This.