How many people actually work until 67 or 68?

[EstoyRobandoSuCasa]

Neither of my parents could have worked until the (current) state retirement age due to different health issues. Luckily, they were able to retire in their early 60s. And now a family friend has just retired aged 64. His state retirement age is 67, but due to worsening arthritis and the feeling that he's slowing down physically and mentally, he's sure that he couldn't manage another three years.

I accept that this country is experiencing a democratic time bomb due to the ageing population, but just because the Treasury needs people to work longer, it doesn't mean that they'll be able to. I know there are people in their 70s and older who are still fit for work and that some of them enjoy working, but I think they're in the minority.

I’m 57 and am hoping to retire fairly soon. I work in a very mentally demanding job, and I’m not sure how long I can keep up, quite honestly. I do consultancy, so every 6 months to a year it’s starting a new job with a new team, and being expected to hit the ground running. The technology is constantly changing, and I’m finding it more difficult to keep up. Every job feels harder than the last. And I’m usually running jobs in parallel, so switching between projects each day. My brain is fried.

My mum is 79 and still working 4 full days a week in a very physical factory job.

My husband and I will be working until at least 70 as our mortgage will not be paid off until then. My job is in the NHS and I have no idea how I would do it at 70.

I’m 62 this year. It’s likely I’ll be working until at least 70.

My grandad was medically retired just before turning 65 so he wouldn't have made it to 67. He was an engineer on the oil rigs, he had colleagues medically retired at younger ages. My nan was a nurse, she had to leave in her 50s following a stroke. Manual workers really haven't been considered when increasing the retirement age.

You are working in childcare, or a school, how long do you think you can continue?
What age do you think you can manage to still do that sort of work?

My in laws did. They had enough money that they could have retired at 50 but they didn’t want to.

My mum and dad (61 and 65) will both work until then although part time. Dad because he barely has to do anything (owns the business) and mum because she doesn’t have enough money to retire.

So lots of people. For either love… or money!

My mums job is very physical too and she has bad knees and 5 flights of stairs at work every day. Shes pretty incredible for 61.

I was 72 this January, retired at 63 but still wanted to work. I do supply teaching and worked full time for the three weeks before Christmas although normally I work no more than two or three days a week. I seem to have more energy than the younger teachers and most importantly it keeps me young. I’m certainly not ready to completely retire yet.

I live on my own in a small flat in a Northern city. Don’t run a car because public transport is good. Bills come to just under £450 a month. Just need to pay for food, haircuts and holidays. I might have to get some casual work now and again but I’ve decided it’s doable and I’d much rather have the time than the money!

But how old are you?

Exactly this. I retired a year ago at 71. I didn't have to but we had new owners who were idiots & colleagues who were idiots & I wasn't prepared to put up with the endless bickering; I would still be there but for that. If something suitable cropped, I would consider it but I'm not looking for anything & I definitely wouldn't work at weekends! Choice is very relaxing 🙂

One of my colleagues is in his early 80s. Only now starting to scale hours back a bit.

My dad worked in central London until he was 72, dropped to part time in his mid sixties.

My mum worked a part time job until 75 - for her it was more a hobby and she loved it

60

DF worked until 70. DM is still working PT as a carer at 78 and now just about thinks she could retire if it was a must.

We were not badly off, but parents got divorced and DF took out a new mortgage. I think divorce would play a big role.

Both my DM and FIl worked till they were 70. My DDad has just retired this month at 74.

Yes it is too high

my dm retired at 59 25 years ago. I’m a similar age and there is no way I want to work till I am 67.

Of my parents, their siblings and siblings partners who I know the retirement age of - 12 people, only 3 worked until 65 ( then the state pension age) of the 9 who retired earlier than that 3 did so out of choice and the other 6 either died or were forced to retire due to ill health. So in my experience, at least half of people won't be able to work until 68.

The majority of these people had working class jobs however, some of which were physically demanding.

I think what people often forget is that, with a higher state pension age, someone who e.g. can't physically work anymore will need to apply for working age disability benefits. People need to remember this when they hear about proposed cuts to these benefits. It's easy to assume they don't apply to you. But judging from this thread there are a lot of people in more physical jobs that will be relying on them despite having worked for 40 odd years.

There will be a lot of people doing desk jobs into their late 60s paying tax to fund those who are too unwell to work.

I'm nearly 46, i'd say i'd like to retire in my early 60s if possible, i'll see what the economy is like in 15 years then make the final decision. 😞

I am planning to retire at 60. Public services pension so this should be fine. I’m aiming to pay my mortgage off by 60.
Im single so I have a lodger to help (I have a boyfriend but don’t live with him so financially I am on my own).
I would want to help look after grandchildren if there were any and my children/ their partners wanted me to.
If not then I think I would do some volunteer work. I would like to work with homeless people.
I have plenty of hobbies and interests but I think I would need to do some volunteer work as well for my mental health.

My dad retired at 60 but didn’t get a pension till 67. No private pension so relied on savings and mums very small private pension. He worked ad hoc till he was 73.

Aunt retired from public sector on good wage at 60 but was bored so worked in a school a few hours a day till 75.

I would love to retire at 60 but realistically I’ll be 65.

I’ve literally no idea how I’ll manage the next few years, never mind doing over a decade more. 😬

My mum retired at 60 and was then killed in a car accident a few years later. My dad never made it, he died at 54 after a chronic illness.
DH is retiring in June at 55 and myself in Dec also at 55. Then we will travel and start to spend. God willing we have a 15-20 year window at most. If we get to 80’s with little left am happy to take my chances. Die with zero!

My mum retired at 76 and only because the company she’d worked at for 35 years as an accountant closed permanently in covid. She really liked her colleagues and was / is sharp as a tact mentally, so was more the able to carry on and more than anything she really loved working.

She worked 5 days a week, 28 hours a week. She’s still going strong at 81 and has more energy than me and certainly a better social life than I do!

I hope I’m just like her but I plan to retire asap (I would tomorrow if I could!)