i want to retire!

I agree with u Silverfish about companies wanting to get rid of the older long term employees,but surely if the government brought down the retirement ages then the companies would get their wish as many of us would prefer to go but for financial reasons can't. I was born in 1954 and have to work until 2020 and I know I won't be able to do the job I'm in until then! Younger people need jobs let them have them and let us older ones enjoy a bit of life! Where I work because I've been there a long time I get a higher rate of pay then new starters and its over a pound an hour difference so of course they want me and others to go but they cant shove me out and I can't leave either so its a no win situation!

I feel very privileged. I know many of the young teachers I worked with were given the retirement age of 68. Being born in 1949, I was able to retire at 60 but did another three years for various reasons. However at 63 I felt I was ready to retire. I had not realized how fortunate I was to have this choice and how much difference a few years made. I was even able to claim the three years state pension I had not claimed as a lump sum.
Being cynical I feel that all this tinkering with retirement ages and pensions is aimed at getting people to leave early and be entitled to less pension or to carry on becoming less efficient and more tired in the process. Even more conveniently they may work themselves to death before they even claim a pension.

Mishap I have not idea, about pensions etc etc we just accepted what DH received and never really thought much beyond that..nieve of me I know, but wouldn't know where to start and then of course they change the rules as they go along.

You have given me hope I will be 60 in October this year so maybe not have to work so long as I thought. Not holding my breath though.

Reading all these stories makes me realise how lucky I have been to be able to retire at 60, 5 years ago. There truly is no way I could have worked for the last 5 years - I am simply not fit enough. My heart gos out to all of you in this ridiculous dilemma. As my OH and I said to each other the other day: just because people live longer does not mean that they are not subject to the same degenerative disorders (e.g. arthritis) at the same age as people always were. Those last years of work are likely to be a struggle for many and it is very cruel after decades of law-abiding hard work.

There are of course lucky people who remain totally hale and hearty into their 80s or more - but it is not the case for many, and this blanket rule is very harsh.

You all have my sympathy.

I was going to say the same thing Gilt. I was born in 1957 and retire at 66. Biker will you not be covered by the minimum income changes to pensions?

I was born 1955 I have no idea what will happen..I have not worked for many yrs..as been looking after DH for almost 20 yrs, we have no private pensions,no insurances (couldn't afford them by time they took into consideration all DH illnesses) plus had DDs then, we do own our home so no doubt that looks like it may become my pension I have no idea and darn't think about the future.

I'm 60 in September, born in 1954.

I will receive my government pension 6 days before my 66th birthday.

Bastards!

silverfish I was born in 1957 and my retirement age is 66, had the letter.You were born in 1954? surely you retire before 67?

Silverfish could you not take in tenants to make a bit of cash?

Tell me about it Tegan 6 months ago I had to do a course called LEAN. I pointed out to my 30 year old manager that I had learned about it in my first job 40 odd years ago only then they called it Time and Motion. She sat and stared at me open mouthed.!

Don't get me started on appraisals grandma60. Complete and utter waste of everyones time . I sometimes felt like writing complete gobbledegook just to see if anyone noticed or if it made a blind bit of difference....Think the final straw was having to do a course about the job I'd been doing for 20 years to prove I could do it properly .

Ana, lol, you haven't seen my house. the rich have their 'pile' and I say I have my 'heap'. Seriously though I understand what you mean, my house has 'character'. That doesn't help their being rules that say that unless you have children you just cannot get social housing. There are rules printed on the housing office walls saying that you cannot make yourself homeless, they will not rehouse anyone who deliberately sells a home to get rented. I know several people who have gone bankrupt by having to borrow to repair their homes.

Well, strictly speaking, Silverfish if you sold your home you could afford private rental until your capital got below a certain level - then you could claim housing benefit.

I have same problem I was born in 1954 so I must work till I am 67, I have a mortgage and no private pension so no way can I afford to retire even then, the amount on benefits would not cover my mortgage, heating and food let alone all the other bills concerned with running a home. I now have 2 part time jobs but both are heavy and Im in constant pain with joint/muscular problems. I lie awake at night wondering how I can manage. I could sell my house but im not entitled to social housing as youre not supposed to 'make yourself homeless'. Also I could not afford to repair my house to make it sellable. Another thing is that I could not afford private rental. They have us by the short and curlies.

Ayse I suppose I should look on the bright side. My old school friend was born in June 1953 and has to work 18 months longer than I do.

I remember when I was an Office Junior more years ago than I care to remember having great respect for the older members of staff. They were always known as Mr or Mrs 'Smith' never by their first names. Also we juniors were answerable to all of the other staff not just the boss

Now they all seem to leave college at 20 and expect to become managers. I'm sure they think the rest of us are all senile!

Also tired of spending half my time preparing for my appraisals or attending obscure training courses.

I seem to be getting a really miserable old bat. Time I retired!

B and Q employ a lot of older people. In other areas too, a lot of customer service staff are mature. (e.g. my local Waitrose has a mix of young staff and over 55s). If you are in employment then you have a better chance of getting another job than if you have been out of it for a while.

Wrong - 2 months

I've just checked the pension website - Looks as if every month means a 3 month increase in retirement age.

Hi Grandma 60
I was born in June 1952 so the rate of non-retirement really goes up steeply. My mate was born in April '52 and she's already retired Grrr!! the last job I had was reception and I got totally fed up with being treated as an idiot by senior management. I have to say my colleagues were fine but the company worked because of the team spirit amongst the lowly admin staff. No team amongst the senior staff. The company behaved as if all the women were idiots, not just me. To be honest, I'd never worked in such a miserable company, where initiative was stamped on and discussion of anything was frowned upon. It was like going 30 years backwards. Guess what? If anything went wrong it was always a problem with something that a junior had done (not).

LynB, I joined a union just in case I needed some help in my job with my employers. As you can see from the above the company I worked for was no great shakes. I put up with it for 7 years but finally enough was when I was shouted at for something I had no control over - senior managers not answering their phones. I did think I might go to the docs as it was all very depressing. Finally, I was fortunate enough to be able to leave when it all became too much. I do hope you manage to sort something out. Nothing worse than a boring job in miserable circumstances. All the best

LynB, you cannot leave but you can annoy them enough to make you redundant if you want. Then you will be able to claim, and be given 22.5 weeks pay as statutory redundancy pay. You get 1.5 weeks pay for each year you have worked for the company. It's tax-free, too. It'll give you a chance to find something part time, or to go on a course.

Ayse Just out of interest which month were you born? I only ask because I was was born in December 1952 and retire in September 2015

Lynb1954 .What a dreadful situation. I have always enjoyed my job but things have changed so much over the last couple of years. I feel sidelined by younger people and experience seems to count for nothing. Hope you can work something out.

Do you belong to a union? - this might be the moment to join. They could support you in suitable approaches to management.

I do think it would be helpful to contact the CAB about your position - they could advise you on the best way forward; and you would get a picture of your benefits situation.

Lots of good luck with this. It is so frustrating for people like you who have planned life around retirement at 60 and now the goalposts have moved. I have been very lucky indeed in that I just slipped in under the wire and was able to draw my pension at 60 - I do appreciate how lucky I have been, and realise that I could not have sustained a full time job much longer.You have all my sympathy.

To be quite honest with u Mishap if I went to anyone in the company I work for n tried to discuss any problem I would be told 'if u don't like it leave'! I no this because I seen n heard it happen! The company don't care that ur a person all they care about is the work they can get out of you,I've been there 15 years n seen a lot of changes none of them good but no doubt that's the way of business now,no loyalty n no consideration to the workforce! I don't no if I could manage on benefits cos I've never claimed, feel caught between a rock and a hard place. I have tried for other jobs n 'experience' really doesn't count..age does! I don't mean to sound so desolate it just all gets to me sometimes and thank you all for listening to my moans n groans! [Flowers]

I really sympathise with your position. I'm one of the fortunate ones, born 1952 and will get pension in September. I packed up worked for other reasons at the end of Feb. What a relief, I was feeling so tired

The suggestions about talking to your HR and your doctor about trying to cut down seem a really good plan and it will be much easier for you to get another job if you do so when working. Maybe the CAB could help you work out what benefit you might receive as a starting point.

Just a word of warning. If you leave work of your own accord then you can loose up to 6 months job seekers allowance.

I also think the raising of the retirement age has effected 'ordinary' people far more than the government understands. Even if you are relatively fit it can be a real struggle to keep going in a demanding or demotivating job. It makes me so angry that the folk with lower incomes always seem to be the ones that suffer! .

Good luck in whatever you can do to reduce the stress.