The not-so-good good news is that the planned rise in the state pension retirement age is on hold because life expectancy in the UK has fallen. Not the way we want to stand out from the crowd, as we’re about the only country in the ‘developed world’ which won’t have to pay pensions for as long as previously expected. However, if you’re of an age when retirement seems a distant dream or nightmare, it will, I’m afraid, become ever more distant, as the finish line will keep moving; it’s just being left to the next minister to do it after the next election. It’s easy to dismiss if you’re healthy and happy to continue to work. Many, alas aren’t, don’t and have and will have few options other than the state pension.
“Why you should never retire”
On my 50th birthday, I will always remember, amongst the card or two I received was a letter from Saga’ who’d managed to find out my age through the wonder of the internet, and were pleased to tell me I now qualified to join my parents and go on holiday with them.
