i want to retire!

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.

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 .

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.!

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

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?

I'm 60 in September, born in 1954.

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

Bastards!

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 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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!