Anyone still working full-tine in their 60’s?

Well done silvertwigs. That’s more than full time in most people’s books. And little thanks from some you attend I bet.

I worked full time in a Nursing Home until I was 63, I worked part time until I was 68 before I finally retired. Although I did voluntary things with WRVS for a year or two after that.

Still working at 65 and will be until I get my pension. I think that’s all I’m going to say on the matter. This is a site for politely spoken people (not me).

I'm 67 this year and currently working full time - 39hrs. I'm supposed to be working until my trainee is capable of taking over. However, my boss told me last week that he's bringing the whole company together and wants it certificated by the end of Q1 2023 I'm the only Compliance Manager they have. There are 7 companies in the group and I had planned to go down to 4 days a week but that looks unlikely now. The young woman who is my trainee is brilliant but not ready for a job of this size. I just feel I've had enough. By a Friday night I'm out on my feet, recover Saturday, have a really good Sunday and then it all starts again.

I would be inclined to say ‘Tough but here’s my notice’ stewaris, if I could afford to do so.

My youngest sister worked full time until she got her pension at 66, she ran food banks so was crazy busy once the virus hit. I'm 70 and semi retired, as we run our small family business from home I wonder if I'll ever actually retire - DH can't contemplate it. My hours aren't awful most of the time but we always seem the last ones able to choose holiday dates etc as other family members have school holidays, partner's holidays etc to take into account , and we struggle to be away for more than a week, which as Covid fears subside may be something we'd like to do.
My 70 year old friend who is a senior nurse still does 1 x 12 hour day per week with an hour's journey either end. I'm lucky to be in good health and working from home doesn't involve some awful commute and it does mean we are able to help our kids out financially - which we won't be able to do once we give up. I really feel for anyone not in good health or a job they hate not able to retire when they want.

Hi @Kandinsky (great artist!). I’m 61 and work full-time. Over the Christmas and New Year period it was 60+ hours a week and that did make me very tired, then I caught a cold, which took a while to go etc etc. Usually though I’m fine. I love my job (support worker in residential care homes) as it is something I have a heart for and I believe I have the skills and attributes necessary to do it well. Thus I feel I will be fine doing it until my retirement age of 67. I used to be a secondary school English teacher. No way could I have done that until I get state pension. I found it far too stressful!

stewaris If you have reached retirment age and want to go, go. If the company took a sudden downturn, I doubt your manager would think twice about making you redundant if he thought it necessary for the companies survival.

The biggest mistake people make is thinking they are indespensible to their firm. If the work is too much, your manager can always get someone with your level of knowledge in on contract and either keep them on until your subordinate is experienced enough to do the job, or give the job to another person with the required experience now.

Too many people have made sacrifices for their employer, thinking they are essential and their employer needs them, only to find the moment things change they are out on the road with their P45s.

I’m 62 and work as Reception at a Veterinary Hospital. I’ve worked there for ( years now and I LOVE IT. I have told them that this is my retirement job. What I mean by that is that this will be my last job as I do not plan to leave to work anywhere else. All the staff respect me but consider me a bit like their mum or granny.

Worked till I was 63, but kept getting chest infections. I still miss it 4 years later.

I already had all my pensions at 61 but carried on working until I was nearly 63 because I loved working for my wonderful boss and her wonderful deputy who just happened to be her husband. When they retired, so did I.

Yes, I'm 62 and work 46 hors a week over six days. Likely to have to continue working until I drop. Only have myself to rely on. Don't own my own home and have no private pension worth anything (about £20000?) So, I owe, I owe, so of to work I go! ? Have to laugh, or I'd cry.

I worked full time until my early 60s. I reduced to 4 days a week in order to be able to provide childcare for one of my grandchildren as my daughter in law was having cancer treatment. Two years ago I retired, an easy decision as my daughter in law needed a stem cell transplant with only a 40% chance of survival. At the same time her mum suffered a brain aneurysm. Her mum came to live with us and I shared care of my granddaughter with my son. Two years on, and despite a few set backs and Covid, everyone is in good health so I am finally able to enjoy some time to myself in retirement. Early retirement meant my occupational pension is lower than it would have been had I worked full time until age 66. But we have enough to manage on even though my husband has only a basic state pension. Covid has taught us to appreciate the little things in life and be thankful for our good health.

I'm 64. 65 in few months. I will have to continue working can't afford anything else. After being a lone parent then looking after my invalid mother I couldn't survive on state pension

Thank you all so much for your replies, really interesting read.
There’s plenty of us still working! ??

I feel bad that the UK raised the retirement rate. How unfair, and truthfully, not everyone has the stamina and health to keep going until 67.

We are lucky here that retirement age is 65, but you have the option to take a reduced federal pension as early as 60.

I am still working full time (and then some!) and plan to retire when I turn 62. I would like to scale back hours next year after I turn 61. I am fortunate in many ways, having had a good pension at a previous job, and my DH is now retired (made redundant early) so my role at home is relaxed as everything is done. I enjoy my job in transportation, but not feeling as engaged as I used to.

I work 4 full days, I'm in my 60s. I'm looking forward to retiring now. Had 3 careers & many jobs but I've been in my last career 20 years & need a change, but wrong age to re-train (with any realistic hope of getting a job at the end of it). Retire in a couple years & do something a bit different as a volunteer is the plan.

Still working full time at 68 in a job I love - legal secretary - but planning to go down to 4 days a week soon to “phase my retirement”. Work keeps me sane & am dreading retirement so will probably do some volunteering.

I worked four days a week until I reached 65 + and found it really tiring, I had no choice but to go out to work. I was doing admin, sitting in front of a computer all day, and when I got home used to go to bed really early as I felt worn out. I was then placed on Furlough for six months which took me up to retirement just before my 66th birthday.

I’m 71 in a few weeks time and because of circumstances am still having to work, do I want to ? of course not, do I have a choice ? only if I want to live off a state pension.

I would have thought many people in their 60s work full time given the State pension doesn’t start paying til 65 or later.
Nice to cut hours down a bit if that’s possible.

heatherjw well done you for supporting your wider family and I hope everyone continues to be healthy ?

I'm 65 in May, so still another year until I get my state pension.
I've been self-employed as a registered childminder for 34 years. I currently have 8 children on my books aged 3 to 11.
In September this year they'll all be at school or nursery full-time so my plan then is to scale back and just do the before and after school sessions, plus school holidays. That decision has been influenced more by the Ofsted bureaucracy that the early years children bring with them though.
At the moment I have two days a week where I am child-free from 9:30 to 2:30 which is nice.
I currently work from 7am to 6:30pm, so a few hours to myself child-free each day will be good!

I do hope all those who say they will only have the state pension when they retire, have checked on their entitlement to other benefits when they retire. If your state pension is less than £177 for a single person, £270 for a couple, you can apply for Pension Credit to make it up to that amount and you can also qualify for Housing Benefit if you are renting and also Council Tax benefit.

Age UK have a very good site and here is the link to their online benefits calculator www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator/ Fill it in and find out what you might be entitled to.

Yes I worked full time until 69 for the NHS. Loved it and missed it SO much when I had to finish due to an operation.

I’m 63 and thinking about retiring but not sure what I want to do. SP not until I’m 67. Small company pension too.
I want to do something when I retire but have no clue what yet. Got a few years to have a think !