Over 60s, I'll health & increased pension age

A_Z1961

Hello All, there is a lot of discussions on the benefit cuts, ill health etc and that's great but could we have a specific thread on the over 60s forced to continue working, job search and/or struggle to get sickness/disability benefits as they've reached their 60s and now need that extra help.

I started full time work in 1977 at 15. Retirement age was 60 for women, pushed to 65 by 2018 with further increases too 66 in 2020 and 67 from 2026 under the claim that people are living longer (I doubt that). They however did not factor (or maybe they did it's just another way to demonise us) in that many 60+ have health issues with further additions as they get older. So not only do we have to work, job search, go on ridiculous courses, retraining and/or struggle to get any type of sick/disability our retirement age keeps being pulled further away for us. For me I have had 7 years added to my state pension age and still have 3 years to go. I should have been able to retire in 2021 when I turned 60. So that aspect in itself is mental torture because you struggle to meet those end dates. Many of us have paid into the system for 40 - 50 years but we are still penalised and labelled as scroungers, benefit fraudsters and useless eaters and told "working is good for you". Hello,what have we been doing these past 40 - 50 years??

The retirement/state pension age should go back to 60-65. We won't ever get another job. We are not well enough to work again especially full-time. We should be retired off (unless you choose to continue working then that's a personal choice) then we won't be classed as unemployed, claiming benefits a "drain in society and benefit" but simply and rightfully retired and left alone.

A_Z1961

If I've put this in the wrong category, could the administrators move my post to the appropriate place. Thanks!

Holly_Scope

Of course @A_Z1961, I'll move this now.

Holly_Scope

On second look, it looks like you've got this in the right place @A_Z1961