Ask Granny’s top story from today’s papers.
The Government is set to scrap the default retirement age (DRA) from April next year.
The move will prevent older workers from being forced to retire at 65.
Currently, workers have to retire at that age unless their employer has opted out of having a mandatory retirement age, or they have been given permission to stay on.
Under the new plans, workers would not be made to stay on after 65, but they would have the option.
It is widely supported by workers and employers groups, and the Government says the extra money raised in taxes will be used to help support an ageing population.
Some businesses though are concerned that they will be left with staff who are too old to do their job.
There will be exemptions for certain professions, like police officers or air traffic controllers.
Pensioners like 73-year-old Margaret Huntley welcomed the scrapping of DRA.
She works three days a week as a switchboard operator for Nationwide in Swindon, and the extra cash means she can run her car and visit her daughters in the US.
Nationwide is one of a handful of major UK companies who have already scrapped their retirement age.
Ms Huntley told Sky: “I just enjoy the job. I like doing the job. It suits me. My husband’s quite happy about it, he’s retired at home.”
Her mother did not stop working until she was 87, and Ms Huntley has no plans to retire any time soon.
