Early Retirement!

FlowerLady
FlowerLady Member Posts: 6
edited 22. Feb 2025, 16:59 in Work and financial support

Hi

I’m new here, but I’ve been living with Sero-positive RA since I was 36, I will soon be 59, I have always tried to work & I’ve paid my stamp & taxes, I still currently work & pay my stamp, although I have paid enough, I’ve had to reduce my working hours considerably due to my lifetime condition & be really mindful at what I’m doing, my days off are consumed with my body repairing ready to go back to work, I just feel robbed of our pension now having to work until we’re 67!! Where years ago I could off looked forward to retiring next year…. Now the black & white print says we could actually die 10/15 years before someone else without a lifetime disability so …. If that’s the case or not why can’t we have our pension at 60!! So we can enjoy a few years without having to work…What are your thoughts on this?

Comments

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 817

    hi @FlowerLady

    I was born in 1956 and I was one of those women who had to work an extra 6 years and eventually retired in 2022 aged 66.

    IF I could have retired aged 60 I would have had 6 years before my health deteriorated with all sorts of stuff and that is my biggest regret. My husband said I should retire as he took early retirement when he was 60 and we would only have had his work pension, even if it would have been sufficient, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy the things we did had I retired too.

    It's a double edged sword.

    I was one of those that had a letter hen I was 41 telling me I had to work an extra 6 years so I knew all along what I was facing. Luckily I really enjoyed my job,

    Trish

  • FlowerLady
    FlowerLady Member Posts: 6

    Hi Trish,

    I’m sorry to hear you had to work the extra years & robbed of quality time…. This is exactly what I’m saying it’s not fair, I think anyone with a lifetime condition/disability should be able to retire at 60……Im glad you enjoyed your work ….. I do hope you’re able to have some good days….doing what you love to do x

  • KazandNoo
    KazandNoo Member Posts: 137
    edited 22. Feb 2025, 10:51

    Hi Flower Lady

    I hear you and totally agree with what you are saying. I turned 60 a couple of months ago and would love to have retired then. It's what we signed up for at the start of our working lives! I have paid 43 years NI contributions. The last couple of years I have gone down to working 3 days but am recently struggling with that to be honest. (Fatigue and a few nasty recent infections) I look after my nephew one day a week,which although tiring I love to do,he is a joy. The workplace pension I have if cashed in would see me ok for awhile but not until age 67.I'm tempted to do it though.

    Let's know how you get on, take care.

  • FlowerLady
    FlowerLady Member Posts: 6

    Hi KazandNoo

    Thanks for your input, it’s so unfair that we have to work another 7 years! That’s massive & not only soul destroying but mentally & physically exhausting & damaging all round to our health… their really should be a Claus that us with lifetime conditions & who have paid enough… should be able to retire early… I’ve also cut my ours down but struggling on my days off… atm my bloods have crashed & my kidney s are suffering it’s just catch 22 all the time, my work place pension only started up a couple of years ago when they legally had too! So it’s penniless… I bet yr nephew keeps you on yr toes…bless him! but needing the next day off to recover….. be nice to take this to Government but what a state that’s in!
    look after yourself X

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