How to retire at 70
It’s
happening. In 2006, the Government is proposing to raise the retirement age to
70. Of course there are objections. The trade unions are saying it takes
away our choice. Businesses fear that there will be an increase in tribunals
for unfair dismissal – or, alternatively, for unfair insistence that people
stay in their jobs.
The Government is hoping that workers will
postpone taking up their pensions and are reported to be offering cash
incentives for this.
National surveys in which people of
pre-retirement age are actually asked what they want tend to be very thin on
the ground. Our own laterlife survey of attitudes to retirement
suggests that many people want to continue working past the age of 65, but
they have their own ideas about how – see
‘This later life’ column
for our survey results.
Raising retirement age – preferably with an
option to go at 65 – is only the tip of the iceberg in the fight against age
discrimination. That’s why we at laterlife back the charity Help the
Aged in its call for a Commission of Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), which
was actually suggested in a Government consultation paper last year.
Help the Aged has just published a report
called ‘Everyday Age Discrimination: What Older People Say’ , a
collection of personal stories which illustrates the devastating impact
age discrimination has on the daily lives of older people. It describes the
disheartening rejections, the negative experiences, the dehumanising ageist
images, language and behaviour that cause humiliation, deprivation and
frustration for today’s older population.
Currently there is nowhere for older people to
go to fight these injustices. Their protests are unheard, ignored,
and they are treated as second class citizens. The CEHR would advocate for
their rights as equal citizens
From 2006, age discrimination in employment will
become unlawful. However, older people are
likely to continue to face discrimination in all other areas of life,
including health care and medical treatments. They may have to give up
education or be barred from taking an active role in public life.
Legislation must be extended to prevent age
discrimination in all spheres of life. A Commission for Equality and
Human Rights should ensure that age discrimination in every part of life
must be outlawed as it is for race, gender and disability.
To support the campaign log onto the website
at
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/campaigns
and email your MP.
Talkback is a regular
feature in laterlife.com run by journalist and author Helen Franks. 
