Forties People

The default retirement age, which forces people in 50-plus jobs to stop working at the age of 65, should have been scrapped a long time ago, an expert has said.

Chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling confirmed in this week's Budget speech that the government is considering the future of the policy.

This could result in the default retirement age being raised or scrapped completely.

However, financial analyst Dr Ros Altmann believes the policy should have been abolished years ago.

She said scrapping the default retirement age would enable people to keep working if they want or need to.

Dr Altmann added that changing the rules to let people stay in 50-plus jobs for longer would also recognise longer life expectancies and the "inadequacy of pension incomes".

This comes after the Employers Forum on Age described the default retirement age as an antiquated policy that discriminates against older people.

Posted by Mary King