If you are nearing retirement age or just like to plan ahead, you may have pondered your options when it comes to retirement. It can, however, be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to deciding whether to retire or continue working. If you are in this predicament, continue reading to familiarise yourself with all the information you need to make an informed decision.
There is no legal retirement age
In the UK, it used to be perfectly legal for employers to force their employees to retire at the age of 65 as part as what was known as the Default Retirement Age. In 2011, however, this practice was scrapped after a lengthy campaign led by a number of charities and workers and employees are now free to choose whether they want to retire at 65 or continue working. If employers continue to enforce retirement, their decision must be objectively justified and cannot be on the grounds of age alone.
There are exceptions
If you are considering extending your employment by opting to shelve retirement for a couple of years, you must be aware of a number of exceptions. If your job necessitates a certain level of mental or physical ability that may be impaired as you age or is equipped with an age limit that is bounded by law, for example, your employer can legally force you to retire. In doing so, however, they must follow proper procedure and provide you with suitable notice.
There is no obligation to inform your employer
If you have made a decision regarding your upcoming retirement plans, you may wish to inform your employer at the earliest convenience. It may, however, also benefit you to know that there is no obligation to inform your employer whether you have chosen to retire or continue working for their business if you don’t want to. It does, after all, require a great deal of time, effort, patience, and planning to research your options and come to an informed conclusion and is, therefore, not a decision that should be taken lightly or made overnight.
There is an option to claim or delay your pension
If you are approaching the age where you can claim your pension, you will be given the opportunity to choose whether to claim or delay your payments. If you continue to work, you can still claim your pension, but you may also wish to defer it and enjoy a number of financial benefits in the process. If the pension scheme that your workplace employs allows you to start receiving your pension at the age of 55, this can also be done regardless of whether or not you decide to continue working.
Get in touch with our team
If you are nearing retirement age and wondering what your options are, get in touch with a member of our expert team to discuss your next steps so you can make the best decision for you and your future today.
