The Default Retirement Age (DRA), which allowed employers to force people to retire at 65 has been abolished since last April, but is in the last week of its phasing out period.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga said: “We have already seen a huge increase in older workers.

“The fact is that people are simply not ‘old’ or ‘past it’ any more in their sixties and, after all the tremendous advances in healthcare and labour practices, there is no reason why those who want to keep working should be forced out just on the grounds of their age.

“Such ageist attitudes and discriminatory practices have no place in a modern labour market.
“It is a credit to this Government that one of its first actions when taking office was to announce an end to the Default Retirement Age.”

This change does not mean that anyone is forced to work longer should they wish not to.

Altmann added: “By keeping more over 65s economically active, we will be improving the medium term job prospects for the economy, since millions of older people pulling out of the labour force with inadequate pensions would leave less money to spend on leisure, services and consumption which ultimately means fewer jobs and lower growth for younger generations too.”