Barbara Kemp, 70, is still punching the clock three days a week as a practice manager for a financial adviser, because the state pension alone isn't enough to cover her rent and living costs. She'd rather work than rely on benefits, but admits the future feels 'very uncertain' unless she gets redundancy. Kemp also supports her husband, who can't work for health reasons.
Dr Andrea Barry from the Centre for Ageing Better notes that more people are working longer, partly because they're living longer and the state pension age has risen. Women are disproportionately affected, often having had part-time jobs without pensions or caring responsibilities that kept them out of the workforce. While some want to work past retirement age, others have 'no choice' due to the cost of living, lack of savings, and rising rents.
Jackie Haynes, 80, loves her part-time job as an activity coordinator at a care home, where some residents are younger than her. She doesn't need the money - she has private pensions and owns her home - but values the friendship and purpose. Mike Sandford, 78, works as a full-time mechanical design engineer because he's 'extremely worried' about the mental impact of retirement, having seen peers do nothing but sit in front of the TV drinking wine all day.