Why retiring at 65 could become a thing of the past

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Raising the retirement age is an emotional issue.

For evidence, just look at proposals to move the full retirement age for Social Security. Even the idea upsets advocates who want to see the program expanded and individuals receiving benefits. Because of that, lawmakers tend to tiptoe around the issue.

Outside the U.S., French citizens have taken to the streets to protest President Emmanuel Macron's plan to overhaul the country's pension system. Among the proposed changes is raising the retirement age to 64 from 62 .

Most workers do not want to be told they have to work longer.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/why-retiring-at-65-could-become-a-thing-of-the-past/ar-BBYsWzr?li=BBnbfcN

The article doesn't mention that one has to be over 65 to collect full Social Security payments now.

I'll have to wait till I'm 66 1/2 to do so.

[David__77]

1. I hope that all Democrats keep raising retirement age off the table.

Same with chained CPI. Mess with that by even expressing openness to the idea and the Republicans will benefit.

[smirkymonkey]

2. The problem is that more and more companies are getting rid of their older workers in

favor of younger, healthier, cheaper workers or just laying them off and not replacing them at all. What can you do when you find yourself nearly unemployable after a certain age? Age discrimination is a very real thing.

[Blue_true]

12. You hit on a major problem.

Lots of people retire at 62 years old because their probability of getting fulltime work that match their skills is very low. Until that problem is fixed, raising the retirement age will just throw more and more people into poverty and cause many not to have healthcare (which is maybe what republicans want, so that people who aren't wealthy die faster).

[marlakay]

21. Add to that medical costs are the most

Expensive from 55-65 before medicare starts.

Some of the people who would like to retire early can’t afford it medically.

[Hortensis]

3. The biggest reason, of course, the one we can't just elect a liberal

congress to legislate away, is that on average we're living -- and able to work -- much longer. In the past, most people survived to retirement but would die within a decade or so. Now far fewer die before qualifying and far more live on for 15-30 years of retirement, many of those vital, healthy years that people have to find ways of filling with activity.

On the plus side are increasing automation of work and, presumably, continued need for consumers. We're in an anxious, uncertain transition period now from where humanity had never been before even a decade ago to where humanity has never been. No wonder many are so upset and fearful, looking ahead and seeing only a blank, not even assured of food and shelter. To put those pluses to work, we must have forward-thinking liberal leaders directing positive, innovative ways of turning today's new opportunities into realities never possible before.

[Doremus]

6. Our average lifespans are going down in the US ...

[Hortensis]

9. :) But not yours unless you commit suicide or are well along

with some grave disorder created by newly seriously destructive personal habits that will kill you before you reach your elder decades. Both of these trends are being worked on by armies of caring people in many fields and nations and will with time (and far more awareness and more responsible voting than in the past 40 years) be brought under control. Paul Ryan's "fix" of killing off the new and huge epidemic of kidney disease by making dialysis patients pay for their own care is not the only way of making that epidemic a temporary one.

Remember that in spite of all this, far, far more people are living from cradle to Social Security now than when it was established. At that time, birth and childhood morality and massive deaths from wars brought the average lifespan far below the actual average of those who didn't die young and lived on to collect, a whole different demographic.

[Bettie]

4. What is really funny about that

is that I know very few people my age (just hit the 50's) who will ever be able to retire. People five or so years older than we are plan to retire soon, but most in my age group know that they will end up working to 70 or older.

[phylny]

5. My husband and I both retired this year. I'm 61, he's 64.

We are financially fortunate and are both cancer survivors. I will take my SS early at 62 in 2020 and he will wait until he’s 66 and 3 (?) months in 2021. We have his pension and 401K. We pay through his company for our health insurance at a reasonable rate. We know that we are very fortunate, but honestly wish everyone in the US had the same opportunity that we were afforded by his corporation.

I could have continued to work but frankly I was tired. I am a retired pediatric speech-language pathologist working with children birth to three. At my age, it’s exhausting to do the job well. My husband did a lot of traveling and his hip (which will be replaced in January) couldn’t take it.

I’m glad I don’t have to work until age 66. I’m enjoying my time with him, volunteering, and traveling.

[Efilroft Sul]

7. Ever notice the people who want us to work until 70+ are the same folks laying us off in our 50s?

Murica.

[NBachers]

8. I will be 71 in April, I'm still working, and I don't see when I will retire.

[progressoid]

10. There are a lot of us who expect to work into our 70's.

And not necessarily by choice.

Unless some long-lost relative bequeaths a pile of money, I'll be working into my 70's.

[roamer65]

11. I'll be able to easily retire at 65. How have I achieved it?

NO CHILDREN.

[Blue_true]

13. I am childless also. My hope is to work until I die or can't work due to

physical limitations. My mind is pretty sharp and I don't have a history of dementia in my family. I am a technologist and find the work that I am doing now stimulating in a lot of ways. It helps that I set my own schedule to an extent.

[roamer65]

15. I'll probably have some odd job or such until 75 or so.

If I make it that far...lol.

[Blue_true]

18. We can only plan and try to take care of our health.

Your goal is as good as any.

[UniteFightBack]

14. There once was a time where pretty much nobody retired. nt

[roamer65]

17. Yeah. What the Repukes want is America 1928.

[Blue_true]

19. With automation and artificial intelligence taking over more work functions,

not having a plan for dealing with people not having jobs is immoral.

[demtenjeep]

16. I have 5 more school years

number of years taught + age equals 85 and out.

one thing that benefits me is that my hubby is younger and we have always used his insurance. Way better so we don't have as many decisions to make. I will teach as long as I am physically able. BUT...knowing I could go out in 5 gives me comfort.

[Blue_true]

20. Why don't you consult part time? Experience has it's benefits. nt

[Recursion]

22. 65 was picked as a retirement age because Bismark's actuaries told him

that he wouldn't have to pay most of his civil servants a pension that way.

Personally I think we should be talking about 50 as a retirement age. We need a much lower labor force participation rate than we have.

[xmas74]

23. I'm a state employee.

I can 80 and out in 10 years, though I'd be dumb to do so. My pension will not cover everything and I'll be too young for SS.