Plan your retirement income

Skip to contents of guide

Working past State Pension age

You might decide that you do not want to stop working when you reach State Pension age.

If you do, you’ll no longer have to pay National Insurance.

The law protects you against discrimination if you’re over State Pension age and want to stay in your job or get a new one.

Staying in your job

There is no official retirement age and you usually have the right to work as long as you want to.

There are some circumstances when employers may have the right to set a compulsory retirement age that they choose.

Your employer cannot make you redundant because of your age.

Getting a new job

You do not have to give your date of birth when applying for a new job. Employers cannot make you give this information if you do not want to.

Employers also can not set an age limit for a job, unless they can justify it (for example because of certain physical abilities) or it’s a limit set by law, for example for the fire service.

You can request flexible working at any age.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Plan your retirement income: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check when you can retire

    1. Check what age you can get your State Pension
    2. Find out about working after you reach State Pension age
    3. Find out if you can retire early with your workplace or personal pension

  2. and Check how much pension you could get

    1. Find out how much State Pension you could get (your forecast)

    You may also be paying into a:

    1. Find out if you’ll pay tax on your pension
    2. Find contact details for a lost pension

  3. Step 2 Increase your pension

    You might be able to increase the amount you get if you delay your pension.

    1. Find out about delaying your pension

    You might be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill in gaps in your National Insurance record (such as, from when you were not working or claiming benefits).

    1. Check if you can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions

    For advice about increasing your workplace or private pension, speak to a financial adviser.

    1. Find a financial adviser through Unbiased

  4. Step 3 Check what other financial support you could get

    Check what financial help you could get if you:

    You can also get free bus travel if you:

  5. Step 4 Decide when to retire

    1. Get advice on planning your pension and deciding when to retire