Phasing out the Default Retirement Age
The government is phasing out the Default Retirement Age (DRA). This consultation explains how we're proposing to remove it.
The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, which came into force on 1 October 2006, provide for a default retirement age of 65 that employers can rely on if they wish. The regulations make earlier retirement ages unlawful unless employers can objectively justify them. The regulations also introduced a statutory right for individuals to request postponement of retirement beyond the age of 65 - requests which the employer must consider.
Transcript of ‘Default Retirement Age - Edward Davey’ (DOC, 44 Kb)
The Coalition’s programme for government commits the government to phasing out the Default Retirement Age (DRA).
This consultation set out the background to the DRA, and explained how the government is proposing to remove it. This measure is one of the steps that the government is taking to enable and encourage people to work for longer, alongside raising the State Pension Age to 66 faster than currently scheduled and ensuring there is effective support for helping those out of work to find work.
Guidance- retirement age: quick guide
- retirement process and the removal of the Default Retirement Age: guidance from Acas
- Default retirement age review: summary of research evidence
- Default retirement age review: stakeholder submissions
- Default retirement age review: summary of the stakeholder evidence
- Second survey of employers’ policies, practices and preferences relating to age, 2010
- A comparative review of international approaches to mandatory retirement
- Default retirement age: employer qualitative research
- Pathways to retirement: the influence of employer policy and practice on retirement decisions