Phasing out the Default Retirement Age
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
We will bring forward regulations shortly to phase out the default retirement age (DRA).
We intend the new regulations to take effect from 6 April 2011. From this date, subject to Parliamentary procedures, employers will no longer be able to issue notifications of retirement using the DRA procedure. Where notifications have already been made prior to 6 April, employers will be able to continue with the retirement process as long as the retirement is due to take place before 1 October 2011. No retirements using the DRA procedure will be possible after 1 October 2011.
Detail of feedback received
We received over 600 responses to the consultation from a wide range of groups, including:
- businesses and their representative organisations
- individuals
- trade unions
- government agencies
- charities
- legal representatives
View the general comments people made about this consultation (PDF, 62 Kb).
Original consultation
Consultation description
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
Research
- 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