More than 70% of older workers now plan to work beyond the state retirement age, as small pensions and sliding house prices leave them with less to live on than they hoped. Research by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development shows 71% of over-55s expect to work beyond retirement age, up from 40% two years ago. However Andrew Harrop, head of public policy for age Concern and Help the Aged said ageist attitudes and the default retirement age will make it “incredibly difficult for people over 65 to continue working or return to work”.