Two years ago, the recommendation – the retirement age – for when we can or should retire from 65 to 66 years was raised.
For those with only basic protection – guarantee pension – it meant that they had to wait an extra year before the pension money could be withdrawn. But for the rest, i.e. the large majority with income pension, no rules were changed.
But even they have changed their behavior, says Anna Pettersson Westerberg.
17 percent work longer
The actual retirement age for this group is estimated to have increased by 0.1 years (just over a month) as a result of the change in norms, according to the authority's analysis. Expressed in another way, more than every sixth person, or 17 percent, of those who previously took out their pension at the age of 65 delayed their pension withdrawal. International research shows the same pattern.
So when the state says that we should work longer, then the Swedish people listen. Can you say that?
It seems that they listen to this recommendation, to go later, says Anna Pettersson Westerberg.
Of course, there may be reasons to wait with retirement. The pension becomes higher, for example. But it has always been that way and no such rule change occurred in 2023 when the retirement age was raised by one year, says Pettersson Westerberg.
Raised again
The background to the steadily raised retirement ages from the state's side is that we live longer. To prevent the size of the pension from decreasing, we should work longer. The alternative is to increase the fees to the pension system.
Next year it's time again, when the age for when those with guarantee pension can withdraw their money will be raised to 67 years.
In the background, the age for how long an employee has the right to continue working for their employer has also been raised to 69 years.
There is an investigation that looks at the effects of this. We will shift working life upwards. This will certainly have an impact on how we view the workforce at this age. I hope it will reduce discrimination and that we will look positively at senior workforce, says Anna Pettersson Westerberg.
Olle Lindström/TT
Facts: How the retirement age affects your pension
TT
Income pension and premium pension can be taken out at the earliest three years before your retirement age. There are some exceptions for you who are covered by transitional rules.
Guarantee pension, income pension supplement, housing supplement, and elderly support can be received at the earliest from and including your retirement age.
Occupational pension is not affected by the retirement age. When you can take it out depends on which occupational pension agreement you belong to.
Formally, the definition "retirement age" is introduced for the first time next year, but it has already begun to be used as a concept, a kind of norm. The retirement age is 66 years this year. From 2026, it will be raised to 67 years and will remain there until 2030. The forecast is that the retirement age will gradually rise to 70 years for those born in the late 1990s and later.
Source: Pensionsmyndigheten.
