Judgment was handed down recently in a challenge by Age UK against the Default Retirement Age (DRA) of 65.

They claimed that the regulations governing this should be struck down since there was no clear and consistent social policy aim pursued by government.

They argued the choice of a DRA at 65 was “not proportionate” and submitted that 70 was the earliest appropriate age for a DRA.

The Government succeeded in defending against the challenge but it was clear that in slightly different circumstances Age UK would have succeeded.

Immediately prior to the hearing the government announced it would review the regulation in early 2010 and this helped their defence.

See our section on retirement