Contributing Member

The default retirement age (DRA)

The default retirement age (DRA) is being phased out over a transitional period until 30th September 2011. Details will be set out in Regulations coming into force on 6 April 2011. The last date on which an employee can be given notice of retirement under the DRA is 5 April 2011. Under the DRA employers must give a minimum of six months notice of retirement but no more than 12 months notice.

• Retirements notified on or before 5 April 2011 can continue through to completion provided that the following conditions are met:
  
• The DRA procedure, as set out in the previous Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, is followed correctly (including the employee’s right to request to stay on is given serious consideration by the employer); and
  

Employers will not be able to issue notifications of retirement, it will also be repealed on 6th April 2011, and such short notice notifications will not be permitted on or after this date.
For employer-justified retirement ages, all notifications made prior to 6 April 2011 will continue to be valid, and there is no reason to curtail any notifications made under the former DRA arrangements prior to that date.