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State pension age rise a 'necessity'

The Department of Social Care says raising the state pension age is vital, to meet the needs of an ageing population.

From 2018, women will have to work until they're 65 before they can claim the state pension.

Then in 2020, the retirement age will go up for both men and women, to 66.

The timescale for the changes has been brought forward by the UK and the Isle of Man is adopting the same timetable.

Director at the department, Yvette Mellor, says with people living longer and the Island having a high population of over-65 year-olds, the rise is a financial necessity:

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