Default retirement age abolished in Northern Ireland

Implementation date: 6 April 2011

Employers are prohibited from issuing new notifications of retirement using the default retirement age. A transitional period applies to notifications of retirement issued on or before 5 April 2011 where the employee reaches the age of 65 on or before 30 September 2011. Employers may no longer prohibit job applicants from applying for a job if they are aged 65 or over, or are within six months of the age of 65. However, employers may limit access to group-risk insured benefits to people aged under 65. The Regulations make similar provision to Regulations made in Great Britain. The Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 (SR 2011/168) can be viewed on the UK legislation website.