I recently received a letter from the DWP stating that my retirement age will be 66. I was aware of this and as I am approaching my late 50s I still have some time to go. In Wales they send two copies, one in welsh and the other in english although it's more than likely that everyone can understand the english version perfectly well. It stated that if I want any further information to look on the back of the letter. I did this and discovered that both letters on the back were in welsh. A simple task given to an individual in the DWP and they botched it. I don't have the heart to complain as it will only be basic information anyway. That person will probably end up with a fairly well paid career and I say good luck to them. On thursday I will be attending Working Links in Cardiff for the last time unless they decide otherwise. Two years have gone by quite quickly and I went along with most things. My future might be in the hands of a member of staff at the Jobcentre so I had better do my best to keep them on side. It really saddens me to think that in the future the retirement age will go up to 70 and some poor sod will end up having to do something like pick up litter during a freezing winter when they are approaching 70. People are living longer but are they really fitter than they were in the past. People who have had hard times tend to die younger. Look at the people you know who are approaching 70 and imagine them having to get out of bed in the freezing weather, unable to heat their homes and then walking or waiting for a bus to whisk them off for some community work just to keep receiving benefits. I wonder whether the winter fuel allowance will be handed out to people who would then not be officially retired when they raise the retirement age to 70. I had better not depress myself any further, I'm going to look on the bright side and attend my fortnightly signing on thursday and then walk over to Working Links and see what they say.