Prudential Reveals More Than a Third Are Delaying Retirement

LONDON, April 26, 2011 - Prudential has revealed that more than a third of people are delaying
their retirement and putting their dreams on hold.

More than a third (38 per cent) of people due to retire in 2011 are
cancelling their plans and delaying retirement (
www.pru.co.uk/pensions_annuities/pension_guide/pensions_and_living_lon
ger/) and working longer (
www.pru.co.uk/pensions_annuities/pension_guide/heard_about_pensions/),
and a significant proportion (22 per cent) of these are doing so because they
can't afford to stop working.

The findings, from Prudential's Class of 2011 study, revealed that those
delaying retirement this year for financial reasons, had, on average, hoped
to stop working at age 62 but now expect to be 68 years old before they can
finally take up their state pension (
www.pru.co.uk/pensions_annuities/pension_guide/state_pensions/). The
study, now in its fifth year, questioned people who had planned to retire
during 2011.

Two fifths (40 per cent) of those delaying retirement in 2011 due to the
financial strain that it will create, believe that they will have to keep
working until they are 70 years old, or older, in order to retire with a
comfortable income.

Prudential's study shows that of all those planning to retire in 2011, 22
per cent now say they can't afford to - a figure that has increased since
2010 when it was 15 per cent. In addition, 16 per cent of those planning to
retire in 2011 do not want to quit working.

Vince Smith-Hughes, head of business development at Prudential said: "The
only realistic option for those who want to avoid having to delay their
planned retirement is to start saving as much as they can as early as they
can.

"However, as inflation reaches 5.5 per cent and disposable incomes are
reduced, Prudential's research shows that people are postponing retirement to
either build up their pension pots further or simply to continue in a job
that they enjoy. When economic factors are combined with changes in
legislation, such as the abolition of the Default Retirement age and an
increasing trend of choosing to continue at work, it is easy to understand
why more people are postponing their retirement plans.

"Seeking professional financial advice is a prerequisite to securing the
retirement income (
www.pru.co.uk/pensions_annuities/pension_guide/topping_up_company/)
that people need and we recommend that those who are approaching their
planned retirement age should speak to a financial adviser on at least an
annual basis."

Scotland has the lowest percentage (31 per cent) of people who have
delayed their retirement plans (
www.pru.co.uk/pensions_annuities/prudential_pensions/flexible_retireme
nt_plan/) in 2011, whereas the South West has the greatest proportion of
people (44 per cent) now looking to put-off their scheduled retirement until
a later date.

About Prudential:

"Prudential" is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company
Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by
other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a
range of financial products including annuities, life assurance, bond
investment, a tax calculator and retirement plans, which include pension
schemes, a pension calculator and pension advice.

Notes to Editors:

Survey conducted by Research Plus using an online methodology between 5
and 14 December 2010 among 10,143 UK non-retired adults aged 45+ including
1,005 retiring in 2011.

In the year to February, RPI annual inflation was 5.5 per cent, up from
5.1 per cent in January -

www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=19.

    Media enquiries:
    Ben Davies
    3 Sheldon Square
    London
    W2 6PR
    +44(0)20-7150-3017
    www.pru.co.uk

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