ABSTRACT
The social problem of old age is manifested in two inter-related ways. First is the concern by the elderly themselves about how to cope with their social, economic and other problems. Second is the concern by society in general about how the presence of the elderly affects the economic and social structure of society. The economic circumstances of the elderly have been fairly well documented in the 1960s—certainly far better than the circumstances of other minority groups requiring the help of the social security services. The actual age at which retirement commences is a matter of conjecture and is determined by economic and political considerations rather than by any strict reference to the health conditions of the elderly. The structure of the State scheme of retirement pensions is possible factor discouraging the elderly from working. The Labour government proposals envisaged the payment of the full earnings-related pension after contributions had been paid for twenty years.
