CONCERNS have been voiced over people having to work longer - after the state retirement age rose.

Jane Mindar, chief executive of Age UK West Cumbria, said manual workers could find working into old age particularly "detrimental".

This week the Government announced the rise of the pension age from 65 to 66.

Worries have also been highlighted by a poll by finance specialists money.co.uk, which suggests that more than two million people across the country don’t think they will ever be able to retire because of cash worries which have been made worse by covid-19.

Jane said: “There are a whole load of aspects within Cumbria that has which has an ageing population which is over the national average.

“The affects on the older population will be quite significant.

“People in desk based jobs may well be able to carry on but when it comes to manual work it could be quite detrimental.”

She added that making more "vulnerable age groups" work longer affects things like mental and physical health.

The poll of workers from across the UK, also suggests that 3.5 million workers felt they would be working until they were at least 71.

Also, 80 per cent said they were not banking on claiming a state pension and had taken out personal pensions to be able to afford to live once they stopped working.

Salman Haqqi, personal finance specialist at money.co.uk, said: “The thought of having to work everyday for the rest of your life is a pretty bleak one, but it is the reality facing many workers across the country as the financial aftermath of the coronavirus impacts our future plans.

The increase to the state pension age applies to men and women born after October 5, 1954.

In 2026 retirement age will rise to 67.