The age at which you can be forced to retire from work is to be phased out between April and October this year.

Up until now, employers have had the right to make you stop work at age 65, but when the changes come into force, in most jobs you'll be able to choose when you want to leave work.

How the changes affect you will depend on when you're due to retire:

· if you're due to retire before 1 October 2011, your employer can still force you to stop work at age 65 if they gave you notice before 5 April

· from 6 April 2011, if your employer hasn't already told you that you have to retire at age 65, they can no longer force you to stop work because of your age, even if you're going to be 65 before 1 October

· after 1 October, employers will not be able to force you to stop work at age 65. They may be able to dismiss you for other reasons, but they will have to justify those reasons.

These changes will apply to most workers. However, there may be a few jobs where your employer can make you retire at age 65 for a specific reason. This could be, for example, where your age could affect your physical or mental ability to do your job.

The new rules also mean that an employer cannot refuse to employ you because of your age if you apply for a job after you've reached 65.

You can get more information about what you need to think about if you want to work over the age of 65 at www.directgov.uk.

I’ll be 65 next year and know that under normal circumstances I’d be expected to retire, but I love my job and don’t want to give it up.  I’m still very fit and mentally sharp and can see no reason why I shouldn’t go on a few more years.  Can my boss make me leave? – July 2011