Later-life divorce forces more than 200,000 to delay retirement, L&G research finds
With fewer working years left to rebuild finances, many over-50s are finding their long-term plans significantly altered.
More than 200,000 people who divorce after the age of 50 have been forced to delay their retirement, according to new research from Legal & General, released to coincide with Divorce Day on 5th January 2026.
The research shows that 15% of people who divorce later in life delay retirement as a result of the financial impact of separation, with later-life divorces now accounting for 17% of all divorces in the UK.
With fewer working years left to rebuild finances, many over-50s are finding their long-term plans significantly altered.
On average, incomes fall by £7,753 in the year following a later-life divorce.
Almost a quarter of people who divorce after the age of 50, 24%, say they struggle to rebuild savings because they are past their peak earning years, while 13%, equivalent to around 180,000 people, believe they will never financially recover.
The financial consequences are also reshaping retirement expectations. Nearly a quarter, 23%, of those who divorce over the age of 50 expect to live on a lower income in retirement than originally planned, while 32% anticipate needing to downsize their home.
One in five (20%) say they may no longer be able to leave an inheritance, and 17% feel they may struggle to support adult children financially in the future.
Despite the importance of pensions in later-life financial security, only 25% of over-50s who divorce include pensions in settlement discussions.
Related
Many couples overlook pensions in divorce planning, Standard Life warns
63% of adults fear running out of money in retirement, LV= finds
Standard Life launches ‘Rule of 300’ to help savers understand retirement income needs
Half of adults with health conditions face pension poverty, Scottish Widows finds
Use of investment bonds increases ahead of DC pension tax change, Chesnara finds
One in eight young adults say pensions are “pointless” as retirement feels out of reach – People’s Pension
Majority of pension professionals see AI as part of member engagement solution, poll finds
Gen X faces retirement shortfall despite higher buy-to-let ownership – Rathbones
Canada Life completes £36m buy-in with HSB Engineering Insurance Services pension scheme
Half of self-employed workers change pension saving habits after leaving PAYE, data finds
Standard Life secures £200m buy-in for Abbey Life pension scheme members
