A growing number of UK workers are struggling to save for retirement, with the Pensions Commission warning that around 15 million people are not putting away enough for old age, a figure it fears could rise to 19 million without urgent government action. The Guardian spoke to readers, including those in part-time work, freelancers and the self-employed, who described being unable to afford pension contributions because of the cost of living, unstable incomes or debts, leaving many fearing they will never be able to stop working.

The commission's report highlights stark gender and employment disparities: women approaching retirement hold private pension pots roughly half the size of men's on average, with median pension wealth of £81,000 compared with £156,000 for men, while only 4% of self-employed workers are saving into a pension. Case studies include a 35-year-old library worker in Oxford with just £5,000 saved despite working more than full-time, and a 54-year-old freelance graphic designer in London still repaying a £30,000 Covid-era loan, who says financial setbacks from the financial crash, the pandemic and recent wars have repeatedly wiped out his savings.