'I can’t possibly afford it': how Covid has dashed retirement dreams Harriet Meyer For some people, finishing work for good is an appealing idea, with the prospect of travel, spending time with family and enjoying hobbies. But retiring during a pandemic is a different matter entirely. Travel isn’t currently an option, and for months Britons have been restricted in what they can do and who they can meet. And aside from being physically prevented from fulfilling their dreams, for many on the verge of retirement, Covid-19 has had a financial impact, too. In 2021 about 680,000 Britons will reach state pension age, according to the Office for National Statistics, but the coronavirus means many are having to think again about when, or even if, they can stop work.