I’m nearly 60 and might lose my job. Can I really afford to retire?

April 5, 2026 — 5:01am

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There is a chance I may lose my job by year-end, and I think I will struggle to find new work, potentially forcing early retirement. I’m turning 60 soon, earning $77,000 (plus super), single with no dependents. My plan has always been to work until age 67 and then live on the age pension plus super. I have $356,000 in super (high growth), a home worth ~$800,000 with a $205,000 mortgage and $51,000 in offset, and no other debts or investments. Living costs are about $3,000 per month.

I recently contributed $100,000 to super using carry-forward concessional caps and expect a ~$15,000 tax refund. Without downsizing, how secure is my position – particularly regarding managing the home loan?

Thanks for your question. We all work on the assumption that we will retire at a time of our choosing, but as........

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