In the grand debate, relatively little attention has been paid to the crucial relation of increased effective retirement age to the health of the older population. If already-present incapacity arising from ill-health blocked the path to employing large numbers beyond current retirement age, and/or if health was put in jeopardy by continued employment, every advance in retirement age would face diminishing returns.Moreover, social inequality in the aging process might lead to a situation in which a uniform policy on retirement deepened the disadvantage of those least able to fend for themselves.