It does make you think about whether to start drawing an company pension (and take the hit of actuarial reductions) at the first opportunity just in case you never actually get to draw it.
Unfortunately, OG,I'm not aware of any well run societies in the world where the government/taxpayers can afford to pay pensions to people from aged early 50s especially if it's to be an amount we can live on. If we want to retire early and have a reasonable standard of living we all need to put aside a substantial amount, rather than a few pounds, from our earnings. Sadly it's not feasible for people to work 30 years and then expect the state to pay for the next 30.
Yes I can see that giving some money to someone in their 50s may create a job down the line for an 18 year old and therefore save on JSA, but jobs market doesn't really work like that as it's based so much on skills, experience and knowledge.
Anyway, I'm off to get a quote for drawing my pension at 55....