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“There’s no need to force people to work longer by raising Social Security’s retirement age,” writes Civic Ventures’ policy expert David Bank in The Hill, a must-read for Washington insiders. Instead, Bank tells President Obama’s debt commission, “Making it easier and more appealing for more people to keep working could help balance the system’s books while minimizing any benefit cuts.”

Bank argues that "most people won’t extend their working lives in order to rescue Social Security. They’ll stay on the job, or find a new one, to bolster their personal financial security. Or to stay connected, make a contribution or pursue a passion."

He notes that the trend is already under way. In 1988 about 55 percent of Americans aged 55 to 64 were still in the labor force, compared to nearly 65 percent today. The percentage of people aged 65 to 74 who are still working (or seeking to) has climbed from 16 to 25.

Bank writes, "Unlike an across-the-board increase, a voluntary initiative would take advantage of the increased longevity and better health that allows many people to work longer, without disadvantaging those who can’t or don’t want to.

"Small changes in Social Security could nudge people to re-up rather than retire. Employers could adopt more flexible arrangements that allow employees to work part-time or part-year. Reformed pension rules could enable people to draw partial benefits as they reduce their hours."

New “encore career” opportunities that last seven, 10 or even 15 years could boost the average retirement age even more dramatically, he writes.

He concludes, "By choosing to work longer, those who are able and willing could help themselves and their communities, and help preserve Social Security as well."

Read David Bank in The Hill.

Read more about encore policy in "Encore Careers Go to Washington."