Chancellor John Healey will deliver his budget on Wednnesday (Image: Getty)
A massive surge in support for a new campaign seeking to reverse government policy and reduce the State Pension age back to 65 is putting pressure on Chancellor John Healey before his budget on Wednesday. The petition on the parliament website has now risen past 100,000 signatures – meaning it will be considered for a debate among MPs.
If this goes ahead, ministers will be forced to set out their position and any potential changes. The State Pension age commenced its rise from 66 in April 2026 and is due to reach 67 by April 2028.
The UK Work and Pensions Committee has raised serious concerns about the impact on those unable to remain in work, highlighting significant regional inequalities in living standards across the UK. A petition launched on the Parliament website this week surpassed a key milestone, compelling the Department for Work and Pensions to issue an official response.
Started by Michelle Gill, the petition has amassed 80,000 signatures. Should it reach 100,000 backers, it will be considered for a parliamentary debate in which
The petition states: “Reduce the state pension age to 65. We believe this could mean people can retire with dignity and avoid hardship. We also think it could free up jobs for younger workers entering the labour market.”
“Many aged 65-67 face poor health, caring pressures, and limited work options, which we think is unfair.”
The Work and Pensions Committee has highlighted concerns that significant changes in people’s health and overall wellbeing must be carefully considered before any such reform is introduced. A report examining pension age increases, published this summer, noted: “These include: an increase in the percentage of people aged 60 to 64 reporting a work-limiting health condition (from 28% to 31%). And healthy life expectancy at birth – an indicator of changes in population health – fell by two years over the decade to 2024, with inequalities between the least and most deprived areas widening. In England, it is highest in Richmond upon Thames, where people can expect to live 70 years in good health, and lowest in Blackpool and Hartlepool, at around 51.”
The report drew attention to the serious repercussions of the previous government’s decision to raise the pension age: “In addition, we now have a clearer picture of the likely impact of the increase to 67. The last rise – from 65 to 66, between late 2018 and 2020 – caused the income poverty rate among 65-year-olds to more than double. The fact that those affected will be a year older, leads us to fear that the impact may be even greater this time. Half of pre-pensioners (aged 60 to 66) in the lowest income quintile are already frail, and so vulnerable to significant deterioration in their physical and cognitive functioning.”
The committee cautioned that the government ‘must not allow to happen’ a prolonged period during which 66-year-olds receive no financial support if they are unable to remain in employment until reaching 67. It stated: “The government must not just allow that to happen. We heard an increase in the level of Universal Credit in the year before State Pension age would cost £600 million a year, a small proportion of the significant savings-£10.5 billion a year once the State Pension age is 67, compared to if it had stayed at 66.”
The committee contends that the Government should contemplate boosting universal credit for those aged 66 to protect them from financial difficulties stemming from the “lottery of life” as the state pension age rises to 67. It emphasised that an increasing number of 66-year-olds could find themselves relying on the standard universal credit payment of roughly £425 per month for an extended duration, even while their health declines.
In response to the petition, the DWP said: “There are no plans to reduce State Pension age to 65. We are fortunate today that more people are reaching older ages: life expectancy has risen rapidly over the past century, driven by breakthroughs in medical treatments and generally healthier lifestyles. Office for National Statistics life expectancy projections show that in 2026, men aged 66 in the UK can be expected to live on average a further 19.3 years, and women aged 66 a further 21.9 years; by 2046, it is projected that this will have increased by an additional 1.6 years. State Pension age policy takes account of the fact that people are living longer and our society is ageing.
“There are no plans to reduce State Pension age to 65. We are fortunate today that more people are reaching older ages: life expectancy has risen rapidly over the past century, driven by breakthroughs in medical treatments and generally healthier lifestyles.
“Office for National Statistics life expectancy projections show that in 2026, men aged 66 in the UK can be expected to live on average a further 19.3 years, and women aged 66 a further 21.9 years; by 2046, it is projected that this will have increased by an additional 1.6 years. State Pension age policy takes account of the fact that people are living longer and our society is ageing.”
Addressing the review, it stated: “The Third State Pension age Review is underway and will decide what State Pension age is appropriate for future decades, balancing considerations of fairness and sustainability. It will consider a wide range of evidence, including ONS life expectancy projections, findings from the Government Actuary, independent reports from Dr. Suzy Morrissey and the Pensions Commission, and lessons from previous increases.
“The Government recognises people aged 50 and over can face a range of barriers to entering, remaining in, or returning to work, including ill health, disability, caring responsibilities, menopause, and outdated skills or qualifications.”
The petition is available to view and support, alongside the full DWP response, here.
