A parliamentary petition calling for the State Pension age to be reduced to 65 has reached its 10,000-signature milestone, requiring the UK Government to provide an official response.
Petition launched amid pension reform calls
The petition was launched on the parliamentary website on 16 September by Michelle Gill, who is urging the government to cut the State Pension age to 65 for everyone nationwide. The State Pension age is currently increasing from 66 to 67 in stages, with the legal rise set to affect new pensioners based on their specific birth date.
Ms Gill's petition argues that reducing the threshold would enable people to “retire with dignity and avoid hardship”, highlighting that many individuals aged 65 to 67 experience poor health, restricted job prospects, and overwhelming caring responsibilities. It also suggests that earlier retirement could create employment opportunities for younger people.
Government response confirmed
After quickly exceeding the 10,000-signature target, the UK Parliament petitions portal officially confirmed that the Government will respond to this petition. The petition is set to stay open until March 16, 2027.
The development comes alongside wider calls for retirement policy reforms under Andy Burnham, who this week announced long-term structural modifications to the state pension system, including the triple lock. Mr Burnham is now anticipated to tackle another possible reform following the petition's progress.
Triple lock and tax changes announced
The Prime Minister has also recently unveiled plans to break the triple lock after the next general election to finance a new National Care Service in England. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester also stated that low-income pensioners would be exempt from income tax during this Parliament.
