A senior DWP minister has provided an update on the ongoing review of the state pension age. The access age for the state pension is currently rising from 66 to 67, with future plans for an increase from 67 to 68. The transition from 66 to 67 is scheduled between April 2026 and April 2028, while the move from 67 to 68 is planned for 2044 to 2046. However, Labour announced in 2025 that another independent review of the state pension age policy would be conducted.
Review Timeline
The last Government-commissioned review was published in 2023, recommending an acceleration of the increase from 67 to 68. The upcoming review will be led by Dr. Suzy Morrissey and will examine several topics, including linking the state pension age to life expectancy, automatic mechanisms for setting the age, and international comparisons. Under the 2014 Pensions Act, the Government must commission an independent review every six years. With the last review published in March 2023, the next one should be completed by March 2029.
Ministerial Statement
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden was questioned by the Work and Pensions Committee on June 17 about whether the next review would meet the March 2029 deadline. He stated: "There are periodic reviews of this built into the process. The state pension age has been rising in the last couple of decades. I don't want to pre-empt anything but that review is built into the process. That is the timescale. I have no changes to announce on that here this morning."
Concerns from Committee Members
Committee member Damien Egan highlighted that many people in their 60s are being affected by the increase from 66 to 67. He noted that some of the poorest individuals in this group may need additional support, pointing to data that half of 60- to 66-year-olds in the lowest income brackets are already frail and may struggle to remain employed.
Mr. McFadden responded optimistically, saying: "I'm an optimist about growing older. I hope people see a productive working life well up in years. The increase in the state pension age has been accompanied by increasing rates of employment in people close to state retirement age."
Regional Disparities
However, he acknowledged that experiences vary, referencing older constituents in Wolverhampton South East. He noted: "That's one part of the story. But you're right, there's another part of the story, where being 67 or 68 years old can feel very different in different parts of the country. I represent a working class Black Country constituency with a tradition of physical work. I know that it can feel quite different for somebody to be 67 or 68 in my constituency compared to leafier parts of the country. So we have to bear this in mind, and consider all these aspects when thinking about the state pension age in the future, so we have a system that's fair to everyone, is sustainable financially and does the best job it can to give people security in retirement."
