The UK government has rejected a petition calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to 65, stating there are no plans to reduce it. The petition, created by Michelle Gill and opened on September 16, has received 88,128 signatures so far. It surpassed the 10,000-signature threshold required to trigger a government response.
Petition calls for retirement at 65
The petition argues that lowering the State Pension age would allow people to "retire with dignity and avoid hardship." It also suggests it could free up jobs for younger workers entering the labour market, noting that many aged 65–67 face poor health, caring pressures, and limited work options.
On October 13, the government officially responded, saying: "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."
Life expectancy and pension age increases
Office for National Statistics projections show that in 2026, men aged 66 in the UK can expect to live on average a further 19.3 years, and women aged 66 a further 21.9 years. By 2046, this is projected to increase by an additional 1.6 years. The government said State Pension age policy takes account of the fact that people are living longer and society is ageing.
The current State Pension age is 66, but it is gradually rising to 67. This increase began in April 2026 and will complete in March 2028.
Future reviews and campaign context
The government added: "As longevity has increased and our society aged, State Pension age rises have maintained fairness between generations and protected the public finances." The Third State Pension age Review is underway to decide what State Pension age is appropriate for future decades, balancing fairness and sustainability.
The petition is due to remain open until March 16, 2027. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. The campaign comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently unveiled proposals to break the triple lock system. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester also revealed that low-income pensioners would not have to pay income tax during this Parliament.
