A petition calling for the State Pension age to be reduced back to 65 has surpassed 100,000 signatures, meaning it will be considered for a debate among MPs. The petition, launched on the Parliament website, has now crossed the threshold that obliges the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide an official response.
Initiated by Michelle Gill, the petition had gathered 80,000 signatures before reaching the 100,000 mark. If it achieves 100,000 supporters, it will be considered for a parliamentary debate. Should this proceed, ministers will be compelled to outline their stance and any possible modifications.
Petition calls for retirement at 65
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."
It adds: "Many aged 65-67 face poor health, caring pressures, and limited work options, which we think is unfair."
The State Pension age began its increase from 66 in April 2026 and is scheduled to reach 67 by April 2028. The UK Work and Pensions Committee has expressed serious concerns regarding the impact on those unable to continue in employment, emphasising significant regional disparities in living standards throughout the UK.
DWP response and life expectancy projections
Responding to the petition, the DWP stated: "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."
The DWP added: "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."
Commenting on the review, it stated: "The Third State Pension age Review is under way 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."
Committee concerns over health and poverty
The Work and Pensions Committee has raised concerns that substantial shifts in people's health and general wellbeing must be thoroughly evaluated before any such changes are implemented. A report scrutinising pension age rises, released this summer, observed: "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."
The report highlighted the severe consequences of the former government's choice to increase 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."
It added: "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 warned that the government 'must not allow to happen' an extended period in which 66-year-olds are left without financial assistance should they be unable to continue working until the age of 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 argues that the Government ought to consider increasing universal credit for those aged 66 in order to shield them from financial hardship arising from the "lottery of life" as the state pension age increases to 67. It stressed that a growing number of 66-year-olds could face a prolonged reliance on the standard universal credit payment of approximately £425 per month, even as their health deteriorates.
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.
