Government rejects calls to lower State Pension age

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 22:28 · Archive

The Government has rejected a petition signed by 16,749 people calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to free up jobs for younger workers.

The Government has rejected a petition calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to create more job opportunities for young adults. The campaign, created by Helen Grice, attracted 16,749 signatures and argued that extending working lives reduces the number of jobs available for younger people struggling to find employment. In its response published on 12 October, the Department for Work and Pensions stated: 'The Government has no plans to lower the State Pension age.'

The petition proposed that lowering the State Pension age would encourage older workers to retire, allowing employers to recruit younger staff whilst enabling people who have worked throughout their lives to enjoy their retirement. However, the Government defended its current approach by citing rising life expectancy and the financial challenges of supporting an ageing population.

The DWP said: 'We are fortunate today that more people are reaching old age: life expectancy has risen rapidly over the past century, driven by breakthroughs in medical treatments and generally healthier lifestyles.' The department noted that men aged 66 in the UK in 2026 could expect to live, on average, another 19.3 years, whilst women of the same age could expect a further 21.9 years.

The Government argued that State Pension age policy must reflect the fact that people are living longer. Ministers said some increases to the State Pension age were necessary to maintain fairness between generations, protect public finances and ensure the State Pension remains sustainable.

The response comes as the Government's Third State Pension age Review gets underway.

How it is being reported

• DWP State Pension Age row takes new turn as Government responds to campaignState Pension age verdict as Government rejects calls to let older workers retire earlier - but there is still time to push for parliamentary debateCumberland News · 12 Oct, 22:09
• DWP State Pension Age row takes new turn as Government responds to campaignState Pension age verdict as Government rejects calls to let older workers retire earlier - but there is still time to push for parliamentary debateNW Evening Mail · 12 Oct, 22:09
• DWP State Pension Age row takes new turn as Government responds to campaignState Pension age verdict as Government rejects calls to let older workers retire earlier - but there is still time to push for parliamentary debateWestmorland Gazette · 12 Oct, 22:09

In this story: Government · Department for Work and Pensions · Helen Grice · UK

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