Huge surge in support in days as change call is half way to being considered for a Parliamentary debate
A massive surge of support has piled pressure on the government over calls to reverse government policy and reduce the pension age to 65. A petition on the Parliament website has smashed through the 50,000 barrier in just days – meaning the Andy Burnham government must respond with an official statement.
It is half way to forcing the authorities to consider giving the go ahead to an MP debate – which would mean the Department for Work and Pensions would have to defend its position and lay out any possible changes.
The State Pension age started rising from 66 in April 2026 and is scheduled to hit 67 by April 2028. Serious concerns have been raised by the UK Work and Pensions Committee about the impact on those unable to continue working, with significant regional differences in wellbeing. A petition has now been created on the Parliament website, and it’s nearing a critical milestone that will force a response from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Started by Michelle Gill, the petition has accumulated 50,807 signatures – including 40,000 in the last 5 days. 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.
“Many aged 65-67 face poor health, caring pressures, and limited work options, which we think is unfair.”
The Work and Pensions Committee produced a report earlier this year backed calls for the Government to increase Universal Credit for 66-year-olds to prevent hardship as the State Pension age rises to 67. It said: “The State Pension age is already being gradually increased and will reach 67 by April 2028. A growing number of 66-year-olds may have to rely on the £425-a-month standard rate of Universal Credit for longer, despite worsening health. Pension Credit, which guarantees £1,031 a month, is only available once they reach State Pension age.
“This leaves many pre-pensioners, particularly those with health issues, caring responsibilities or long histories in labour-intensive jobs, relying on the savings they may have set aside for retirement until they reach the State Pension age.”
The Committee warned that when the State Pension age last rose in 2020, poverty more than doubled among people in the year approaching it, rising from 10% to 24%, putting 100,000 below the poverty line. With people now waiting a further year, and many already frail, the “impact is likely to be greater this time”.
Meanwhile, only 42% of 66 year-olds are in paid work, while almost a quarter (24%) of the poorest 60-65 year-old pre-pensioners are working while frail, which research has shown deepens health problems.
It added: “Giving further support through Universal Credit to 66-year-olds would cost £600 million of the potential £10.5 billion savings made from the rise. While the impact on efforts to boost employment may be a consideration, the report says, ‘impact on work incentives being outweighed by the imperative to reduce poverty’.”
Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams said: “We can’t just allow people who are already struggling as they approach pension age to be forced to choose between continuing work in poor health or prolonging their poverty as they wait for their State Pension to kick in.
“This is not the later life that anyone wants or to see their loved ones endure after providing for decades. We should recognise that pre-pensioners have greater needs and greater barriers into employment due to ill-health, age discrimination, lack of opportunity to upskill. More than half of people are not in paid work in their mid-60s, and they’re not likely to get it if they’ve been effectively written off.”
“Additional social security payments are essential in reducing the compounding effects of the lottery of life and the state pension age increase.
“The harm has already been done for some planning retirement if policymakers are using out-dated impact assessments in making the changes they are. As a result, we know there will be an impact, but we don’t know how big it will be. But it’s not too late; if the Government takes action quickly those who face poverty because they deplete their savings before reaching pension age can be helped.”
