A public petition has been launched demanding the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Labour government reverse the rising state pension age and instead lower the threshold back to 60 years old.
Petition Calls for Retirement Age to 'Stay at 60'
The appeal, hosted on the official Parliamentary petitions website, argues that people should be allowed to enjoy their retirement while they are still in good health. It states that constantly increasing the retirement age denies many the chance to spend quality time with family and live their later years to the fullest.
The petition creator writes: "Some people are only being able to enjoy their retirement for a couple of years before sadly passing away... it could allow grandparents to be able to enjoy their retirement without the worry of getting up for work."
To be considered for an official government response, the petition requires 10,000 signatures. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. At the time of writing, the petition has garnered 74 signatures.
Experts Warn Against Raising Age to 71
The petition emerges alongside stark warnings from leading organisations and former ministers about the potential consequences of further increasing the state pension age. Recent research suggested the age may need to rise to 71 for future retirees, a proposal met with fierce criticism.
The National Pensioners Convention (NPC), representing over 1.15 million older people, condemned the idea. NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt said the plans "in no way reflects the harsh reality of getting older in the UK" and would "considerably add to the one in four pensioners already living in poverty."
She warned it would increase pressure on public services, stating: "Making those already living with ill-health wait even longer to claim their pension will only increase poverty and the demand on already-creaking services, such as health and care."
Former Minister Labels Rise 'Unconscionable'
Former Pensions Minister Ros Altmann strongly agreed with the criticism. She argued that raising the state pension age to 71 should be "unconscionable," noting that only the top 10% of the population remain healthy into their early 70s.
Baroness Altmann highlighted fundamental flaws in using a rigid chronological age, stating: "Chronological age is too inflexible as a unique criterion of eligibility for a state pension, which is part of every worker’s social contract."
She further cautioned that neither the NHS, with its regional health inequalities, nor a labour market "rife with ageism," are prepared for such a significant policy shift. The combined warnings paint a picture of a potential crisis for middle-aged workers if the pension age continues to climb.
