When Department for Work and Pensions opened its third State Pension Age Review this July, it also launched a public consultation that runs until 24 October 2025. The review, overseen by independent expert Dr Suzy Morrissey, could rewrite the rules that determine when Britons can start drawing their state pension in the United Kingdom. With the country’s life expectancy nudging above 80 years, the stakes feel a lot higher than a routine policy tweak.
Background: A Rolling History of Pension Age Changes
The pension landscape has never been static. From the post‑war era, when women could retire at 60 and men at 65, the government has been inching the ages together. The Pensions Act 1995 started the equalisation process, pushing women’s age up to 65 by 2020. A decade later, the 2007 Act set the stage for a gradual climb to 68, with milestones slated for 2024‑2046. The most recent overhaul, the 2014 Act, mandated five‑yearly reviews – a clause that now sparks the current debate.
Why does this matter? Because each shift reshapes the retirement picture for an entire generation. The cohort born after 6 April 1960, often called early Gen X, will see their qualifying age move from 66 to 67 between May 2026 and April 2028. And those born after 1977 could face an earlier jump to 68 if the review recommends acceleration.
What the Current Review Proposes
The DWP’s consultation asks three big questions: Should the rise from 66 to 67 stay on its current timetable? Should the later move to 68 be brought forward? Or should the schedule remain untouched?
Dr Morrissey’s brief is crystal clear: gather evidence on the economic, social and health impacts of an ageing society. She’s soliciting input from trade unions, think‑tanks, pension‑fund managers and ordinary citizens alike. The aim is to tie any future change to up‑to‑date life‑ expectancy data, rather than relying on long‑term projections made a decade ago.
- Current statutory age: 66 (both sexes)
- Planned rise to 67: May 2026 – April 2028
- Planned rise to 68: 2044 – 2046 (subject to review)
- Consultation deadline: 24 October 2025
The consultation also wants to know whether a more flexible, five‑yearly adjustment mechanism would be preferable to the current “big‑step” approach.
Stakeholder Reactions
Economists on the market‑watch side are largely supportive of a sooner rise to 68. Professor James Whitaker of the London School of Economics told the press, “The fiscal pressure is real – pension outlays have swelled by 63 % in nominal terms since 2020. An earlier adjustment could shave billions off the next decade’s budget.”
Trade unions, however, sound the alarm. Unite the Union issued a statement warning that a faster rise would hit manual‑labour workers hardest, many of whom already face truncated careers due to physical strain.
Public opinion is split. A YouGov poll released in August showed 42 % of respondents favor keeping the schedule, 35 % want an earlier rise, and the rest are unsure. Younger respondents (aged 25‑34) leaned toward acceleration, citing longer working lives, while older voters expressed concern over “forced retirement”.
Financial Implications and Demographic Pressures
The numbers are stark. The DWP projects pension spending at £146 billion for 2025‑26 – a sum that eclipses the entire UK defence budget for the same year. Weekly payouts sit at £230.30 for the new flat‑rate pension and £176.45 for the basic tier. Under the triple‑lock rule, the next increase in April 2026 is expected to be about 5.3 % based on wage growth, outpacing inflation.
Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports an average life expectancy of 80.7 years. That means many retirees will collect benefits for 15‑20 years. The review’s core argument is simple: if people live longer, the system must either raise the age, increase contributions, or cut benefits – and the government prefers the first option.
But raising the age isn’t a silver bullet. Longer working lives could exacerbate health‑related absenteeism, especially in physically demanding sectors. The consultation asks for data on how health trajectories intersect with age‑related policy changes.
What Comes Next
After the October deadline, Dr Morrissey will compile the evidence into an independent report. The DWP has pledged to publish the findings by spring 2026, followed by a parliamentary debate. If the recommendation is to accelerate the move to 68, a new amendment to the Pensions Act would have to clear both Commons and Lords – a process that could take 12‑18 months.
For workers planning their retirement, the takeaway is to keep an eye on the consultation’s output. Financial advisers are already revising calculators to factor in a possible 68‑year entry point as early as the early 2030s. The next few months will be a litmus test for how much influence ordinary citizens can wield over a policy that touches every working‑age Briton.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the third State Pension Age Review?
The review aims to decide whether the planned increases to the State Pension Age – from 66 to 67 and later to 68 – should be accelerated, delayed, or kept on schedule. It looks at demographic trends, fiscal pressure and the impact on different worker groups.
Who can submit evidence to the consultation?
Anyone can contribute – individuals, charities, trade unions, pension providers, academic researchers and businesses. Submissions must be made online before 24 October 2025.
How might an earlier rise to age 68 affect pension spending?
Accelerating the rise could reduce the number of years people receive benefits, potentially saving up to £5 billion a year by the 2040s, according to the DWP’s own modelling.
What are the main arguments from trade unions against speeding up the increase?
Unions say a faster rise would hit low‑paid and manual workers hardest, as they tend to have shorter careers and poorer health, making it harder to work longer.
When will the final decision on the pension age be made?
Dr Morrissey’s report is expected in spring 2026, after which the DWP will draft policy proposals. Parliamentary approval could push the final decision into late 2026 or early 2027.
