Government urged to set out plans for Independent State Pension Age Review

• Think tank argues Government must seek to level-up healthy life expectancy ahead of legislating to increase the State Pension Age to 68.

The International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC) has urged the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to set out their plans for the 2022 Independent State Pension Age Review.

The Government has set itself a target of increasing healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035, yet ILC argue that little progress has been made so far.

David Sinclair, Director of ILC, said:

“COVID-19 has likely had an impact on life expectancy and certainly had an impact on the employment rates of older workers. It’s also highlighted the huge disparities in how long we live and how healthy we are. Too many people are being forced out of work before State Pension kicks in.

The Government has set itself an ambitious target of tackling inequalities in life expectancy, but there hasn’t been an adequate plan to realise this goal.

Considering how effectively we support people to work longer must play a part in the decision about whether to increase the State Pension Age. Yet older workers have been hit hard by COVID-19.

The Government is due to undertake its next Independent State Pension Age review over the next eighteen months. If they want to follow their plans to increase the age we receive our pensions further, they must be clear about how they will mitigate the impact on those of us who aren’t living longer and healthier lives.

It is vital that Government doesn’t dodge the inequalities issues. We need a plan to level up healthy life expectancy.”

Notes

The State Pension Age is gradually increasing. It is due to reach 67 by 2028. The 2017 State Pension Age Review (Cridland Review) recommended an increase in the State Pension Age to 68 over two years from 2037, but the Government planned to undertake another review before legislating. The next review is due to be completed over the next 18 months.

ILC are hosting their seventh annual Future of Ageing conference on Thursday, 2 December, which will include a session on whether the State Pension Age should increase to 70. For more information, visit our conference page here.