Government ‘discreetly agree’ to raise retirement age to 68 in the 2030s

The government has discreetly agreed to raise the retirement age from the current 66 to 68 in the 2030s — sooner than planned.

The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to regularly review State Pension age, and in accordance with law, this latest Review must be published by May 7th 2023.

The review will consider whether the rules around pensionable age are appropriate, based on the latest life expectancy data and other evidence.

The change to the original date  planned — set for 2046 — means that those born after 1970 will have to work longer, the Independent reports.

UK Fact Check Politics (@ukfactcheckpolitics) broke the news on Instagram, with one commenter below their news post writing: “Right…let’s do what the French DID…”

A second typed: “Sometimes people should see the French as an example.” A third put: “Snap general election immediately please!!” With a fourth sarcastically saying: “Yayyy I’m going to die at work.”

The state pension age is currently at 66 and two further increases are currently set out in legislation, where there will be a gradual rise to 67 for those born on or after April 1960. 

The first review of retirement age was undertaken in 2017 and concluded that the next review should consider whether the increase to the age of 68 should be brought forward to between 2037 and 2039 before tabling any changes to legislation.

The Pensions Minister, Laura Trott, has confirmed that the review will be published in ‘due course’ and are being considered as part of the wide range of evidence that will inform the second government review of state pension age.

Hundreds of thousands of people recently took to the streets across France to protest against unpopular pension reforms that will see the country’s retirement age rise from 62 to 64.