State Pension age 68 petition calls for halt earlier rise

The petition, titled 'Do not bring forward the rise in state pension age to 68', argues that it would be unfair to make people work longer when data suggests the number of years they can expect to live in good health is falling.

Created by Catherine Jessica Wilson, it is due to close on March 11, 2027.

The campaign comes amid reports that the Government is considering bringing forward the timetable for increasing the State Pension age to 68. If plans were accelerated, millions more people could have to wait longer before claiming their State Pension.

The petition, which can still be signed, argues that people who started working at 16 could be particularly affected, having already spent decades in employment by the time they reach their late 60s.

It states: "The Government must halt any plans for an earlier State Pension age rise to 68. Data suggests that healthy lifespans are falling. We believe it is unfair to force millions who started work at 16 to work longer despite declining health & Ministers must protect workers, and keep the timeline."

The campaign also points to a fall in healthy life expectancy since 2019, arguing that people affected by an earlier increase could end up working for longer while having shorter retirements than previous generations.

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It warns that finding employment in later life can also be difficult, with some older people struggling to secure jobs because employers consider them too old to continue working.

The petition says: "Many people cannot get jobs at this age because they are simply considered too old to keep working."

The campaign is calling on ministers to protect the existing timetable rather than accelerate the move to a State Pension age of 68.