Overview

• Government has formally launched its third statutory review of the state pension age and reinstated the independent Pension Commission to assess age thresholds against life expectancy and fiscal pressures.
• The triple lock guarantee will remain intact through this Parliament while scheduled rises to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046 stay under future assessment.
• A Commons Work and Pensions Committee report and Age UK evidence warn of a looming surge in pensioner poverty and call for a guaranteed minimum retirement income.
• The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has threatened national protests and coordinated direct action if the state pension age is raised sharply.
• Institute for Fiscal Studies and Barnett Waddingham modelling indicate that, without policy reforms, the pension age could climb into the late 60s by mid-century and even approach 80 to contain costs.