The DWP is set to review the state pension age prematurely. As it stands, state pensioners are born before 1959, being 66 years of age. But this will change next year
A major union has launched a scathing attack on the Labour Party government over plans to review the state pension age, with threats of “direct action” looming. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reportedly gearing up for an early review of the state pension age.
Currently, individuals born before 1959 are eligible for the state pension at 66 years old. However, next year is set to see a rise to 67, with further plans from the benefits department to increase it to 68. Interestingly, before the retirement age increased to 66, the State Pension age was 60 for women and 65 for men. Then, the age for women increased to 65 over the years, until it reached 66 in October 2020. Five years later, it’s about to change.
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Liz Kendall has now indicated that the DWP and Labour Party will reassess the age, potentially accelerating any increases. This revelation has sparked outrage among experts and unionists, who have been quick to condemn the government’s stance, reports Birmingham Live.
Eddie Dempsey, the fiery general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, issued a stark warning in his statement: “If this Government makes any move to drastically increase the retirement age, we intend to lead our movement onto the streets and will not hesitate to protest nationally and take co-ordinated direct action.”
The RMT boss highlighted the strain on workers, saying: “Our members work in physically demanding, round-the-clock, safety-critical jobs. Many already struggle to reach retirement in good health, especially shift workers.”
Dempsey didn’t hold back in his critique of the UK’s pension system, asserting: “The UK state pension is already one of the worst in the entire developed world, which is a direct result of decades of governments transferring both our national and personal wealth to the super rich.”
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Damon Hopkins of Broadstone also added: “The combination of an ageing population and the huge fiscal cost of the state pension would suggest that a change is inevitable.”
Retirement policy expert Kirsty Anderson from Quilter weighed in on the review, calling it “politically sensitive” following Labour’s announcement.
Meanwhile, Lily Megson-Harvey from My Pension Expert raised concerns about the potential extension of the working age, warning that it “could disproportionately impact those who are already struggling to save enough and often rely more heavily on the state pension for financial security in retirement”.