The state pension age is currently 66 years old for both men and women, and is scheduled to rise to 67 by the end of 2028. An additional hike to 68 was due to be brought forward to the late 2030s but has been postponed. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride confirmed the Government’s decision last week, saying that a review will take place after the next general election. A new poll of Express.co.uk readers has shown that the state pension should kick in at 65.
Mr Stride told MPs: “Given the level of uncertainty about the data on life expectancy, labour markets and the public finances, and the significance of these decisions on the lives of millions of people, I am mindful a different decision might be appropriate once these factors are clearer.
“I therefore plan for a further review to be undertaken within two years of the next parliament to consider the rise to age 68 again.”
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In a poll that ran from 11am on Friday, March 31, to 3.45pm on Thursday, April 6, Express.co.uk asked readers: “What age do you think the state pension should kick in?”
A total of 2,038 readers responded, with the most common response, being 65-years-old, with 46 percent (933 people) of votes cast, followed by 60-years-old with 24 percent (497 people).
Meanwhile, 62-years-old and 66-years-old each received five percent with 99 and 98 votes respectively. A further four percent of readers voted for 63-years-old and 70-years-old, with 82 and 81 votes each. Other ages received less than three percent of the vote, and 11 people said they did not know.
In the comments left below the accompanying article, readers took part in a lively discussion on what age the state pension should begin.
Some readers suggested that the state pension should begin at 65 with username sined said: “65 as per norm, that allows some sort of after life after years of toil.”
Similarly, username Stand Strong said: “Pension age must be no higher than 65.”
Whereas others commented that the pension age should be reduced to 60. Username SpocksBeard said: “It’s difficult as we are all capable of different things at different ages. In a dream world 60 for male and female.”
And username neige wrote: “Still working at 60 in hefty manual jobs like office/store cleaning and labouring is a very different matter to still working at 60 in some other jobs. Post-60 should be a matter of personal choice to keep on working, not necessity.”
Meanwhile, username Moonraker-lad suggested: “The state pension age should be scrapped. Pensions should be paid to people after 50 years of contributions. If they want to retire earlier, they simply receive less.”
