Third Review of State Pension Age
Last updated on July 24th, 2025
Today it was announced that there would be a third review of the state pension age for the UK.The Pension Act 2014 set out the requirement for a regular review of whether the state pension age was correct on an ongoing basis. This might take account of life expectancy and affordability among other criteria.
First Review
The first review of state pension age concluded in 2017 and set out the state pension age for men and women going forward. This included some changes to the retirement age in the UK (i.e. the date that you could expect to receive your state pension.) Most notably, this included the rise to the state pension age of 68 being brought forward by around 7 years. However, this was a recommendation and has not been put into legislation.
Equality had been put into place previously so that men and women both had the same retirement age going forwards.
Second Review
The second review was finished in 2023 and it confirmed that the rise of the state pension age to 67 would take place as planned between 2026 and 2028.
It also recommended that another review takes place within two years of the next parliament to reconsider the rise to age 68 – hence the third review which is now taking place.
Third Review
The state pension age review for 2025 will consider evidence from 2 reports, those being an independent report led by Dr Suzy Morrissey and a report from the Government’s Actuary Department that examines life expectancy data.
The reality is, even once the report is concluded, if there are recommendations from this report then they would still have to go through legislation to enact any changes that might need to be made.
Any changes would need to allow retirees to have at least 10 years notice of that change so there is limited scope to allow quick changes to the state pension age.
This review may mean another change to the recommended timetable at which the state pension age increases to 68, if that change is recommended at all. The report may not be available until 2027 so that would further limit changes to anyone who was born before 1970.
You can find details about the terms of reference of the review here.
