The State Pension age has increased from 65 to 66 meaning that men and women born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960 will start receiving their state pension on their 66th birthday. Current legislation sets out for the State Pension age to rise to age 67 between 2026-28 and to age 68 between 2044-46.

As I understand it, the Government is committed in legislation to undertake a review of the State Pension age every six years to consider a variety of factors including the latest life expectancy projections. The last review of this kind was published in 2017.

The independent report by John Cridland informed the 2017 review of State Pension age and proposed bringing forward the rise in State Pension age to 68 by seven years so that it takes place between 2037 and 2039. My colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions noted these recommendations and said that a further review of State Pension age would be undertaken before considering this or any other changes to State Pension age, to enable the latest life expectancy projections to be considered. I am informed, however, that future pensioners will on average still receive more State Pension over their lifetime than generations before them. I am also encouraged that the full basic State Pension is now worth over £2,050 a year more than in 2010 in cash terms. 

The State Pension is funded through national insurance contributions. Individuals do not have a personal State Pension 'pot' of money as with a private pension scheme but will receive a set weekly amount if they have the requisite number of qualifying years on their national insurance record. Payments are not linked to the actual amount someone has paid in national insurance.

No-one born on or before 5 April 1970 is affected; their pension age continues to be 67. For those born on or after 6 April 1978 there is also no change: their pension age has already been legislated to be at 68.

There are no plans to reduce the State Pension age to 60. The Government is committed in legislation to undertake a review of the State Pension age every six years to consider a variety of factors including the latest life expectancy projections. The next review is due in 2023.