An online petition recently called on the UK Government to allow disabled individuals over the age of 60, who have been unemployed for at least five years, to claim the State Pension before reaching the current qualifying age of 66.
The proposal argues that older disabled people with limited or no employment prospects should have the option to retire earlier, rather than remaining on unemployment benefits.
According to Devon Live, the petition highlights the psychological and administrative burdens placed on these individuals and questions the relevance of keeping them on the Department for Work and Pensions register when they are unlikely to re-enter the workforce.
Petition Proposes Earlier Pension for Long-Term Unemployed Disabled People
The petition, published on the UK Parliament Petitions website and created by George Bolgar, proposes that individuals aged 60 or over with a disability and a minimum of five years of unemployment should be able to access the State Pension immediately.
The full petition states :
We think that any disabled person aged 60 who has been unemployed for at least five years should be given the choice to retire and claim the State Pension immediately.
We think that keeping people on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) unemployment list when there is no chance of them ever becoming employed again is extra work for the DWP and extra stress for the disabled person.
We think that once someone is above 60 years old and unemployed their likelihood of being employable is extremely reduced.
The petition is eligible for a government response at 10,000 signatures, and may be debated in Parliament if it reaches 100,000. At the time of writing, the petition appears to be unavailable or removed, resulting in a “404 error” page on the official site.
Ongoing Increase in State Pension Age
The current State Pension age in the UK is 66 for both men and women. Under legislation introduced by the Pensions Act 2014, the age will rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028. This increase was accelerated by eight years, compared to previous timelines, and is now phased rather than tied to a fixed date.
This means that individuals born between March 6, 1961, and April 5, 1977, will be eligible to claim the State Pension upon reaching 67, rather than at a specific calendar date.
Future Reviews and Possible Rise to 68
A further rise to 68 is currently planned under the Pensions Act 2007, scheduled to take place between 2044 and 2046. However, the government is required to review the State Pension age at least once every five years, taking into account life expectancy and other socioeconomic factors.
A review of the move to 68 is due before the end of the decade, and was originally planned to occur two years after the next general election—placing it around 2026, under the schedule of the former Conservative government.
Distinction Between State and Private Pension Eligibility
The State Pension age is distinct from the age at which individuals can access their workplace or private pensions. While the State Pension is governed by national legislation, other pension schemes may offer earlier access under different conditions.
To assist with retirement planning, individuals can check their official State Pension age using the online tool at GOV.UK.
