Workers under 40 could face waiting until they turn 70 to claim their state pension, according to a report by i (the i newspaper). The forecast points to a further rise in the state pension age even if the government decides to scrap the triple lock that protects annual increases.
The prediction matters because it affects millions of younger workers who are still decades away from retirement. As things stand, the state pension age is set to keep climbing, and analysts quoted in the report suggest 70 is a realistic destination for the youngest workers in today’s labour force.
Experts cited in the piece warned that pushing the state pension age this high should be treated as a “last resort” rather than a first response to the rising cost of paying pensions.
Why could the state pension age rise to 70?
The core pressure is cost. The state pension is funded by current taxpayers, and as people live longer, the bill grows. Raising the age at which people can claim is one of the main levers governments use to keep that cost under control.
According to i, the forecast of a rise to 70 holds even in a scenario where the triple lock is abandoned. That is notable, because the triple lock is often blamed for driving up the long-term cost of the state pension. The report suggests that scrapping it alone would not be enough to stop the pension age climbing for younger workers.
The exact timetable for any increase to 70 is not specified in the source material. No confirmed government decision or firm date has been reported here – this is a prediction based on expert analysis, not settled policy.
What is the triple lock and why does it matter here?
The triple lock is the guarantee that the state pension rises each year by the highest of three measures:
- Average earnings growth across the economy.
- Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index.
- 2.5 per cent, as a minimum floor.
Because the payment always tracks whichever figure is highest, the cost tends to grow faster than earnings or prices alone over time. That is why the triple lock is frequently mentioned in debates about pension affordability. The i report’s key point is that even removing this guarantee would not, on its own, prevent the pension age from rising toward 70 for the under-40s.
Who would be affected by a state pension age of 70?
The report focuses on workers currently under 40. These are the people young enough that a further increase in the state pension age could still apply to them before they reach retirement.
- Workers under 40 today: most likely to face a claim age of 70 under this forecast.
- Older workers already close to retirement: less likely to see this particular change apply, since planned rises are usually phased in over many years with notice.
So, if you are in your late twenties or thirties now, this forecast is a signal to factor a later retirement date into your long-term planning – while bearing in mind that no rise to 70 has been confirmed.
Why do experts call this a ‘last resort’?
The warning in the report is that raising the state pension age is a blunt tool. It hits everyone the same way, regardless of the physical demands of their job or how long they are actually likely to live. People in lower-paid or physically demanding work often have shorter healthy-life expectancy, so a higher pension age can affect them hardest.
Because of that, the experts quoted argue that governments should look at other options before defaulting to a higher pension age. The specific alternatives were not detailed in the excerpt available.
What should you do now?
Nothing is legally changing today on the strength of this forecast. Even so, it is a useful prompt to check where you stand. You can:
- Check your state pension forecast through the government’s official service at gov.uk, which shows your projected state pension and your current state pension age.
- Review your National Insurance record, since the amount you receive depends on your qualifying years.
- Plan for a later claim date if you are under 40, treating a higher pension age as a possibility rather than a certainty.
The full report was published by i (inews.co.uk). Because this is a prediction rather than confirmed legislation, the details – including any timetable for a rise to 70 – could change as the government sets out its own plans.
