Thousands join campaign demanding State Pension from age 60

The petition attracted 7,792 signatures before officially closing on August 10, falling short of the 10,000 signatures needed to trigger a Government response.

Campaigners had called for the State Pension to be made available to everyone from 60 and for the weekly payment to be increased to the equivalent of 48 hours at the National Living Wage.

Under the proposal, the campaign claimed a universal State Pension would have been worth £610.08 a week, or around £31,724 a year, from April 2026.

However, the petition did not reach the 10,000-signature threshold. It was also well short of the 100,000 signatures needed for a petition to be considered for debate in Parliament.

The campaign was launched on February 10 and remained open for six months before closing on August 10.

State Pension age is rising

The petition comes at a time when the State Pension age is already changing.

The State Pension age is currently 66 and is rising to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028.

It is then scheduled to rise to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046 under the current timetable.

The petition's proposal would therefore represent a significant reversal of the existing policy, bringing State Pension entitlement forward by several years.

Expert warns pension increases could be hit by tax

The campaign also comes as pensioners face changes to the amount they receive and the interaction between the State Pension and income tax.

Derence Lee, Chief Finance Officer at Shepherds Friendly, said the triple lock has played an important role in helping pensioners keep pace with rising living costs.

He warned, however, that frozen tax thresholds could mean some retirees see part of their increased State Pension offset through income tax.

“The triple lock has been crucial in helping pensioners keep pace with the current cost of living, and while the UK's higher ranking in the research reflects the boost provided by the triple lock, it also highlights a growing tension in the system,” he said.

“With the full new State Pension rising to £11,973 in April and the personal allowance frozen at £12,570, more retirees are edging closer to paying income tax on their State Pension.”

The full new State Pension is therefore getting closer to the current Personal Allowance, meaning pensioners with other taxable income could face a larger tax bill as their pension income increases.

Lee said the tax-free allowance remaining frozen could effectively claw back some of the gains made through State Pension increases.

News! From 2027, the full new state pension will be higher than the tax-free allowance, so tax is due. The Chancellor had said people wouldn’t need to do assessments, but on my show tonight, Rachel Reeves said, they won’t pay tax at all this parliament. Watch the full show &… pic.twitter.com/Uo176F0xm1

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) November 27, 2025

“The triple lock has played a vital role in helping pensioners keep pace with the high inflation seen in recent years,” he said.

“However, if the tax-free allowance remains frozen, some of the recent State Pension increases could effectively be taken back through income tax.”

He warned that this could be particularly significant for people relying mainly on their State Pension.

“For pensioners who rely mainly on their State Pension to cover everyday essentials, even a small tax bill could make a noticeable difference to their finances,” he said.

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Despite attracting nearly 7,800 signatures, the campaign did not reach the 10,000 signatures required for an official Government response.

The final total of 7,792 signatures means the petition fell 2,208 signatures short of that threshold.

It also means the campaign did not reach the 100,000 signatures needed for consideration for a parliamentary debate.

The petition page now records its final update as “Petition closed” on August 10, 2026, meaning members of the public can no longer add their names.