Raising State Pension Age Could Push People Further into Worse Health and Poverty

Strategic Insights -

The Health Foundation warns that increasing the state pension age could push people further into worse health and poverty. The organization's analysis reveals that over half a million additional people of working age from more deprived areas will live with severe health conditions by 2040 if the pension age is raised. This situation highlights the need for a national strategy to tackle pensioner poverty and ensure fairer transitions to retirement.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Health Foundation projects that over 530,000 additional people of working age from more deprived areas will live with severe health conditions by 2040, if the state pension age is raised.
  • People who are too ill to stay in work will be expected to wait longer for their state pension, starting from 2026 when the pension age increases to 67.
  • An income top-up is needed for the most vulnerable to prevent higher poverty rates and widened health inequalities.
  • The Pensions Commission must consider not only adequate income in retirement but also ensuring people arrive at retirement in good enough health.
  • Living in poverty and with poor health in older age often reflects a lifetime of unequal life opportunities and disadvantage.
  • State pension age decisions must take full account of stalled improvements in life expectancy and health inequalities.

Statistics:

  • 530,000 additional people of working age from more deprived areas will live with severe health conditions by 2040, if the state pension age is raised. (Health Foundation)
  • State pension age will increase to 67 from 2026. (Government policy)
  • Over 1 in 2 people aged 50-64 from more deprived areas live with a long-term limiting illness or disability. (Health Foundation)
  • Life expectancy in the UK has stalled for the past five years, with women's life expectancy increasing by only 0.3 years and men's life expectancy increasing by 0.4 years.

Sources:

  • Health Foundation, "Raising the State Pension age could push people further into worse health and poverty," July 24, 2025,