Third independent review of state pension age: Call for evidence

UNISON argues that further increases to the state pension age (SPA) are unjustified, unsafe and unfair.Life‑expectancy projections have fallen sharply since the last review and now show that previous rises to 67 and 68 were based on overly optimistic assumptions. 

UNISON highlights that raising the SPA worsens poverty, disproportionately harms lower‑income and deprived groups with shorter healthy‑life expectancy, and forces many older workers – especially in demanding public‑service roles – beyond their physical and mental limits. 

UNISON rejects using the SPA to control pension costs, opposes automatic adjustment mechanisms, and argues that before any future rise is considered, the government must understand labour‑market capacity, the impact on poverty, and whether suitable jobs exist for people in their 60s.