DWP State Pension age cut proposed to help young adults get jobs

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden (left) and Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock, leave following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. A petition is calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to help free up jobs for young adults. <i>(Image: Stefan Rousseau)</i>
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden (left) and Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock, leave following a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. A petition is calling for the State Pension age to be lowered to help free up jobs for young adults. (Image: Stefan Rousseau)
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A petition calling for the DWP State Pension age to be lowered so more jobs could become available to young adults has attracted thousands of signatures.

The petition, created by Helen Grice, says bringing down the pension age could encourage older workers to retire and allow employers to take on younger people in their place.

The campaign calls for the State Pension age to be reduced for workers, arguing this could give young adults who are currently out of work a greater chance of finding employment.

The petition states: "The longer people are having to work the fewer jobs there are out there for young adults.

"If the Government lowered the State Pension age we believe it could encourage retirement so that employers might take on a young adult to fill the space – that would help young people get jobs and also help the older generation that have done their bit for society and get to enjoy the last few years of their life."

The petition was launched on June 25, 2026, and is open until December 25, 2026.

It needs 10,000 signatures before the Government will respond. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament, although reaching that threshold does not guarantee that a debate will take place.


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State Pension age

The petition does not set out a specific new State Pension age.

Instead, it argues that lowering the age at which workers can receive their State Pension could encourage more older people to retire, potentially creating opportunities for younger workers.

The proposal is therefore a campaigner's idea rather than a Government policy announcement.

The petition will remain open until December 25, 2026.

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