To think workplace/private pensions will be used like this in future?

Yes I know sorry I meant to quote them not you however it's unusual not to be able to take a pension early.

This is a great analysis and I think exactly where we are headed. There can be a very quick turn in the tide of opinion from "of course the state must help" to "scroungers should look after themselves".

Student finance is a great example of this and it's also happening in benefits generally (even disability benefits which people used to generally exempt from criticism) and also with social housing.

Even making sure children are fed is no longer a "thing" - you see it on here all the time that people should just have the children they can afford. Presumably it's fine for kids to go hungry and more fool them for picking shit parents.

I’m in TPS. Can access it 10 years prior to SPA at a reduced amount. As TPS is no longer final salary but career average, I think early retirees will no longer be the norm. I can’t survive on my TPS for 10 years. I can’t imagine teaching at 68 though so need a back up plan!

The post I was replying to specifically said they can’t access until state retirement age

I actually think it’s far more likely that instead of the workhouse euthanasia will become the way that people cope with retirement.

And what if you are NHS or teacher and you can't get your private pension till same age as state?

Most retirement dates are flexible. Especially for DC pensions where it's simply a case of what the pot value is when you decide to take it (over 55) DB pensions can often be accessed early though there will be a reduction for every year before the normal retirement date.

Yep. Pretty much the case now.

I’m think that’s what I’ll do. In 9 years time our mortgage will be paid so my plan is to use that money to put into an ISA. I just feel a bit helpless at moment that I’m not “doing more”.

Before very long, the idea of the state paying you a pension after getting to a certain age will be the same as the idea of the state paying your university tuition fees (let alone a grant) for you.

My age-group was one of the very last to be able to scrape through uni without ever having to pay tuition fees.

Interestingly, whenever the topic of tuition fees comes up now - including the regular increases, ostensibly to reflect the true rising costs of the system - the reaction from politicians (a great many of whom enjoyed completely free uni tuition themselves) is not one of apologising that it apparently sadly has to be this way, and acknowledging that it's clearly very disappointing not to benefit like previous generations did; but rather one of anger and accusation: demanding to know just where students expect the state to fund it from, and why on earth shouldn't they expect to pay their own way?

Sadly, I can see state pensions going the same way: not just scrapped before very long, but people (including those who, despite working very hard, have had the lowest incomes throughout their lives) being blamed and insulted for not having made provision for themselves; what CFs they must be for actually expecting a free ride in life courtesy of the taxpayer.

To add insult to injury, this will include a very large group for a period of a few decades who will be paying their taxes for the older folk qualifying for the tail-end of the current state pension scheme, whilst never getting to benefit from it themselves.

Same here. planning to take my NHS pension at 60 with lump sum. Forecast is around £900 a month so I'm going to have to be very frugal or hopefully find some kind of part time work.

Im 63 and can't take my state pension until I'm 67. I have paid into a generous company pension for 22 years. I'm planning on retiring next year (august) and the forecast is £800 a month with a lump sum. I don't have much in the way of savings so will have to be very frugal.

It’s almost meaningless though as if someone doesn’t have a full state pension and doesn’t have a private pension they can end up with pension credit instead which is still a cost

It already happens. Plenty of people get made redundant in their early sixties and move to part time roles because that is all they can find.

Their mortgages have shrunk, children have left home, so financial commitments are less.

Or they could increase the number of years NI needed to qualify.

Most people work 45 years, so increasing the NI years to 40, from 35, would make sense.

I think it is more likely that the government will raise the state pension age , rather than means tested it.

it would need to go to 71 then which I think is pretty outrageous

This is not financial advice.

I would get a separate private pension to bridge the gap for early retirement or reduced hours. I’m in the Civil Service with a great pension but it is linked to state pension age. I’m bridging the gap rather than switching out. It isn’t ideal but better than a potentially smaller pension by the end.

This is not pensions advice as I don’t know your specific circumstances but I’d look properly into that before you do as you are likely to end up with far less overall even though you can take earlier. For a start you would lose your employer contribution, if you opt out of the pension scheme it’s unlikely they’ll give you the money instead. Also if you were saving outside of a pension you lose the tax relief on the contribution.

That's how it is in Australia. Everyone has 'super' that can be accessed at 60. Once you get to (67?) if you don't have enough money left to fund yourself, you can access an old age pension. But it is means tested.

New state pension is far more than basic UC unless those people are getting the extra disability elements of UC added as well.

People have been drawing on private pensions pre state retirement age for years. Also saving in ISAs to bridge the gap. I’m a public sector worker and we get a decent pension but older people under can draw the money under the old scheme at 60 and most do. Younger people often have a small private pension or a plan of some sort to drop hours at around 60. If not an actual pension then savings or downsizing or hopefully reducing expenses so they can manage on less.

I think the “she’s worked hard her whole life and is entitled to her pension” narrative is harmful to retirement planning. People get it into their heads that “working hard” means they don’t have to do any planning as they have “paid in their whole life” to the state pension and therefore it’s someone else’s fault that that won’t be enough to live on. The state pension is basic and kicks in at a time that lots of people will be struggling to maintain full time hours

I think it is more likely that the government will raise the state pension age , rather than means tested it. Then anyone not able to work can claim disaster benefits for the gap and everyone else can work or self fund.

I also think more people will work part time.e in retirement. I plan on getting a job for 2 or 3 days a week in a garden centre at retirement age, assuming I am physically capable. The desire to enjoy your retirement travelling and doing sports etc just isn't likely to continue being a thing for many.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the life expectancy in the UK around 1912 was around 51 years for males and 55 years for females.

This wasn't because most adults died in their 50s though, it's because of higher infant mortality rates.

But while people are living longer, that doesn't mean people are going to necessarily be healthier and able to work into their 70s.

1900 - 1942
The modern state pension began with the introduction of the Old Age Pension in 1909. It was paid from 70, a ripe old age at the time

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the life expectancy in the UK around 1912 was around 51 years for males and 55 years for females.

1942 - 1980
It was funded by National Insurance contributions paid by all workers, although initially married women were excluded. The State Pension Age was 60 years for women and 65 years for men.

In 1960, the average life expectancy in the United Kingdom was 70.61 years. Men could expect to live to age 66.6, while women could expect to live to age 73.1

In 2025, the median projected life expectancy in the UK is 82.84 years. The upper 95th percentile is 83.93 years, and the lower 95th percentile is 81.71 years

People are living longer, overall more healthy.

Although, if you are on a low income now then you probably won't be expecting much in retirement - people tend to want to maintain their lifestyle in retirement and so keep a comparable income. The less you can live on now the less you'll be aiming for in retirement

The problem will come when those who are currently getting their income boosted by Universal Credit etc find it stops at State Pension age and their full State Pension excludes them from Pension Credit.