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UK Pension Squeeze Deepens as Healthy Life Expectancy Falls and Age Rise Begins in April

The triple lock lifts the new weekly payment to £241.30 from April 6, 2026.

Overview

  • ONS data show healthy life expectancy has dropped to 60.7 years for men and 60.9 for women in 2022–24, the lowest since the series began.
  • The State Pension age starts phasing up from 66 in April 2026 for those born after April 6, 1960, reaching 67 by 2028.
  • The Government has confirmed 2026/27 uprating under the triple lock, taking the full new State Pension to £241.30 a week and the basic rate to £184.90.
  • Forecasts indicate the full new State Pension will exceed the £12,570 Personal Allowance in April 2027, and the Chancellor has pledged those with only the State Pension will not be taxed this Parliament.
  • The Normal Minimum Pension Age for private pots rises from 55 to 57 in 2028, and many retirees will not get the full rate due to NI gaps, past contracting-out or frozen payments overseas.