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DWP State Pension Age Rise Sparks Fairness Debate Amid Declining UK Healthy Life Expectancy

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 pension dwp health retirement inequality uk aging policy lifeexpectancy government

The rising age for claiming the state pension has ignited frustration among claimants, especially as healthy life expectancy in the UK has fallen significantly. Recent data reveals that between 2012-14 and 2022-24, healthy life expectancy across the UK population declined by two years, now averaging 60.7 years for men and 60.9 years for women. This trend poses a pressing challenge for older individuals approaching the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state pension age, which is set to increase.