A new petition in the UK is getting public attention. It asks the government to reduce the State Pension age to 60 for people with disabilities who have been unemployed for over five years. The goal is to help them retire earlier and receive financial support without staying stuck on unemployment benefits. Let’s explore what this petition says, who started it, and how it could affect future pension rules in the UK.
What the Petition Is Asking For
The petition is hosted on the UK Government and Parliament petitions website. It requests a rule change that allows:
- Disabled people aged 60 and above
- Who have been unemployed for at least five years
- To start receiving their State Pension immediately
The person who started the petition says that making disabled people stay on unemployment benefits when they clearly cannot return to work is both unfair and stressful—for the person and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The idea is simple: if someone over 60 has a disability and has not worked for a long time, they should be allowed to retire early with dignity instead of being forced to wait until age 66 or more.
How Many People Have Signed?
So far, the petition has received 300 signatures. It’s still early days, but support could grow. According to UK petition rules:
- At 10,000 signatures, the Government must respond
- At 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament
The petition was created by George Bolgar and is open until 6 November 2025, giving it plenty of time to gain traction.
Current State Pension Rules in the UK
As of now, you can only claim your State Pension when you reach the official pension age, which is:
- 66 years for both men and women
- This age is expected to rise in the future
Two Types of State Pension:
- Basic State Pension – For men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953
- New State Pension – For those born after those dates
You must have enough National Insurance (NI) contributions to qualify. Also, there is no fixed retirement age—you can choose to work beyond 66 if you like.
Why This Petition Is Important
This petition focuses on a group that is often overlooked—disabled people over 60 who are unlikely to work again. Forcing them to stay on benefits can cause:
- Mental stress
- Financial problems
- Health issues
It also puts more pressure on government systems like Jobcentres and the DWP.
By allowing early pension access, these people could have:
- A more secure income
- Better quality of life
- Less pressure from job-seeking rules
It may also lead to wider conversations on whether pension age should be flexible, depending on someone’s health or work history.
The petition to lower the State Pension age to 60 for long-term unemployed disabled people is more than just a policy suggestion—it’s a call for fairness and dignity. While it has only a few hundred signatures so far, it has time to grow. If it reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will have to respond. If it reaches 100,000, it could be debated in Parliament, possibly leading to real policy change.
FAQs
What is the new UK pension petition about?
It asks the Government to allow disabled people over 60, who have been unemployed for 5+ years, to claim their State Pension early.
Who started the petition to lower the pension age?
The petition was started by George Bolgar and is open until 6 November 2025.
What is the current UK State Pension age?
The current State Pension age is 66. It may increase further in the future.
How many signatures does a petition need for a government response?
A petition needs 10,000 signatures for a government response and 100,000 to be considered for a Parliamentary debate.
How can early pension access help disabled people?
It provides financial support, reduces mental stress, and allows those unable to work to retire with dignity.
I agree with this, I worked for years with someone who had various health issues. It was heartbreaking to see them , struggling to cope. I knew this person could not afford to lose his job, so often helped him, in my own time. If he could have retired earlier, I k ow he would have done. Itbis grossly unfair to think everyone is still fit for work, at over 70 years of age.
It would be good news for those people who are disable and having severe disability and been out of work over 5 years plus to retire at age 60 years old.
Can someone claim pension who are 60 years old to 65 years old and have severe disability.
This would help pensioners a Great deal I have long term conditions and would never be able to do a job again everyday is a struggle for me even just getting out of bed is extremely hard work so for me to ever work again is impossible.
Without shadow of a doubt, is simple arithmetic. What sense does it make for someone who is weak in health, disabled with injuries as a result of long time work, standing or sitting and cannot even go shopping on her own to keep parading the job centre from week to week only to sign on. I think this group of people should be entitled to early retirement. Is good for them and is good for government.
Yes this is good news for disability people I am 64 I will not work again with neve damage carbull tunnel musculoskeletal disease glaucoma
This should of been in action years ago I’m coming up to 66 I’ve suffered with ulcerative colitis since I was 25 also I suffer with PTSD after being assaulted I have osteopenia arthritis in my neck & on top of that getting over having breast cancer in Dec last year my health is against me getting a job even though I would love to work again but my mental health & anxiety is against me I am worried about the government stopping benefits as I really don’t think it’s fair especially while they are giving money away nilly willy it’s really unfair
I agree with these proposals.
I am registered disabled, with long term health issues and live in perpetual fear of losing my benefits.
I am 60 and unemployed therefore not pensionable age yet.
I agree to this proposal. I wished it work for people like me. I always worked all my life here, now I have cancer and stopped working since 2019. Its a struggle and so anxious with claiming PIP, worried as they are planning to change PIP. Government wants disabled people to go back to work. What are you doing to us? You should help your own people first than anyone else. You don’t have a heart.
I agree I have sever asthma and my boss has sacked me I’m struggling with food cost and prescription and had universal credit taken away what is the prime minister going to help vulnerable pensioners
Yes this proposal should be put through if you can’t work through a disability or long term illness then you should receive state pension and live you life in peace and without fear
That’s great news I’m 62 with learning problems at my age I can’t sea me going back to work any time soon if the government keep putting up pension a lot of people won’t sea their pension at all sow it’s a winner for peaple with disabled people
This idea is great.as it is fair and show our humanity for being kind, thoughtful, and sympathetic towards others. Therefore, I’ll plead with the public support it.
You can’t have a 2 tier retirement age ,it’s unfair on people who work all their lives ,a lot of disabled people enjoy going to work so they can keep their independence as long as possible ,a lot more would ‘use ‘ the system to retire sooner claiming more benefits than they can get now ,
This is such a great decision to change state pension to 60.The stress of being on other benefits takes its toll on a person.I couldn’t go back to work and it was a financial burden on my family .Having to keep getting Dr’s certificates for years when they new I couldn’t work .
This will make a huge difference in people’s life .
The best decision the Labour Party will make .
This needs signatures over 100.000 please sign this so this can go through in government .
This is great news for people who are disabled and health problems I am 6 1 years old and I had severe asthma and so many other illnesses
This is so necessary. My daughter is quite disabled at 63. With mental health issues.
Just please realise enough income will be given to allow independent living.
I am 64 left work due to long covid have paid 46 years national insurance unable to work again and now have to wait until 66 and 7 months for my pension if i live to see it in all honesty
Sight is a big issue for me. Glaucoma debilitated. I haven’t been able to see clearly for about ten years. I have only just had my second cataract removal still recovering…slowed down by queues at NHS after COVID era. There are other issues too, health-wise; Osteoarthritis etc. From age 60-66 has been a trial by fire. I retire next year age 66. I am not alone with this of course and my sympathy goes out to others with their own problems. To round up…I feel like a beggar…cap in hand to DWP. Not very dignified I can assure you. This would be a true turnaround. Hope it happens.
I think its a good plan if you are disabled and 60+ you arent fit for work than yes you should be awarded pip it’s so wrong that disabled people should have to worry about pip it’s not right and it’s not fair it’s unjust
I agree with; why let people with disabilities work until the current retirement age, where there are lots of young people of working age using mental health issues and abusing it claim benefits and not working.
Anyways I have no comments I have health issues but the govt. Makes rules and do not consider so what van I say
If this was allowed I’m sure the goverment will find another way of taking money away from poor people as RACHEL REEVES STATED ON TV AFTER LABOUR GOT IN IF YOU DNT WORK LABOUR ISNT FOR YOU THOSE WORDS R FIRMLY IN MY HEAD am 100% if she had said this before the election they wouldn’t have got in and on this early pension age they make us think its our idea n then watch us struggle t get the numbers t agree FOR VERY GOOD REASON I TRUST NOBODY SORRY THERE WILL BE A CATCH SOMEWHERE ITS JUST WHEN THEY DECIDE TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT IT ASK YOURSELVES WOULD U VOTE THEM IN EVER AGAIN WHEN THEY PROMISE ONE THING N THEN STAB EVERYONE IN THE BACK DONT MATTER WHO ARE
I totally agree with this proposal as I have many chronic health conditions with the first one diagnosed at the age of 3, now I’m going on to 47 now with 9 chronic illnesses. All my life I have struggled with financial stress as when I tried working my health would not allow me to keep working.
With only getting PIP and now that is about to all change is not enough to live on and have savings and worry how i will manage in my older life.
Changing the state pension age for the disabled would be one less thing to worry about.
Yes a good proposal. Why should you made to seek work when no employee will take you on . If you paid in should able to draw pension
What about us who live in Thailand I am 74 years old and get my pension. But my pension has been stopped .
Trying to get touch with DWP to sort it out
But can not
Hello John Holmes,
You have to live in UK again for getting your pension.
Having had to wait to age 66 to be able þo retire from manual work with ongoing permanent health issues. I totally agree with person’s who have disabilities are able to retire at aged 60.
If this was the case for us now retirees who needed to work until 66, our physical and mental health would have been more manageable.
I agree with this .