The petition is approaching the 100,000 signatures needed for Parliament to consider debating the issue. Supporters argue that people aged 65 to 67 can struggle to keep working because of ill health, caring responsibilities and limited job opportunities.
For those forced to stop working early, the gap before their State Pension begins can be costly.
Tim Grimsditch, managing director of financial advice platform Unbiased, said: “The Government has consistently rejected calls to lower the State Pension age, and the Third State Pension Age Review is currently underway to determine what the age should be in future decades.
“There’s a difficult balance here: the State Pension is one of the largest items of public spending, and allowing people to claim it earlier would mean paying it to more people for longer. Both sides of this are serious arguments.”
The petition can be viewed on the UK Parliament petitions website.
When will the State Pension age rise to 67?
The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67, with the change due to finish in March 2028. It affects people born between March 1961 and August 1977. Legislation already exists for it to rise to 68 later.
Private pensions can generally be accessed from 55, rising to 57 in April 2028. Anyone who stops working before claiming their State Pension may need to fund the gap themselves.
Grimsditch said: “The practical issue for most people isn’t the State Pension age itself – it’s the gap before it. Private pensions can generally be accessed from 55, rising to 57 in April 2028, while the State Pension now arrives at 67.
“Someone who stops working at 63 through ill health or caring responsibilities is funding four years entirely from their own provision.
“That’s the question the petition is really about, and it’s worth planning for regardless of what happens to it.”
How much is the State Pension?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week, or £12,547.60 a year. The amount people receive depends on their National Insurance record, so checking your State Pension forecast can help you understand what to expect.
Grimsditch said: “It also matters because the State Pension alone was never designed to cover everything. The full new rate is £241.30 a week, or £12,547.60 a year, and what you actually receive depends on your National Insurance record.”
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How to fund retirement before State Pension age
Workplace and personal pensions, savings and investments can provide extra retirement income. Pension contributions can benefit from tax relief, while money held outside a pension can offer another source of funds.
Grimsditch said: “Building additional income can mean a workplace or personal pension, where tax relief gives contributions a boost, or savings and investments held outside a pension. One change worth noting if you’re considering a cash ISA: the annual limit for under-65s falls to £12,000 from April 2027.”
He urged people approaching retirement to review their finances and work out how much income they will need.
He said: “If you’re within a decade of stopping work, the useful steps are checking your State Pension forecast, reviewing pensions you’ve accumulated along the way, and working out what income you’ll actually need.
“Decisions about when to access a pension, how much to draw, and what to keep invested make a substantial difference to how long the money lasts – and that’s where a qualified financial adviser earns their fee. It’s never too early, or too late, to start.”