Minister Torsten Bell has urged people to check online if they are affected by state pension age changes as the retirement age increases from 66 to 67

A DWP minister has urged people to check whether they will be affected by an upcoming change to the state pension. Senior minister Torsten Bell encouraged the public to visit the Government’s website to find out if they are affected.

The minister addressed the Work and Pensions Committee regarding proposed changes to the state pension age. The qualifying age for the benefit is set to rise from this April, increasing from 66 in stages, before reaching 67 by April 2028.

The state pension age is scheduled to rise once more, from 67 to 68, between 2044 and 2046. Mr Bell discussed what support is available for those who face a longer wait before retiring and must remain in employment as a result.

He also outlined how individuals can determine whether they are affected by the rise in state pension age. On this matter, he confirmed that advertisements have been issued “encouraging people to go and check their state pension age”, directing people to an online resource.

The minister said: “There are digital tools that enable people to know their state pension age. All people need to do is put their date of birth into the Work out your State Pension age tool and it tells them straight away.” This tool is available via the Government website, reports the Mirror.

The tool can also be used to check your bus pass age and when you will become eligible for free bus travel. Mr Bell referenced a survey suggesting that 96 per cent of people aged 60 to 64 find it very or fairly straightforward to find out their state pension age.

The minister said: “That is good news. Our wider work is to drive people to those tools. Some of that is around radio campaigns-you will probably hear some of those-where the evidence shows it is most likely to have an effect. They have higher trust in radio advertising than others.”

Letters going out

He noted that the previous Conservative Government had contacted all those affected by the gradual transition from age 66 to 67, in 2016. He added that the DWP under the current Government intends to carry on writing to individuals as they approach retirement age.

Mr Bell said: “Three million letters have already gone to people who will be in the 67 cohort-the ones that are coming after 2028. I am sure we need to keep doing more on that front.”

The minister revealed that the DWP is also working “closely” with employers to ensure they are fully informed of the shifting state pension age. He elaborated: “We work with HMRC, who have bulletins that go directly to employers.

“It is important that it is not just about individuals knowing about the state pension age. Part of this is about employers expecting workers to either need or want to work later, so the communication is also with them.”