Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of increasing the state pension age on levels of life expectancy.

No such assessment has been made however the Pensions Act 2014 provides a statutory framework, which commits future governments to regular and structured review of the State Pension age at least once every six years.

There is no conclusive evidence that working around State Pension age has an effect on life expectancy. There is a strong evidence base showing that employment is generally good for physical and mental health and well-being, and that overall, the beneficial effects of work outweigh the risks of work, and are greater than the harmful effects of long-term unemployment or prolonged sickness absence (Waddell and Burton 2006). Evidence further suggests that leaving the labour market early can be harmful to overall well-being with those who experience a decline in social interaction in retirement seeing a negative impact on their health.