However, another debate surrounding the state pension was sparked last month when a petition urged the Government to lower the pension age.
People can currently access their pension pot at 66, but the petition argued that dropping the pension age could help the UK’s economy recover.
It said: “Young people are struggling to find work and losing their jobs, due to the pandemic.
“Why not allow older people to retire earlier, thereby freeing up jobs for young people?
“There would be a cost, however surely a far more positive cost than paying Universal Credit?
“Not to mention the option of restoring the balance back into young people’s favour and helping restore their future.”
However, pension expert at Aegon, Steven Cameron, has warned that reducing the age at which the state pension can be accessed would only mean a reduction in monthly payments.
He said in a statement: “The older the state pension age is, the more difficult it will be for some in stressful or manual occupations to keep working until state pension age.
“There is a case for Government to explore allowing people to choose to take their state pension from an earlier age, perhaps 63, but at a reduced amount to reflect the fact it is starting earlier and will be paid for longer.
“Offering early access at a reduced level could be a big help to many thousands. It’s already possible to defer taking state pension in return for an increased weekly amount.
“In the private pension space, pension freedoms have proved hugely popular in allowing people to take more control over when they start drawing their defined contribution pension and how much they take as their retirement progresses.
“But this is not mirrored in the state pension where despite the state pension age increasing, there is no flexibility to choose to take it early.
“This wouldn’t be without challenges and there would need to be a way of making sure people don’t end up with an income from state and private pensions below the means tested benefit level.
“Some checks and balances might be required but with some creative thinking, this issue shouldn’t be insurmountable and would be well worth the prize if it helps people with their transition into retirement.”
The weekly state pension for 2021/2022 is £179.60, a figure that many pensioners already deem to be ungenerous.
