Pensioner benefits

IFS response to Andy Burnham's triple lock announcement. 

As the state pension age rises to 67, we ask who can keep working longer, who cannot, and what the future of retirement looks like.

We study four reforms that cut non-health-related benefit provision and find each reform led to increased disability benefit claims.

Personal tax thresholds have been frozen since 2023 or earlier, meaning inflation erodes their real value. Extending freezes to 2029–30 raises £8bn.

The triple lock creates unpredictability in public spending and disproportionately benefits better-off pensioners. A better approach is needed.

Should benefits be universal or means-tested? We trace the history of UK welfare from Beveridge to today.

This report studies a group disproportionately affected by state pension age increases: those who had left paid work before the state pension age.

IFS Deputy Director, Jonathan Cribb, delivered the presentation as part of CEPR's Economics of Longevity and Ageing conference.

With the Pensions Commission launched this week, this article outlines three focus areas from the IFS's Pension Review

This article assesses the outlook for future retirees whilst also providing policy recommendations and a blueprint to improve the UK pension system.

IFS Deputy Director, Carl Emmerson, delivered the presentation as part of NIESR's Demographics and Finance half day conference.

Government needs to act swiftly to secure a stronger, sustainable pension system fit for the future

We provide concrete recommendations to improve the UK pension system to secure better standards of living for future pensioners.

The income threshold below which pensioners will be eligible for the winter fuel payment (WFP) is set to rise.

In this comment we consider what options the government has to expand WFP eligibility

On average, women who remained in work for longer following increases in the state pension age saw improved cognition and less physical disability.

At this online event, IFS researchers presented new research highlighting key issues with the benefit system around retirement age.

This IFS Pensions Review report sets out issues with the current means-tested benefit system for those approaching the state pension age and beyond.