Carers 'will lose £7k after rise in state pension age'

THOUSANDS of people caring for loved ones will be £7,000 worse off because of a state pension age rise that begins in April.

- BY JONATHAN WALKER

Others will be forced to survive on unemployment benefits because they are unable to work, campaigners have warned.

The state pension age is currently 66, but this will be gradually rising on a monthly basis from this April until it reaches 67 in March 2028.

It means that an estimated 820,000 66-year-olds will lose their entitlement to the state pension and other benefits such as Pension Credit.

The forthcoming change will save the government £10.5billion in 2029-30, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the official Treasury watchdog.