'Warnings that people may not get a penny of state pension before age 80 is an affront to hard-working citizens in poorer health in later life'

SUGGESTIONS that the state pension age could be increased to 80 have been branded an insult to those who have toiled all their lives.

- By Jonathan Walker

But there were calls last night for an honest dialogue about the growing cost of the state pension.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has launched a review of the state pension age, which is 66 and due to rise to 67 by 2028, before reaching 68 by 2046.

One expert has suggested people could be forced to wait until they are 80 before becoming eligible for the pension, currently a maximum of £230.25 a week.

Jack Carmichael of consultants Barnett Waddingham said costs could soar if life expectancy rose faster than expected in areas where it is currently low. He said: "Keeping the cost at a similar proportion of GDP would then require a massive increase in the state pension age, potentially up to the dizzying heights of 80."

Pensions expert Ros Altmann, a former pensions minister, said: "The predictions of rising state pension age get increasingly outlandish with every new report.

"The latest warnings that people may not get a penny of state pension before age 80 is an affront to hardworking citizens who find themselves in poorer health in later life, especially after decades of National Insurance contributions or a heavy manual labour career."