On 1 April 2022, all teachers were moved into the career average Teachers’ Pension Scheme, where the pension age is the same as the state pension age.

In March 2023, the Government confirmed that the state pension age will increase from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, meaning that the teachers’ pension age will increase to 67 along with this.  

This year’s NASUWT Annual Conference passed a resolution condemning this action by the Government and also condemned the Government’s decision to increase the state pension age, despite the long-term impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates being unknown.

The NASUWT National Executive observed that the UK state pension age is already amongst the highest of all OECD nations, before any further increase.

However, the increase in the state pension age to 67 is not the full story – the Government also announced in March this year that there will be a further review of the state pension age in the first two years of the next Parliament to consider whether it should increase to 68.

NASUWT Annual Conference confirmed the Union’s policy to break the link between the state pension age and the teachers’ pension age, to campaign against any increase in the state pension age and also to campaign for a reduction in the state pension age over time.

The NASUWT also pledged to work with sister trade unions, community groups and other civil society organisations to campaign for a lower state pension age.

The NASUWT is therefore working in partnership with the Unite Union and the TUC, to encourage members to support the Unite campaign ’68 is too late.’

One aim of the campaign is to persuade members to write to their MP asking for them to write to the Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Stephen Timms MP, calling for a Select Committee Enquiry into the benefits of lowering the pension age.

The NASUWT would be very grateful if you would write to your MP on this matter which is so important to members and to the teaching profession.     

The NASUWT will provide more information to members as this vital campaign against the increase in the state pension age develops. The NASUWT is completely committed to ending the ‘work till you drop’ culture which is part of the Government’s plans for teachers and other working people.