Ministers said they had brought the review forward to respond to changing demographic and economic circumstances. Explaining the change in the timing of the review, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Evidence suggests that allowing older people to continue working, unfettered by negative views about ageing, could be a big factor in the success of Britain's businesses and our future economic growth."
The majority of people retire before 65, but 1.3 million people work beyond state pension age. The review had been expected in 2011 but will now take place next year.
