People will have to "work until they drop" if the Government speeds up moves to increase the state pension age, MPs have heard.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride declined to comment on the Government's thinking on its pensions plans ahead of the Budget on March 15.
A phased increase in state pension age from 66 to 67 by 2028, and eventually 68, are already planned. But there has been speculation that the increase to 68 could be brought forward.
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SNP social justice spokesman David Linden told the House of Commons: "Does the Secretary of State understand and agree that expediting the rise in the state pension age is less about life expectancy, which the ONS (Office for National Statistics) shows is very much arrested and is actually a cost-cutting measure for the Treasury.
"So can he come to the despatch box and tell the House what representation he has made to the Chancellor (Jeremy Hunt) about this view in advance of next week's Budget, or is it the UK's policy that you should just work until you drop?"
Mr Stride replied: "He's prejudging an awful lot of potential outcomes there. I think he should wait until the Chancellor and I have taken those particular decisions.
"But there are a variety of metrics which I'm focused on, life expectancy being one of them, but also a regional impact, the fiscal impact certainly cannot be ignored and I'd be surprised if he was suggesting otherwise, also fairness between generations and of course the period of life in which one is expected to be healthy in later years is also an important consideration."
Earlier in the questions sessions, Mr Stride would not guarantee that people could expect to continue to spend a third of their life as a pensioner.
Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne asked: "Is it realistic to continue to expect people to spend a third of their lives on a pension?"
Mr Stride replied: "I am afraid despite the fact that I have great respect for him and he tempts me to answer that question, I cannot prejudge the decisions that I take in the review."
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