The idea of raising the pension age in Britain to 70 has been slammed by a leading industry body.

The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association has called for no further increases stating that it would cause 'unacceptable detriment' to a large swathe of society - especially those with a low life expectancy and in poor health.

It comes in response to one of the two major reports that the Government has commissioned into the future of the state pension age from expert bodies, as it prepares for a review.

Putting on the brakes: Supposed government plans to raise the pension age in Britain to 70, have been slammed by a leading UK body

The PLSA was responding to the independent review by Sir John Cridland, a separate review by the Government Actuary Department is also being carried out.

In November, Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat former pensions minister, claimed that he found out about planned pension-age rises buried in Department for Work and Pensions documents.

Under current plans the state pension age will hit 68 in 2044. According to Webb, this could then rise again to 70.

The Government says it has no current plan to raise the pension age to 70.

A DWP spokesperson said: 'As society changes, it’s right that we regularly review the state pension age. That’s why we asked Sir John Cridland to conduct an independent review.

'Whilst no decision has been made, people are living and working longer than ever before, which is why it is important we get this right to ensure the system stays fair and sustainable for generations to come.'

The state pension age has changed in response to increasing longevity. For years, the age at which you can claim your state pension benefits was 65 for men and 60 for women.

But the age at which women qualify for the state pension is in the process of rising from 60 to 65 by November 2018, with the exact date depending on the month you were born.

Between October 2018 and October 2020, both men and women's state pension age will increase to 66. And between 2026 and 2028, it will rise again to 67.

The next increase to 68 was legislated in the Pensions Act 2007 and is due to commence in April 2044.

The PLSA also highlighted that the UK is already set to have, at 68, the highest state pension age of any OECD country.

Running trend: Between October 2018 and October 2020, both men and women's state pension age will increase to 66 - and between 2026 and 2028, it will rise again to 67

The new report also highlights the differences in life expectancy that exist across regions in England and Wales.

In the most deprived areas, males at 65 can expect to live eight years less of their lives in 'good' health compared with the most affluent areas, while women face a gap of even years.

For example, a woman in Richmond upon Thames could expect to live to 72 in good health, whereas a woman in Manchester was likely to be in poor health from her mid-50s.

These statistics underlie the reality for many people who will not be able to stay in work until they reach state pension age due to ill-health or simply because the job market cannot accommodate them.

The PLSA also brings attention to the impact changes to the state pension age will have on some pension schemes, especially those with defined benefit schemes.

Many of those schemes still retain links to the state pension which would be affected in different ways by any changes to the mechanism for calculating the state pension age.

The PLSA has also recommended that the so-called ‘triple lock’ is replaced by indexation in line with earnings so that the state pension maintains its current value of around 30 per cent of average (median) earnings.

The triple lock, introduced under David Cameron, ensures that the state pension goes up every year by inflation, earnings growth or 2.5 per cent, whichever is the highest.

Graham Vidler, the director of external affairs for the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said: 'We believe the fairest approach for current and future generations of pensioners is to drop the triple lock and halt further increases in state pension age.

'A state pension maintained at 30 per cent of average earnings can provide a strong basis for future retirement incomes.

'Removing the triple lock can keep it affordable without the need to increase State Pension age still further to the detriment of people with poorer health.

'We also believe that proposals for a variable pension age, while attractive in tackling socio-economic differences, would sacrifice the simplicity and clarity of the current system.

'On balance, we support the current system of a single state pension age for all.'

When can you get the state pension?

The exact date that you get your state pension will depend on the year you were born. You can work this out using the state pension calculator or referring to the Department for Work and Pensions tables below.

Changes: Women will see the state pension age move to 65 by 2018

Increases: By 2020 the state pension age will be 66 for both men and women

Rises: Both men and women will see the state pension age rise to 67 towards the end of the next decade

Above 67: This table gives only indicative dates as it depends if the government has made any changes

Who can get a state pension?

Not everyone is entitled to the full state pension, which is a regular payment from the government until you die. Eligibility depends on meeting certain criteria.

As well as being the required age, you must have made National Insurance contributions during your working like, or have paid voluntary National Insurance or be credited with them by the government.

Until April this year, workers needed to have 30 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions to get the full basic state pension, but everyone retiring after this will need 35 years of contributions to get the new flat rate state pension.

However, even if you paid in full for a whole 35 years, if you contracted out for some years on top of that it might still reduce what you get.

How much is the state pension?

The basic state pension is £119.30 a week. It is topped up by additional state pension entitlements - S2P and Serps - accrued during working years.

This two-tier system has changed for people retiring from 6 April 2016, replaced by a new 'flat rate' state pension. The starting rate is £155.65 a week.

However, people who have contracted out of S2P and Serps over the years will get less than this.

People who retire under the old system are allowed to top up their state pension to receive higher payouts. They also have the option of deferring it to get more.

If you postpone, then you have a choice when you do eventually take your state pension.

You can either receive extra state pension for the rest of your life, or a one-off, taxable lump-sum payment, equivalent to the benefits you put off claiming plus interest, as well as your regular weekly state pension.

Also, you can stop claiming the state pension after doing so for a period. And if you carry on working after state pension age, you don't have to carry on paying National Insurance contributions.

The state pension currently increases every year according to the Triple Lock, which means whichever is the highest of earnings growth, the inflation rate or 2.5 per cent.

The present Tory government has pledged to keep the Triple Lock until 202, but has ordered a review into how much the guarantee costs.