Does bitcoin offer strong investment potential for the long term? : Changes to the State Pension mean that demand for an alternative source of income in retirement is likely to increase. The new State Pension works out at little over £164 per week, which is simply insufficient for many people to even cover the basic cost of living. And with the pension age set to increase to 67 in the coming years, as well as the potential for further increases in subsequent years, the prospect of living off the state in retirement does not seem to be appealing.