The State Pension age is increasing from 66 to 67. This change has already begun and will be fully in place by 2028. It applies equally to men and women and follows previously agreed pension legislation.
Summary of the State Pension change
Your exact State Pension age depends on your date of birth:
- Born on or before 5 April 1960
→ Your State Pension age remains 66 - Born on 6 April 1960
→ Your State Pension age becomes 66 years and 1 month
→ Earliest claim date: 6 May 2026 - Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961
→ Your State Pension age increases gradually in monthly steps
→ Each additional month later in birth date = one extra month added to pension age
→ Your claim date will vary depending on your exact birth date - Born on or after 6 March 1961
→ Your State Pension age is 67
→ Example: someone born on 6 March 1961 reaches pension age on 6 March 2028
How the phased increase works
- The increase happens in monthly increments, not all at once
- The key cutoff is 6 April 1960, anyone born after this enters the phased rise
- Even a one-day difference in birth date can change your pension age
Other things to note:
- The State Pension is the earliest age you can claim the government pension, though you can retire earlier if you have other income
- The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) usually sends a notification about one month before your pension starts
- You can check your exact date using official online calculators
What comes next?
- Anyone born before 5 April 1977 will have a State Pension age of no more than 67 under current rules
- A further increase to 68 is scheduled between 2044 and 2046, though this could change after future reviews
What you should do
- Check your exact State Pension age using official tools
- Plan ahead for any income gap before payments begin
- Review workplace or private pensions to see if they can bridge the gap
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the State Pension age move to 67, and who faces the change first?
The State Pension age will increase from 66 to 67 in a phased timetable beginning in 2026. People born in a window around the early 1960s will see their State Pension age shift gradually; those born later in the 1960s and into the 1970s will reach SPA at 67 under current rules. Exact affected birthdate ranges depend on the government timetable set by legislation.
How can someone check their State Pension age using their birth date?
Individuals can use the government’s online State Pension age calculator or official guidance pages to input their date of birth and get a specific SPA. The calculator accounts for the phased increases and any scheduled future rises, producing a precise day when entitlement begins.
Which laws or reviews set future increases in the State Pension age?
Parliamentary Acts and periodic government reviews establish and amend the State Pension age. Recent changes were implemented under pension legislation and statutory timetables, while independent or government-led reviews examine longer-term shifts (for example, proposals to move SPA further to 68). Any legally binding change requires parliamentary approval and published timelines.
How could a rise to SPA 67 affect retirement arrangements and access to workplace pensions?
Raising SPA shifts the age at which State Pension income starts, which may cause some people to defer retirement or rely more on private and workplace pensions earlier. Occupational and personal pension schemes with normal pension ages tied to SPA may adjust benefit access or retirement options, so members should check scheme rules and consider whether to take benefits earlier, bridge the gap with savings, or plan phased retirement.
Will people near retirement get protections or advance notice of changes?
Legislation and review processes typically include notice periods and transitional arrangements for cohorts close to the change, rather than retroactive cuts. Governments usually publish timetables well ahead to allow affected people time to prepare, but individuals should verify official guidance for any age-based protection or exceptions that apply to their birth cohort.
How might a higher State Pension age change eligibility for Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits?
Raising SPA can delay when someone becomes eligible for age-related means-tested benefits that are tied to reaching State Pension age, such as Pension Credit. This delay may affect household income and entitlement timing, so people should reassess eligibility rules and consider interim financial support or alternative benefit claims before reaching SPA.
