The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) previously confirmed the State Pension age will rise for anyone born on or after April 6, 1977 as part of a wider, phased increase. A change to the State Pension age in the UK has begun, with the age legislated to rise from 66 to 67 in phases between April 2026 and 2028.
This gradual increase means people whose 66th birthday falls within the transitional period now face a longer wait to become eligible to claim the State Pension. A further age increase is planned, which will affect anyone in the cohort born after April 6, 1977. Another State Pension age increase is set to take place in the 2040s, rising to 68 between 2044 and 2046. It means younger Brits will have to wait even longer until they reach retirement age and get to start claiming their State Pension.
The State Pension age is normally reviewed every six years, and while the current timetable remains on track, the DWP is weighing up whether the transition to age 68 should be accelerated, despite the previous review having only been completed in 2023.
Last year, ministers revived the Pensions Commission to consider the current policy amid concerns that older people aren’t saving up enough for their retirement years.
It will “examine why tomorrow’s pensioners are on track to be poorer than today’s and make recommendations for change”.
Alongside the Commission, the Government has also launched the State Pension Age Review, as required by law, commissioning two independent reports for ministers to consider when deciding the State Pension age for future decades:
- Dr Suzy Morrissey, deputy director of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), will report on factors government should weigh up relating to State Pension age.
- The Government Actuary’s Department will prepare a report on the proportion of adult life in retirement.
Any changes must be rubber-stamped via votes in Parliament before they can become law.
So while the current timetable for the increase to 68 remains in place, it could change depending on what the reviews conclude, and how ministers respond.
The timetable for the age change, as confirmed by the DWP, is as follows:
- Born between April 6, 1977 – May 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on May 6, 2044
- Born between May 6, 1977 – June 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on July 6, 2044
- Born between June 6,1977 – July 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on September 6, 2044
- Born between July 6, 1977 – August 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on November 6, 2044
- Born between August 6, 1977 – September 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on January 6, 2045
- Born between September 6, 1977 – October 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on March 6, 2045
- Born between October 6, 1977 – November 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on May 6, 2045
- Born between November 6, 1977 – December 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age on July 6, 2045
- Born between December 6, 1977 – January 5, 1978 – Reach State Pension age on September 6, 2045
- Born between January 6, 1978 – February 5, 1978 – Reach State Pension age on November 6, 2045
- Born between February 6, 1978 – March 5, 1978 – Reach State Pension age on January 6, 2046
- Born between March 6, 1978 – April 5, 1978 – Reach State Pension age on March 6, 2046
- Born April 6, 1978 onwards – Reach State Pension age on 68th birthday
Commenting on the planned age increase to 68, the DWP said: “Under the Pensions Act 2007, the State Pension age for men and women will increase from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
“The Pensions Act 2014 provides for a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every 5 years. The review will be based on the idea that people should be able to spend a certain proportion of their adult life drawing a State Pension. The first review must be completed by May 2017.
“As well as life expectancy, it will take into account a range of factors relevant to setting the pension age. After the review has been reported, the government may then choose to bring forward changes to the State Pension age. Any proposals to do so would, like now, have to go through Parliament before becoming law.
“The government is not planning to revise the existing timetables for the equalisation of State Pension age to 65 or the rise in the State Pension age to 66 or 67. However the timetable for the increase in the State Pension age from 67 to 68 could change as a result of the review.
“In the Autumn Statement on 5 December 2013, the Chancellor announced that this government believes that future generations should spend up to a third of their adult life in retirement. This principle implies that State Pension age should rise to 68 by the mid-2030s, and 69 by the late 2040s.
“However, the government is not currently legislating for this change – these dates are indicative only, showing a general direction of travel for future State Pension age changes.”
