The UK State Pension age is currently in the process of rising from 66 to 67 (Image: Getty)
The next State Pension age increases have been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which will affect when people with certain birth dates will receive their State Pension.
The State Pension age in the UK is currently rising from 66 to 67, with the change introduced in one-month phases over a two-year period, which will be completed in 2028. The age increase affects anyone born from April 6, 1960, onwards, but the exact impact of the change depends on when your birthday falls. The first phase of the age change got underway on April 6 at the start of the new tax year, affecting people with 66th birthdays between April 6, 1960, and May 5, 1960. Under the DWP timetable, those who turned 66 between these dates reached State Pension age at exactly 66 years and one month.
But State Pension eligibility becomes further delayed the later your 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time, meaning some people will only be a month or two away from turning 67 by the time they can claim their State Pension.
For example, if you are due to turn 66 from October 6, you will face an extra seven-month wait before you officially reach State Pension age, meaning you cannot claim your State Pension until at least May 6. Meanwhile, those with 66th birthdays even later in the year will have to wait even longer.
So far, five phases of the DWP timetable for the State Pension age increase have now fully completed, and the sixth phase, affecting those born between September 6, 1960 and October 5, 1960, is currently underway.
But there are still another six phases to go until the age increase from 66 to 67 is complete, with the next one due to get underway next month, from October 6.
The DWP has confirmed the following State Pension age increases by birth date, which will see people born within these dates become eligible for the State Pension at age 66 plus a specified number of months:
December 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961: 66 years and 9 months
January 6, 1961 – February 5, 1961: 66 years and 10 months
February 6, 1961 – March 5, 1961: 66 years and 11 months
March 6, 1961 – April 5, 1977: 67 years
The DWP said: “The Pensions Act 2014 brought the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 forward by eight years. The State Pension age for men and women will now increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
“The Government also changed the way in which the increase in State Pension age is phased so that rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will reach their State Pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months.
“For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.”
The State Pension age is set to rise once again between 2044 and 2046 to age 68, meaning younger generations face an even longer wait until they reach State Pension age and can start claiming their State Pension.
But the age increase could potentially take place sooner following the launch of an early review in the UK State Pension age. Normally, this is carried out every six years but the DWP is currently reviewing whether the transition to age 68 should be accelerated, despite the previous review having only been completed in 2023.
While the current timetable for the State Pension age increase remains on track, the third official review could change it and potentially bring the next age change forward.
