The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the next nine State Pension age increases by birth date, which will affect when people can start claiming payments. The UK State Pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67, phased in gradually in one-month increments over a two-year period, completing in 2028.
Who Is Affected by the State Pension Age Rise?
The age increase affects anyone born from April 6, 1960, onwards, but the exact impact depends on your birthday. The first phase began on April 6, 2026, affecting those with 66th birthdays between April 6, 1960, and May 5, 1960. According to the DWP timetable, people who turned 66 between these dates would instead reach State Pension age at exactly 66 years and one month.
State Pension eligibility becomes further delayed the later in the year your 66th birthday falls, increasing by one month each time. For example, people turning 66 in the month from August 6 face an extra five-month wait, while those turning 66 in the month from September 6 face an extra six-month wait, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete. Some people will only be a month or two away from turning 67 by the time they become eligible to claim their State Pension.
Next Nine State Pension Age Increases by Birth Date
So far, three phases of the DWP timetable have got underway, affecting people born between April 6, 1960, and July 6, 1960, but there are still another nine phases to go. The DWP has confirmed the next nine 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:
- July 6, 1960 – August 5, 1960: 66 years and 4 months
- August 6, 1960 – September 5, 1960: 66 years and 5 months
- September 6, 1960 – October 5, 1960: 66 years and 6 months
- October 6, 1960 – November 5, 1960: 66 years and 7 months
- November 6, 1960 – December 5, 1960: 66 years and 8 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
DWP Statement on the Pension Age Changes
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.
Future State Pension Age Increases
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. However, 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.
