The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the State Pension age will rise to 68 for everyone born after April 1977. This adjustment will affect when individuals become eligible to receive their first pension payment.
Current Changes Underway
A change in the State Pension age is already in progress across the UK. Legislation requires it to increase from 66 to 67 in stages over a two-year window between April 2026 and 2028. Those celebrating their 66th birthday during this transitional period face an extended wait before claiming their State Pension.
Future Increase to 68
The DWP has confirmed that a further age increase is anticipated, affecting all those born after 1977. The State Pension age is scheduled to climb once more between 2044 and 2046, reaching 68. This means younger generations must wait considerably longer before reaching retirement age and drawing their State Pension.
The age increase could potentially occur sooner following the launch of an early review. Ordinarily, a review of the State Pension age is conducted every six years, but the DWP is presently examining whether the transition to age 68 ought to be brought forward, despite the previous review having only concluded in 2023.
Review and Concerns
The early review was initiated amid growing concerns that working-age adults are failing to set aside sufficient funds in private pensions for their later years. DWP analysis reveals approximately 15 million people are not saving enough for retirement, with the self-employed, lower-paid workers, and certain ethnic minority groups being disproportionately affected.
The Government Actuary has been appointed to compile a report on the State Pension age as part of this third review. It will examine whether existing regulations surrounding pensionable age remain suitable based on life expectancy figures and whether an individual reaching pensionable age can reasonably be expected to spend a set proportion of their adult life in retirement.
Current Timetable
Under existing arrangements, the State Pension age for both men and women born after April 5, 1977, will rise to 68, introduced gradually between 2044 and 2046. The schedule confirmed by the DWP is as follows:
- Born April 6, 1977 - May 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on May 6, 2044
- Born May 6, 1977 - June 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on July 6, 2044
- Born June 6, 1977 - July 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on September 6, 2044
- Born July 6, 1977 - August 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on November 6, 2044
- Born August 6, 1977 - September 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on January 6, 2045
- Born September 6, 1977 - October 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on March 6, 2045
- Born October 6, 1977 - November 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on May 6, 2045
- Born November 6, 1977 - December 5, 1977: Reach State Pension age on July 6, 2045
- Born December 6, 1977 - January 5, 1978: Reach State Pension age on September 6, 2045
- Born January 6, 1978 - February 5, 1978: Reach State Pension age on November 6, 2045
- Born February 6, 1978 - March 5, 1978: Reach State Pension age on January 6, 2046
- Born 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
DWP Statement
Addressing the proposed age rise to 68, the DWP stated: "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 government is not planning to revise existing timetables for the equalisation of State Pension age to 65 or the rise to 66 or 67. However, the timetable for the increase from 67 to 68 could change as a result of the review.
