HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed that the normal minimum pension age in the UK will increase from 55 to 57 on April 6, 2028, affecting anyone born on or after April 6, 1973. This change means most people will have to wait two extra years before accessing their personal or workplace pensions.
Who Is Affected by the Pension Age Increase?
Individuals born on or after April 6, 1973, will not be able to access their private pension until they reach age 57, unless they hold a pension with a lower Protected Pension Age. Those born before April 6, 1971, will be unaffected as they will already be 57 by the time the change takes effect. However, people born between April 6, 1971, and April 5, 1973, fall into a transitional period.
Transitional Arrangements for Those Born Between April 1971 and April 1973
HMRC has announced that individuals who reach age 55 before the April 6, 2028, deadline can access their pension benefits from their 55th birthday up to April 5, 2028. After that date, they may only continue to take benefits from funds they have already accessed, but cannot take additional benefits until reaching the new minimum pension age of 57.
Confirming the changes, HMRC stated: “Changes to the normal minimum pension age can affect the continuation of certain pension benefit payments. When the normal minimum pension age was last increased in 2010 (from age 50 to 55), transitional arrangements were required to ensure affected members could continue to receive their benefits without interruption. Similar provisions will be necessary for the 2028 increase.”
HMRC added: “For example, a member who has already reached age 55 before 6 April 2028 may have met all the conditions to access a benefit before that date. However, after 6 April 2028, that same member may not be able to receive an authorised payment until they reach age 57. The aim of the transitional regulations is to ensure that members who have already become entitled to their pension benefits can continue to do so seamlessly. These transitional provisions will only apply to members who have reached age 55 on or before 5 April 2028, and who would therefore have reached the existing normal minimum pension age at that time.”
Exemptions and Coinciding State Pension Age Changes
Members of the armed forces, police, and firefighters public service pension schemes are exempt from the normal minimum pension age increase. The change coincides with the rise of the State Pension age from 66 to 67, which began on April 6, 2026, and is due to complete in 2028. Both increases reflect longer life expectancies, underscoring the need for robust pension planning.
Expert Commentary on Retirement Planning
Helen Morrissey, Head of Retirement Analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, commented: “Making sure your pension planning is as robust as possible will also help you navigate any changes to state pension age. State Pension age will hit age 67 in 2028, and there’s also an ongoing review that could see further changes. As more of us live longer, the government will look at different ways to manage the burgeoning bill, and they could choose to bring the shift to age 68 forward or even put in place a timetable to age 69 and beyond. The normal minimum pension age for private pensions typically tracks ten years below State Pension age. Currently, private pensions can normally be accessed from 55; this is rising to 57 in 2028. Having a good level of pension will fund your longer life and will be a vital source of income should you need to retire before State Pension age.”
