The State Pension age in the UK is rising from 66 to 67, with the next phase beginning in August 2026, causing delays of up to five months for new pensioners to receive their first payments, which can be up to £241.30 per week from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Phased Increase Underway
The gradual increase, which started on April 6, 2026, is being implemented in one-month increments over a two-year period, completing in 2028. The change affects when individuals can claim their State Pension, depending on their date of birth.
For those born between April 6, 1960, and May 5, 1960, the waiting time is one month past their 66th birthday. The delay increases by one month for each subsequent birth month cohort.
August Phase: Five-Month Wait
The next phase in August 2026 affects people born between August 6, 1960, and September 5, 1960. According to the DWP timetable, these pensioners face an extra five-month wait before they can claim their State Pension.
For example, someone born on August 6, 1960, will become eligible on January 6, 2027, at exactly 66 years and five months old. The new State Pension is currently worth £241.30 per week for those with a full qualifying National Insurance record, meaning affected pensioners face at least a five-month delay before receiving these payments.
Impact on Pensioners
Those without enough qualifying years will receive less per week once eligible. The DWP stated: "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 phasing so that people born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, reach State Pension age at 66 years plus a specified number of months, rather than on a single date.
Full DWP Timetable
The DWP timetable for the age increase from 66 to 67 is as follows:
- April 6, 1960 – May 5, 1960: 66 years and 1 month
- May 6, 1960 – June 5, 1960: 66 years and 2 months
- June 6, 1960 – July 5, 1960: 66 years and 3 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
The DWP added that for people born after April 5, 1969, but before April 6, 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.
