The ongoing increase of the UK State Pension age from 66 to 67 will delay when new pensioners can start claiming payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The phased rise began on April 6, 2026, and affects anyone born after July 6, 1960.
Phased Increase and Eligibility
The State Pension age is rising gradually in one-month increments over a two-year period. This means people whose 66th birthday falls within the transition window will have to wait longer before receiving their first payment. For example, those born on July 6, 1960, will become eligible on November 6, 2026, at age 66 years and four months.
The next phase begins this month, affecting those born between July 6, 1960, and August 5, 1960. According to the DWP timetable, these individuals face an extra four-month wait before they can claim their State Pension.
Detailed DWP Timetable
The DWP has published a schedule showing when people with birthdays between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, can claim their State Pension:
- 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
Impact on Claimants
The delay increases progressively: those turning 66 in August 1960 face an extra five-month wait, September birthdays face six months, and so on until the age rise to 67 is complete. 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 method: rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, will reach it at 66 years plus a specified number of months. For those born after April 5, 1969, but before April 6, 1977, the State Pension age was already set at 67 under the Pensions Act 2007.
