The age at which millions of people can claim their State Pension is beginning to rise to 67 this year, with changes already under way. Experts have clarified that the exact timing depends on an individual's date of birth.
Current State Pension Age and Phased Increase
The current State Pension age stands at 66, but it will climb in stages over the next two years until it reaches 67. The first to be affected are those born between 6 April and 5 May 1960, who will need to wait an extra month before receiving their pension payments. The change is intended to reflect increased life expectancy, with many younger people expecting to work into their 70s. However, the government is still reviewing any further pension age increases.
Who Is Affected?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is publicising the change now, with particular focus on those born between 1960 and 1961. For this group, the State Pension age will be 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on their date of birth. For people born between April 1960 and March 1961, the State Pension age is rising gradually from 66 to 67 over the next two years. Those born from April 1961 to March 1977 will reach State Pension age at their 67th birthday. A further rise to 68 is planned for those born from April 1977 onwards, but this is subject to review.
Impact on Pre-Pensioners
A cross-party group of MPs has launched an inquiry into the income gap faced by those yet to reach pension age, ahead of the looming rise. The committee highlighted that 60-64 year-olds are among the joint poorest age groups of working-age adults aged 25 and over. Many are forced to leave employment early due to caring responsibilities or ill health, despite lengthy working lives, yet they are still too young to claim their State Pension. In 2023/24, 22% of this group (876,000 people) were living in poverty.
Exact Dates for State Pension Age
- 6 April 1960 - 5 May 1960: 66 years and 1 month
- 6 May 1960 - 5 June 1960: 66 years and 2 months
- 6 June 1960 - 5 July 1960: 66 years and 3 months
- 6 July 1960 - 5 August 1960: 66 years and 4 months
- 6 August 1960 - 5 September 1960: 66 years and 5 months
- 6 September 1960 - 5 October 1960: 66 years and 6 months
- 6 October 1960 - 5 November 1960: 66 years and 7 months
- 6 November 1960 - 5 December 1960: 66 years and 8 months
- 6 December 1960 - 5 January 1961: 66 years and 9 months
- 6 January 1961 - 5 February 1961: 66 years and 10 months
- 6 February 1961 - 5 March 1961: 66 years and 11 months
- 6 March 1961 - 5 April 1977: 67 years
Concerns and Controversies
Work and Pensions Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams said: "In our Pensioner Poverty report, we called on the Government to create a coherent cross-governmental strategy that would get ahead of the consequences of an ageing society. Its response pointed to a lot of standalone policies, but nothing that amounted to a guiding star for all departments. It potentially leaves people exposed to falling between the cracks."
Earlier rises in the pension age have sparked controversy, especially those that prompted the Waspi campaign among women who claim they were not given sufficient warning of the alterations. Some individuals affected by pension age increases have had to depend on private pension savings to fill the void, according to the IFS, though changes also resulted in reduced life satisfaction among those impacted.
Climbing pension age also caused employment rates among affected age groups to rise by 10 percentage points, driven mainly by workers remaining in their jobs for longer. The State Pension age rise to 68 is currently written into law for 2044-46, though an upcoming review could see those dates revised.
Expert Warnings
Elaine Smith, head of employment and skills at the Centre for Ageing Better, pointed out that the reasoning behind repeatedly pushing up the State Pension age has been rooted in people living longer. "But life expectancy nationally is lower now than it was before the pandemic," she warned.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "We're committed to providing financial support for people at any age who need it. Those that have not reached State Pension age can access a range of support such as Universal Credit and other means-tested and disability-related benefits."
