The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the State Pension age is being increased from 66 to 67 in stages between 2026 and 2028. The change means people born after April 5, 1960 will have to wait longer than their 66th birthday before they can start receiving the State Pension.
Rather than jumping immediately from 66 to 67, the qualifying age is increasing gradually depending on a person's exact date of birth. People born between April 6, 1960 and May 5, 1960 reach State Pension age at 66 years and one month, while those born between May 6 and June 5 must wait until they are 66 years and two months.
Phased increase timetable
The age then continues to rise month by month for subsequent birth-date groups. Anyone born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977 is currently scheduled to reach State Pension age on their 67th birthday.
The increase to 67 was legislated for under the Pensions Act 2014 and is being phased in between April 2026 and March 2028. A further rise from 67 to 68 is currently written into law for between 2044 and 2046 and would affect people born from April 6, 1977 onwards, although the timetable remains subject to Government reviews.
Claiming the State Pension
The DWP has also reminded people that the State Pension is not paid automatically when they reach the qualifying age. The Pension Service normally contacts people around four months before they become eligible with details of how to claim.
People can check their exact State Pension age using the Government's online calculator, which also shows when they may qualify for Pension Credit and free bus travel.
Government review
The State Pension age is regularly reviewed to take account of factors including changes in life expectancy and the long-term sustainability of the pension system. The Government launched its third State Pension age review in 2025, which is examining whether the existing timetable remains appropriate.
Under the Government timetable, people born between April 6 and May 5, 1960 reach State Pension age at 66 years and one month; May 6 and June 5, 1960 at 66 years and two months; June 6 and July 5, 1960 at 66 years and three months; July 6 and August 5, 1960 at 66 years and four months; August 6 and September 5, 1960 at 66 years and five months; September 6 and October 5, 1960 at 66 years and six months; October 6 and November 5, 1960 at 66 years and seven months; November 6 and December 5, 1960 at 66 years and eight months; December 6, 1960 and January 5, 1961 at 66 years and nine months; January 6 and February 5, 1961 at 66 years and ten months; and February 6 and March 5, 1961 at 66 years and eleven months.
