The state pension age increase from 66 to 67 is continuing to roll out, with the latest group of retirees affected from August 6, 2026. Those born between August 6, 1960 and September 5, 1960 will have to wait an extra five months before they can claim their state pension, missing out on up to £5,067.30 in DWP payments.
How the phased increase works
The rise in the state pension age, which was enacted in 2014, is being phased in gradually over three tax years rather than as a sudden change for all pensioners. The exact age at which you can claim your state pension now depends on your date of birth, with increments of one month at a time.
For example, those born between April 6, 1960 and May 5, 1960 can claim at 66 years and 1 month, while those born between May 6 and June 5, 1960 can claim at 66 years and 2 months. This gradual increase continues in monthly steps, with the oldest group affected having to wait until they turn 67.
Impact on those born in August and September 1960
The latest group to be impacted are those born between August 6, 1960 and September 5, 1960. They will have to wait until January 2027 to receive their state pension, five months after they would have been eligible under the old rules. This means they will miss out on 21 weeks' worth of payments, totalling £5,067.30, assuming a full National Insurance record and not including other benefits like Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance.
Government guidance on the change
According to government guidance: “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 way in which the increase in the state pension is phased so that rather than reaching state pension age on a specific date, people born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will reach their state pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months.”
Future reviews
Separately, the government has announced that the state pension age is being reviewed again, earlier than required. The last review was completed in 2023 and is only required every six years. However, due to pressure on public finances, the next increase to age 68, currently due in the 2040s, could be brought forward depending on the review's outcome.
