The State Pension age is set to rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046, affecting anyone born after April 6, 1977. The increase, confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), will be phased in over a two-year period, meaning some people will claim their State Pension at 67 plus a specified number of months.
How the phased increase works
As with the current rise from 66 to 67, the change to 68 will be implemented gradually. Those with birthdays during the transition period will reach State Pension age at 67 plus a number of months, increasing by one month for each later birthday. Some people will be only a month or two away from turning 68 when they become eligible.
Full list of eligibility dates
Under the current plan, people born within the following dates will reach State Pension age at 67 plus the specified number of months:
- Born between April 6, 1977 and May 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on May 6, 2044 (67 years and one month)
- Born between May 6, 1977 and June 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on July 6, 2044 (67 years and two months)
- Born between June 6, 1977 and July 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on September 6, 2044 (67 years and three months)
- Born between July 6, 1977 and August 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on November 6, 2044 (67 years and four months)
- Born between August 6, 1977 and September 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on January 6, 2045 (67 years and five months)
- Born between September 6, 1977 and October 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on March 6, 2045 (67 years and six months)
- Born between October 6, 1977 and November 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on May 6, 2045 (67 years and seven months)
- Born between November 6, 1977 and December 5, 1977: reach State Pension age on July 6, 2045 (67 years and eight months)
- Born between December 6, 1977 and January 5, 1978: reach State Pension age on September 6, 2045 (67 years and nine months)
- Born between January 6, 1978 and February 5, 1978: reach State Pension age on November 6, 2045 (67 years and 10 months)
- Born between February 6, 1978 and March 5, 1978: reach State Pension age on January 6, 2046 (67 years and 11 months)
- Born between March 6, 1978 and April 5, 1978: reach State Pension age on March 6, 2046 (67 years and 12 months)
- Born April 6, 1978 onwards: reach State Pension age on their 68th birthday
Review could bring the rise forward
The DWP says the age increases take a range of factors into account, including life expectancy, and any changes must go through Parliament before becoming law. Under current UK law, the rise to 68 is scheduled for 2044, but a government review launched last year could bring it forward to between 2037 and 2039. This would affect those born between April 6, 1970 and April 5, 1978, but the government must give at least 10 years' notice before any changes take effect.
The final outcome of the independent review must be published by March 2029. If the rise is to be brought forward to 2037, the decision would need to be confirmed by 2027 at the latest.
The DWP said: “Under the Pensions Act 2007 the State Pension age for men and women will increase from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 provides for a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every 5 years. The review will be based around the idea that people should be able to spend a certain proportion of their adult life drawing a State Pension. The first review must be completed by May 2017. As well as life expectancy, it will take into account a range of factors relevant to setting the pension age. After the review has reported, the government may then choose to bring forward changes to the State Pension age. Any proposals to do so would, like now, have to go through Parliament before becoming law. The government is not planning to revise the existing timetables for the equalisation of State Pension age to 65 or the rise in the State Pension age to 66 or 67. However the timetable for the increase in the State Pension age from 67 to 68 could change as a result of the review. In the Autumn Statement on 5 December 2013, the Chancellor announced that this government believes that future generations should spend up to a third of their adult life in retirement. This principle implies that State Pension age should rise to 68 by the mid-2030s, and 69 by the late 2040s. However, the government is not currently legislating for this change – these dates are indicative only, showing a general direction of travel for future State Pension age changes.”
