The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the exact date the State Pension age will rise from 66 to 67. The change is expected to be completely implemented for all men and women across the UK by 2028.
The rise will come into force gradually for people born after September 6, 1960, with twelve timetabled increases laid out by the DWP. Those born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, will reach their State Pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months, rather than reaching it on a specific date.
Triple lock discussions
The confirmation comes amid mounting speculation that the pensions triple lock system could be reformed to fund social care. The UK government is set to “tackle issues” during the current Labour Party Conference regarding this matter.
The triple lock policy ensures the State Pension increases every year to keep up with rising costs and other financial pressures. The rate increases by whichever is highest between inflation, average earnings, or 2.5%.
Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell has refused to say whether the triple lock could be dropped by the party amid discussions over how Andy Burnham’s social care plans could be funded.
State Pension costs and rates
The State Pension is the largest driver of welfare spending this parliament, at £138bn in 2024-2025. The current weekly rate for the full new State Pension is £241.30, up £85.65 from when it was introduced in 2016. This is equal to around £12,547.60 a year.
It is provisionally set to rise by 3.9% to £250.71 a week, or £13,036.92 a year, in line with earnings growth in 2026.
DWP timetable for the increase
This planned change to the official retirement age has been scheduled since 2014, with a further rise from 67 to 68 planned to take place between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 accelerated the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.
The government also modified the phasing of the rise, meaning individuals born between March 6, 1961, and April 6, 1977, will be entitled to claim the State Pension once they reach 67.
Specialists said people need to prepare for the alterations so they won't be caught off guard financially. All those impacted by modifications to their State Pension age will receive correspondence from the DWP.
The DWP said: “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 said that for people born after April 5, 1969, but before April 6, 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67. State pensioners can use the government's State Pension calculator to find out their State Pension age, the DWP has said.
The full DWP timetable for the increase from 66 to 67 is as follows: those born between April 6 and May 5, 1960, reach 66 years and 1 month; May 6 to June 5, 1960, 66 years and 2 months; June 6 to July 5, 1960, 66 years and 3 months; July 6 to August 5, 1960, 66 years and 4 months; August 6 to September 5, 1960, 66 years and 5 months; September 6 to October 5, 1960, 66 years and 6 months; October 6 to November 5, 1960, 66 years and 7 months; November 6 to December 5, 1960, 66 years and 8 months; December 6, 1960, to January 5, 1961, 66 years and 9 months; January 6 to February 5, 1961, 66 years and 10 months; February 6 to March 5, 1961, 66 years and 11 months; and March 6, 1961, to April 5, 1977, 67 years.
