The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the exact date when the State Pension age will start rising from 66 to 67, with the increase expected to be fully implemented for all men and women across the UK by 2028.
The change 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 plus a specified number of months, rather than reaching it on a specific date.
Planned change since 2014
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 UK Government also modified the phasing of the rise, meaning that individuals born between March 6, 1961, and April 6, 1977, will be entitled to claim the State Pension once they reach 67.
Specialists say that people need to prepare for the alterations so they won't be caught off guard financially. All those affected by modifications to their State Pension age will receive correspondence from the DWP.
DWP statement and timetable
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 changed the way in which the increase 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.
For people born after April 5, 1969 but before April 6, 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.
DWP timetable for the increase
- April 6, 1960 – May 5, 1960: 66 years and 1 month
- May 6, 1960 – June 5, 1960: 66 years and 2 months
- June 6, 1960 – July 5, 1960: 66 years and 3 months
- July 6, 1960 – August 5, 1960: 66 years and 4 months
- August 6, 1960 – September 5, 1960: 66 years and 5 months
- September 6, 1960 – October 5, 1960: 66 years and 6 months
- October 6, 1960 – November 5, 1960: 66 years and 7 months
- November 6, 1960 – December 5, 1960: 66 years and 8 months
- December 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961: 66 years and 9 months
- January 6, 1961 – February 5, 1961: 66 years and 10 months
- February 6, 1961 – March 5, 1961: 66 years and 11 months
- March 6, 1961 – April 5, 1977: 67 years
The State Pension age is currently 66, climbing to 67 by 2028, and the Government is legally obliged to periodically review the age. State pensioners can also use the government's State Pension calculator to find out their State Pension age, the DWP has said.
