The state pension age is rising to 67, affecting millions of retirees. The state pension age is the earliest date you can claim your state pension, separate from any private or workplace pension you may have.
When does the state pension age increase?
Previously set at 66 for both men and women, the state pension age is now increasing to 67. The rise began on April 6, 2026, and is being implemented in stages.
The first group affected are those born between April 6, 1960, and May 5, 1960. Their state pension age is 66 years and one month, meaning they can claim in May or early June 2026 instead of April or early May.
Next, people born between May 6, 1960, and June 5, 1960, will have a state pension age of 66 years and two months, allowing claims from July or early August.
The state pension age will continue to increase by one month for each subsequent birth cohort until it reaches 67. The process is scheduled to be complete by April 2028.
Future increases to 68
There are plans to raise the state pension age further to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046. This would affect people born from April 1977 onwards. Calls to bring this forward have been made, but a decision has been delayed.
State pension age timetable
The following timetable, published with the Pensions Act 2014, shows your date of birth and the age at which you can claim your state pension:
- 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
You can check your state pension age on GOV.UK by entering your date of birth.
How much is the state pension?
The full new state pension is worth £241.30 per week, while the old basic state pension is now £184.90 per week. These are the maximum amounts; you may receive less depending on your National Insurance record.
The state pension rises every April in line with the triple lock, which guarantees an increase by the highest of earnings growth (May to July), inflation (September), or 2.5%.
