The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the State Pension age will begin to rise to 67 from April 2026, with the increase phased in over two years. The current pension age of 66 will gradually increase, affecting those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977. Individuals born between 6 April and 5 May 1960 will be the first to face a one-month delay in receiving their pension.
The change reflects increased life expectancy, though critics note that life expectancy has fallen since the pandemic. The DWP is urging those born between 1960 and 1961 to check their exact date of birth, as their pension age will be 66 plus a specified number of months. For those born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977, the State Pension age will be 67.
A cross-party group of MPs has launched an inquiry into the financial hardship faced by those approaching pension age. Work and Pensions Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams warned that pre-pensioners are particularly vulnerable, with 22% of those aged 60-64 (876,000 individuals) living in poverty in 2023/24. She called for a coherent government strategy to address the consequences of an ageing society.
Previous increases in the State Pension age have been controversial. When the age rose from 65 to 66, an additional 100,000 65-year-olds fell into absolute poverty. The Waspi campaign highlighted inadequate notice given to women affected by earlier changes. The Institute for Fiscal Studies noted that some individuals have had to rely on private pensions to cover the gap, while employment rates among affected age groups rose by 10 percentage points as people worked longer.
The State Pension age rise to 68 is currently scheduled for 2044-46, but a forthcoming review may revise these dates. Elaine Smith of the Centre for Ageing Better argued that the justification for repeated increases—based on rising life expectancy—is undermined by the fact that national life expectancy is now lower than before the pandemic. A DWP spokesman said the department is committed to providing financial support for people of any age who need it.
