The state pension age is rising from 66 to 67 in stages and when you can claim depends entirely on when you were born
The age at which millions of Britons can claim their state pension is beginning to climb to 67 this year – with the adjustments already underway – but experts have clarified that it hinges on your date of birth.
The current state pension age stands at 66, but this will gradually rise over the next two years until it hits 67. Those born between 6 April and 5 May, 1960 will be the first to feel the effects, facing a one-month delay before receiving their pension payments.
The change is intended to account for increased life expectancy, with many younger workers expecting to remain in employment into their 70s, though the government is still assessing any further pension age increases.
The DWP is now publicising the change, with particular focus on those born between 1960 and 1961, for whom the State Pension age will be 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on their exact date of birth.
The UK Government has also modified the timing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that rather than reaching State Pension age on a fixed date, those born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 will become entitled to claim their State Pension upon turning 67. It is crucial that the public, particularly those who already have a retirement plan in place, familiarise themselves with these upcoming changes. A cross-party group of MPs has initiated an investigation into the income shortfall facing pre-pension age individuals, as the State Pension age is set to rise to 67.
The committee highlighted that those aged 60-64 are amongst the most financially vulnerable working-age adults over 25, with many forced to exit the workforce prematurely due to caring responsibilities or health issues, despite decades of employment, yet remain ineligible for their State Pension.
During 2023/24, 22% of this age group (876,000 individuals) were experiencing poverty.
From April 2026, the Government began to phase in a State Pension age increase from 66 to 67, with the transition set to conclude within two years. When the pension age was previously increased from 65 to 66, it resulted in an additional 100,000 65-year-olds falling into absolute income poverty.
Date of birth // Date State Pension age reached
- 6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960 66 years and 1 month
- 6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960 66 years and 2 months
- 6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960 66 years and 3 months
- 6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 66 years and 4 months
- 6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 66 years and 5 months
- 6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 66 years and 6 months
- 6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 66 years and 7 months
- 6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 66 years and 8 months
- 6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 66 years and 9 months
- 6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 66 years and 10 months
- 6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 66 years and 11 months
6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977 67 Work and Pensions Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams stated when the inquiry was launched: “In our Pensioner Poverty report we called on the Government to create a coherent cross-governmental strategy that would get ahead of the consequences of an ageing society. Its response pointed to a lot of – not unwelcome – standalone policies, but nothing that amounted to a guiding star for all departments for the health of the country as it edges towards retirement. It potentially leaves people exposed to falling between the cracks.
“Pre-pensioners are particularly exposed. You could’ve worked a grueling 45 years as a skilled tradesperson paying taxes only to find yourself short of cash as you limp from day-to-day for more years until the pension payoff. It’s only natural that this situation would make you feel a sense of injustice facing hardship having been independent and contributing for decades. “
Earlier rises in the pension age have sparked controversy, especially those which prompted the Waspi campaign amongst women who claim they weren’t given sufficient warning of the alterations.
Some individuals affected by pension age increases have had to depend on private pension savings to fill the void, according to the IFS, while rises also resulted in reduced life satisfaction amongst those impacted.
An increasing pension age also caused employment rates among affected age brackets to rise by 10 percentage points, largely driven by workers remaining in their positions for longer. The rise in the state pension age to 68 is currently written into law for 2044-46, though an upcoming review will examine whether those dates should be revised.
Elaine Smith, head of employment and skills at the Centre for Ageing Better, noted that the justification for continually pushing back the state pension age was rooted in increasing life expectancy. “But life expectancy nationally is lower now than it was before the pandemic,” she said.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson responded: “We’re committed to providing financial support for people at any age who need it.
“Those that have not reached state pension age can access a range of support such as universal credit and other means-tested and disability-related benefits.”
