Need to know
The state pension age is currently 66 for men and women – but from 2026, this will start to rise to 67, as previously confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
What you need to know about state pension age rising
- The state pension age is currently 66 – but it is set to gradually rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028. This decision was made under the Pensions Act 2014.
- The first people who will be affected are those born on April 6, 1960. They will be able to start collection their state pension when they are age 66 and one month.
- This will keep increasing for everyone reaching state pension age over the following year, until we get to those born on March 6, 1961, who will have a state pension age of 67.
- The state pension age will then be 67 for anyone retiring from that point onward, but there are plans to eventually increase it again to 68.
- The further increase to 68 is currently scheduled to happen between 2044 and 2046, although there have been calls for this to be brought forward to between 2037 and 2039. No decision on bringing it forward has been made.
- The full new state pension is worth £230.25 a week, while the older basic state pension is £176.45 a week. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
- The state pension is rising from April 2026. The full new state pension will be worth £241.30 a week, while the older basic state pension will be £184.90 a week. These are the maximum figures you can get.
- How much state pension you get all depends on your National Insurance record. For example, you normally need 35 qualifying years to get the full new state pension. You normally need ten years to get anything at all.
- You claim the new state pension if you are a man born on or after April6, 1951, or a woman born on or after April 6, 1953. The basic state pension is claimed by men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953.
- Your state pension is separate to any private or workplace pension you may have. The earliest age you can access your private pensions is currently 55 – but this will rise to 57 from April 6, 2028.
- READ THE FULL STORY: State pension age could rise to 70 as millions face working for longer
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