If you are mapping retirement targets, contribution strategy, and consolidation decisions together, use the Pension Planning Hub as your central guide.
Your State Pension age depends on when you were born. Use the tables below to find yours. For most people born between 1954 and 1960, the answer is 66 — but this is already changing. The rise to 67 began in May 2026 and will be complete by March 2028, meaning anyone born on or after 6 March 1961 needs to wait until 67.
The rise to 68 is already law, for 2044 to 2046, but its timing is under government review and could be brought forward. For now, treat 67 as the likely floor for anyone born after April 1977.
Read more: See our State Pension guide for a complete overview of this topic.
State Pension Age: Quick Reference
The tables below cover all birth year groups. If you are approaching State Pension age, the transition section is the most important — it shows the phased rise from 66 to 67 that is taking place right now. If you are much younger, the 67 threshold is likely to apply to you, with the position on 68 still to be determined.
Already Reached State Pension Age
| Date of birth | State Pension age | Already reached? |
|---|---|---|
| Before 6 December 1953 (men) | 65 | Yes |
| Before 6 April 1950 (women) | 60 | Yes |
| 6 April 1950 to 5 April 1953 (women) | Between 60 and 63 (phased increase) | Yes |
| 6 April 1953 to 5 December 1953 (women) | Between 63 and 65 (phased increase) | Yes |
| 6 December 1953 to 5 October 1954 (men and women) | Between 65 and 66 (phased increase) | Yes |
State Pension Age: 66
| Date of birth | State Pension age |
|---|---|
| 6 October 1954 – 5 April 1960 | 66 |
State Pension Age: 66 to 67 (Transition Period — 2026 to 2028)
This is the group most affected right now. If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, your State Pension age is somewhere between 66 and 67 — it is not a clean number. The exact date depends on your specific date of birth. The government’s online calculator at gov.uk/state-pension-age will give you a precise date once you enter your birthday.
People in this group are reaching their State Pension age throughout 2026, 2027 and early 2028. If you are in this cohort and have been planning around age 66, check your specific date — it will be later than you might have assumed.
| Date of birth | State Pension age | Approximate date you’ll reach SPA |
|---|---|---|
| 6 April 1960 | 66 years, 1 month | May 2026 |
| 6 May 1960 | 66 years, 2 months | July 2026 |
| 6 June 1960 | 66 years, 3 months | September 2026 |
| 6 July 1960 | 66 years, 4 months | November 2026 |
| 6 August 1960 | 66 years, 5 months | January 2027 |
| 6 September 1960 | 66 years, 6 months | March 2027 |
| 6 October 1960 | 66 years, 7 months | May 2027 |
| 6 November 1960 | 66 years, 8 months | July 2027 |
| 6 December 1960 | 66 years, 9 months | September 2027 |
| 6 January 1961 | 66 years, 10 months | November 2027 |
| 6 February 1961 | 66 years, 11 months | January 2028 |
| 6 March 1961 onwards | 67 | 67th birthday |
State Pension Age: 67
For people born from 6 March 1961 onwards, State Pension age is a straightforward 67. There is no transition — you simply reach your pension on your 67th birthday. This group includes everyone currently in their 50s and early 60s who has not yet reached State Pension age, down through everyone born up to 5 April 1977.
| Date of birth | State Pension age |
|---|---|
| 6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977 | 67 |
State Pension Age: 67 to 68 (In Law for 2044 to 2046, Under Review)
| Date of birth | State Pension age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 6 April 1977 onwards | 67 to 68 | In law for 2044 to 2046; timing under review (the government’s stated position is 2037 to 2039) |
Note: The increase from 67 to 68 is legislated for 2044 to 2046 but has been under a further government review since July 2025. That review had not concluded as of September 2026. In its July 2026 fiscal risks report, the OBR said the government has confirmed that accelerating the rise to 68 to 2037 to 2039 is its current policy position, but this is not yet legislated.
For those born after 5 April 1977, current law gives a State Pension age between 67 and 68 (68 for anyone born from 6 April 1978), reached between 2044 and 2046, but that timing is under review and could be brought forward. Pension planning at 40 or 45 should assume at least 67, and potentially 68 sooner than the law now says. The most resilient approach is to build enough in private and workplace pensions that the exact State Pension date is not the critical factor.
How State Pension Age Has Changed
| Period | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Before April 2010 | 65 | 60 |
| April 2010 to November 2018 | 65 | Rising from 60 to 65 |
| December 2018 to October 2020 | Rising from 65 to 66 | Rising from 65 to 66 |
| October 2020 to April 2026 | 66 | 66 |
| May 2026 to March 2028 | Rising from 66 to 67 | Rising from 66 to 67 |
Raising women’s State Pension age from 60 to 65, and then both men’s and women’s to 66, affected women born in the 1950s most, and many had little notice. The WASPI campaign took this to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which found maladministration in how the changes were communicated. In December 2024 the government said it would not pay the compensation the Ombudsman recommended; it retook the decision after new information came to light and, in January 2026, reached the same conclusion.
The Rise to 68: What Is Law and What Is Proposed
The rise to 68 was written into law by the Pensions Act 2007, to happen between 2044 and 2046. Under that law:
| Date of birth | State Pension age under current law |
|---|---|
| 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977 | 67 |
| 6 April 1977 to 5 April 1978 | Between 67 and 68, phased by birth date |
| 6 April 1978 onwards | 68 |
The timing has been reviewed several times since:
| Review | What it said about 68 |
|---|---|
| Cridland review, 2017 | Bring the rise forward to 2037 to 2039. The government accepted this in principle but never legislated it |
| Government review, 2023 | Kept 2044 to 2046 and put the decision off to a further review |
| Review launched July 2025 | Still under way as of September 2026 |
| OBR fiscal risks report, July 2026 | Said the government had confirmed its current policy position is 2037 to 2039. This is not law |
The law requires the government to review State Pension age at least every six years. Reviews look at life expectancy, including healthy life expectancy and how it differs across the UK, and at what the State Pension costs. Any change to the dates needs an Act of Parliament, and governments have usually given at least ten years’ notice.
Planning Around a State Pension Age That Could Change
If you were born after 5 April 1977, your State Pension age is 67 at the earliest and could be 68, possibly from the late 2030s. A sensible working assumption is:
| Your age now | Plan for |
|---|---|
| Over 55 | Your age in the tables above; it is very unlikely to change now |
| 45 to 55 | 67, with a possible move to 68 |
| Under 45 | 68 |
If your State Pension starts a year later than you planned, you need roughly a year of living costs from somewhere else: working longer, savings, or a workplace or personal pension, which you can normally take from 55 (57 from 6 April 2028).
How to Check Your Exact State Pension Age
The government’s online tool is the fastest and most reliable way to get your exact State Pension date. It accounts for the phased transition rules and gives you a specific date rather than an approximate one. Your State Pension forecast, a separate service, shows how much you would receive based on your National Insurance record.
The State Pension age calculator only needs your date of birth. To see your forecast as well, use Check your State Pension forecast, which asks you to sign in; you may need your National Insurance number. If you do not know it, see our guide on finding your NI number.
| Method | Detail |
|---|---|
| Online calculator | gov.uk/state-pension-age — enter your date of birth |
| State Pension forecast | gov.uk/check-state-pension — see your forecast amount and date |
| Call the Future Pension Centre | 0800 731 0175 (State Pension forecasts) |
Key Dates Summary
| Change | Date range |
|---|---|
| Women’s SPA equalised at 65 | November 2018 |
| SPA increased from 65 to 66 | December 2018 – October 2020 |
| SPA increasing from 66 to 67 | May 2026 to March 2028 |
| SPA increasing from 67 to 68 | TBC (legislated for 2044–2046, now under review) |
What If You Can’t Work Until State Pension Age?
Not everyone can remain in work until they reach State Pension age — and with the age rising, the gap between when people are able to work and when they can claim the pension may widen. If you are in your early 60s and unable to continue working, there are income options to bridge that gap.
Private and workplace pensions can normally be accessed from age 55 (rising to 57 from 2028), which gives a potential income bridge of several years before the State Pension begins. Means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit can provide additional support depending on your circumstances.
| Situation | Options |
|---|---|
| Unemployed | Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit |
| Too ill to work | ESA or PIP |
| Caring for someone | Carer’s Allowance |
| Low income | Pension Credit (from State Pension age) |
| Private/workplace pension | May be accessible from age 55 (rising to 57 from 2028) |
Deferring Your State Pension
Deferring means simply choosing not to claim your State Pension when you first become eligible — perhaps because you are still earning and do not need it, or because you want a higher weekly income later. You do not need to notify anyone in advance; you simply do not claim it.
The increase of roughly 5.8% per year of deferral is guaranteed and inflation-proof: your State Pension continues to rise with the triple lock each year, and the extra you earned by deferring rises with CPI inflation. The question of whether to defer depends mainly on your health, your other income, and how long you expect to live. The break-even point is typically around 17 years of claiming — so if you defer for one year and start claiming a year later, you need to live roughly 17 years past State Pension age to recoup the missed year through higher payments.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Can you defer? | Yes — you don’t have to claim at State Pension age |
| Increase rate | 1% for every 9 weeks you defer (~5.8% per year) |
| Example | Defer for 1 year (52 weeks ÷ 9 × 1% ≈ 5.78%): £241.30/week × 5.78% ≈ £13.94/week extra for life |
| Backdated lump sum | You can claim up to 12 months backdated (at the rate you would have received) |
| Tax | The extra pension is taxable as income |
| Worth it? | Generally yes if you have other income and are in good health |
For a full analysis of whether deferring makes sense for your situation, see our State Pension forecast guide and our guide on State Pension and working.
Related Guides
- Deferring your State Pension
- State Pension UK — Amounts, Eligibility and How It Works
- State Pension Amount 2026/27 — How Much Will You Get?
- State Pension Forecast — How to Check Yours Online
- How to Fill National Insurance Gaps for State Pension
- State Pension and Working — Do You Still Pay NI?
- National Insurance Qualifying Years Calculator
- National Insurance Explained UK
- Pension Credit Guide UK 2026
- Carer’s Allowance Guide
- Pension Planning Hub
- How Much Pension Do I Need to Retire UK?
- Retirement Planning at 50 UK
- Taking Your Pension — Annuities, Drawdown and Options
- Annuity Guide UK
- Pension Tax-Free Lump Sum Guide