UK State Pension Age Changes 2025-2028

What Is Changing with the UK State Pension Age?

The UK State Pension age is undergoing its most significant change in years. As of early 2026, the retirement age for claiming the State Pension has begun its legislated rise from 66 to 67. This increase was confirmed by the Pensions Act 2014 and directly affects millions of people planning their retirement.

The current State Pension age of 66 applies to both men and women. This was equalised in stages: women's pension age rose from 60 to 65 (Pensions Act 1995, accelerated by the Pensions Act 2011), then both genders rose to 66 by October 2020. Now, the next phase is underway.

If you were born before 6 April 1960, your State Pension age is 66 and you have already reached it or will reach it before the changes take effect. If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, you are in the transitional period — your pension age falls between 66 and 67. If you were born on or after 6 March 1961, your State Pension age is 67.

This page explains the full timeline, who is affected, the legislation behind the changes, what happened with the proposed rise to 68, and how to check your own pension age.

State Pension Age Increase Timeline: 66 to 67 (April 2026 - March 2028)

The rise from 66 to 67 is not a sudden switch. It is phased over approximately two years, with each month of birth after April 1960 adding roughly one extra month to the pension age. The table below shows the full transition schedule as set out in the Pensions Act 2014.

The Full History of UK State Pension Age Changes

The UK State Pension age has changed multiple times over the past three decades. Understanding this history helps explain why the current changes are happening and what might come next.

Before 1995: The Original Pension Ages

For most of the 20th century, the State Pension age was 65 for men and 60 for women. These ages were set by the National Insurance Act 1946 and remained unchanged for nearly 50 years. The lower age for women reflected social attitudes of the era, but became increasingly difficult to justify on equality grounds.

Pensions Act 1995: Equalisation Begins

The Pensions Act 1995 legislated the equalisation of pension ages for men and women. Women's State Pension age would gradually rise from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020. This was a significant change affecting women born after 5 April 1950, who would have to wait longer than their predecessors to claim.

Pensions Act 2007: Rise to 68

The Pensions Act 2007 first introduced the concept of raising the State Pension age beyond 65. It planned increases to 66 (by 2024-2026), 67 (by 2034-2036) and 68 (by 2044-2046). These timescales would later be accelerated.

Pensions Act 2011: Acceleration

The Pensions Act 2011 brought two major accelerations:

• Women's equalisation sped up: Women's pension age would reach 65 by November 2018 instead of 2020
• Rise to 66 brought forward: Both men and women would reach pension age 66 by October 2020, instead of the original 2024-2026 timeline

This acceleration was highly controversial. Many women born in the 1950s (the "WASPI women" - Women Against State Pension Inequality) received inadequate notice of the changes. The Parliamentary Ombudsman found maladministration in how the Department for Work and Pensions communicated these changes.

Pensions Act 2014: Rise to 67 and Beyond

The Pensions Act 2014 is the legislation driving the current changes. It confirmed:

• Rise to 67: State Pension age increases from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and March 2028
• Rise to 68: State Pension age increases from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046
• Regular reviews: The Secretary of State must review the State Pension age at least every 6 years, based on life expectancy data

2017 Cridland Review: Push for Earlier Rise to 68

In 2017, John Cridland published his independent review of State Pension age. His key recommendation was to bring forward the rise to 68 to 2037-2039 instead of 2044-2046. He argued that increased life expectancy justified an earlier increase. The government accepted this recommendation in principle but did not immediately legislate it.

2023 State Pension Age Review: Postponement

The most recent review, published in March 2023, took a different direction:

• Rise to 67 confirmed: The April 2026 to March 2028 timetable was reaffirmed
• Rise to 68 postponed: The government decided not to bring forward the rise to 68, rejecting the Cridland recommendation
• Reason: Life expectancy improvements had stalled since the Cridland Review, weakening the case for acceleration
• Next review: To be conducted within two years of the next parliament

This means the rise to 68 remains legislated for 2044-2046, but it could still be brought forward or pushed back in future reviews.

How the State Pension Age Increase Affects Your Retirement

The rise from 66 to 67 has significant practical implications for retirement planning. Here is what you need to consider.

Financial Impact

Waiting an extra year for your State Pension means one more year without that income. The full new State Pension for 2025/26 is £230.25 per week (£11,973 per year). If your pension age rises by one year, that is £11,973 in State Pension income you will not receive during that year.

You will need to fund this gap from other sources:

• Workplace pension: Most defined contribution pensions can be accessed from age 55 (rising to 57 from April 2028)
• Personal savings and ISAs: Tax-free income from ISAs can bridge the gap
• Part-time work: Many people continue working past 66, either full-time or part-time
• Other benefits: You may be eligible for Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, or Jobseeker's Allowance if you cannot work

National Insurance Contributions

A later State Pension age means potentially more years of National Insurance contributions. Once you reach State Pension age, you stop paying National Insurance on your earnings — even if you continue working. If your pension age rises from 66 to 67, that is one extra year of NI payments (8% on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270, plus 2% above £50,270).

On the positive side, more working years mean more qualifying years on your NI record. You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension. If you had gaps in your record, the extra year could help fill them.

Workplace Pension Considerations

Many workplace pension schemes set their normal retirement age to match the State Pension age. If your scheme does this, the rise to 67 may affect when you can take your full workplace pension without reduction. Check with your pension provider whether their scheme's normal retirement age tracks the State Pension age or is set independently.

Impact on Benefits

Several means-tested benefits change at State Pension age:

• Pension Credit: Only available after reaching State Pension age (single person topped up to £218.15/week in 2025/26)
• Winter Fuel Payment: Available to those over State Pension age (now means-tested through Pension Credit)
• Free bus pass: In England, available from State Pension age (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different rules)
• Council Tax Single Person Discount: Not affected by pension age, but Council Tax Reduction may be more generous after pension age

State Pension Age: Before vs After the Changes

The Proposed Rise to 68: What We Know

Looking further ahead, the Pensions Act 2014 includes provisions for the State Pension age to rise from 67 to 68. Here is what we currently know about this proposed change.

Current Legislative Position

Under the Pensions Act 2014, the rise to 68 is scheduled to take place between 2044 and 2046, affecting people born after 5 April 1977. However, this timetable has been subject to review and could change.

The Cridland Recommendation (2017)

The independent Cridland Review recommended bringing the rise to 68 forward to 2037-2039. His reasoning was based on:

• Life expectancy projections showing people living longer in retirement
• The principle that people should spend no more than one-third of their adult life in retirement
• Fiscal sustainability of the State Pension system

The then-government accepted this recommendation in principle, but it was never legislated.

The 2023 Review Decision

The 2023 State Pension age review reversed course. Key findings included:

• Life expectancy growth had slowed: The rapid increases in life expectancy that underpinned the Cridland recommendation had stalled, particularly after 2011
• Healthy life expectancy gaps: Significant regional and socioeconomic disparities in healthy life expectancy made a blanket increase harder to justify
• The "one-third" principle: With slower life expectancy growth, the case for an earlier rise weakened

The government decided the rise to 68 should remain at 2044-2046 and would be reviewed again in the next parliament.

What This Means for You

If you were born after 5 April 1977:

• Your State Pension age is currently legislated as 67 (since the rise to 68 has not been finalised for earlier dates)
• The rise to 68 could still happen at any point between 2037 and 2046
• It is prudent to plan for a pension age of at least 67, possibly 68
• A further review is expected before any final decision is made

How to Plan for the New Retirement Age

With the State Pension age rising, effective retirement planning is more important than ever. Here are practical steps you can take now.

1. Check Your State Pension Forecast

Log in to your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/check-state-pension to see:

• Your current qualifying years of National Insurance
• Your projected State Pension amount
• Any gaps in your NI record and how to fill them
• Your State Pension age

2. Fill NI Gaps If Needed

You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension of £230.25/week (£11,973/year). If you have gaps, you can buy voluntary Class 3 NI contributions at £17.75 per week (£923 per year) in 2025/26. Each year you buy adds approximately £6.58/week (£342/year) to your pension. The payback period is roughly 2.7 years — one of the best returns available.

3. Bridge the Income Gap

If you planned to retire at 66 but your pension age is now 67, you need to fill a £11,973 income gap for one year. Options include:

• Continue working: Full-time, part-time, or freelance work
• Draw workplace pension early: Accessible from age 55 (57 from April 2028), but this reduces the total amount
• Use ISA savings: Tax-free withdrawals with no impact on tax position
• Reduce expenses: Downsizing, eliminating debt before retirement

4. Consider Pension Deferral

If you reach State Pension age but have other income, you can defer your claim. Your pension increases by 1% for every 9 weeks deferred (approximately 5.8% per year). There is no lump sum option under the new system. The break-even point is roughly 17-18 years of claiming.

5. Maximise Workplace Pension Contributions

With a later State Pension age, your workplace or personal pension becomes even more important. The minimum auto-enrolment contribution is 8% of qualifying earnings (5% employee + 3% employer), but contributing more can significantly improve your retirement income. Annual pension contributions up to £60,000 receive tax relief.

WASPI Women and Lessons from Previous Changes

The controversy surrounding the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) campaign provides important context for the current changes.

Women born in the 1950s saw their State Pension age rise rapidly from 60 to 66. Many received little or no personal notice of the changes until it was too late to adjust their retirement plans. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman found that the Department for Work and Pensions committed maladministration in failing to communicate these changes adequately between 2005 and 2007.

The Ombudsman recommended compensation of £1,000 to £2,950 per affected woman. As of early 2026, the government's response on financial redress remains under consideration.

Lessons for the current changes: If your pension age is affected by the rise to 67, make sure you are aware now rather than being caught unprepared. Use the checker tool above to confirm your pension age and plan accordingly.

Why Is the Pension Age Increasing?

The fundamental driver behind State Pension age increases is rising life expectancy combined with fiscal sustainability. When the State Pension was introduced in 1908, average life expectancy at birth was around 50. Today it is approximately 81.

The Numbers

The key tension is between:

• Fiscal sustainability: The State Pension is the single largest item of government expenditure, costing over £124 billion per year. As people live longer, the cost rises
• Fairness: Life expectancy varies significantly by region and socioeconomic status. Men in the most deprived areas live approximately 9.7 years fewer than those in the least deprived areas
• Adequacy: The State Pension is already modest by international standards. The OECD ranks the UK's net pension replacement rate among the lowest in developed economies

How Does the UK Compare? International Retirement Ages

The UK's move to 67 is broadly in line with international trends. Most developed countries are raising their retirement ages in response to ageing populations.

Denmark has the most aggressive approach, directly linking State Pension age to life expectancy. Several other countries, including the Netherlands and Italy, also use automatic adjustment mechanisms. The UK uses a periodic review model instead, which gives more political control but less predictability for citizens.

Current State Pension Rates 2025/26

Regardless of when you reach State Pension age, the amount you receive depends on your National Insurance record. Here are the current rates.

Reviewed by / Last Updated

Reviewed by: Emma Thompson, Senior Financial Content Editor specialising in UK pension legislation and retirement planning.

Last updated: 2 April 2026.

Review scope: State Pension age transition timetable, Pensions Act 2014 legislation, 2023 review outcomes, pension rates 2025/26, FAQ accuracy, and pension age checker tool logic.