Born after April 6 1977? DWP Stage Pension Age is going up

The warning comes as the State Pension age is already beginning to rise for older workers, with the increase from 66 to 67 having already started. But for younger generations, a further increase is already written in place, but the review may change things again.

According to the Government Actuary’s latest report, the State Pension age will rise from 67 to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046, affecting people born on or after 6 April 1977.

The review states: “Increase in (State Pension Age) from 67 to 68 – between April 2044 and April 2046; it begins to rise above 67 for those born on or after 6 April 1977.”

State Pension age is already rising

The Government Actuary’s report confirms that the State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028.

The increase began affecting people born on or after April 6 1960.

For millions approaching retirement, that means waiting longer before receiving one of the UK’s most important retirement benefits.

As DWP secretary Pat McFadden admits, age is experienced very differently across Britain.

“Being 67 or 68 years old can feel very different in different parts of the country,” he said.

The Cabinet minister pointed to his own constituency in the Black Country, where generations of workers have spent decades in physically demanding jobs.

“I know that it can feel quite different to be 67 or 68 years old in my constituency compared with leafier parts of the country.”

Government carrying out fresh State Pension review

The latest findings come as the Government conducts its third statutory review of the State Pension age.

Under the Pensions Act 2014, ministers are legally required to regularly examine whether the State Pension age remains appropriate, taking account of life expectancy and wider economic factors.

The review explains that ministers must consider whether pension age rules mean that people can expect to spend a reasonable proportion of their adult lives receiving the State Pension.

The report notes that the Secretary of State must review the rules while “having regard to life expectancy and other factors” considered relevant.

Des Cooney, financial consultant and retirement planning specialist at Axis Financial Consultants, highlights the issues that uncertainty hanging over the state pension age review can cause: “People have built savings strategies, ISA contributions, and drawdown timelines around a number they were told to rely on – and even the suggestion of change can leave those plans exposed.”

He adds: “My strong advice to anyone following this story is not to wait for the review’s conclusions before reviewing their own retirement income picture. The
earlier you stress-test your position against a later state pension age, the more options you’ll have to adjust without having to make drastic changes.”

Could my pension age rise even sooner?

One of the most significant revelations in the report is that previous governments considered bringing forward the increase to age 68.

The Government Actuary notes that following the 2017 review, ministers announced plans to increase the State Pension age from 67 to 68 between 2037 and 2039, seven years earlier than currently legislated.

The report states the Government intended to increase the pension age from 67 to 68 “between 2037 and 2039, bringing it forward by seven years from its legislated date of 2044 to 2046”, although that proposal was later delayed pending further evidence.

While no decision has yet been taken to accelerate the increase, it highlights how future reviews could still alter retirement timetables.

Industry body Pensions UK has urged ministers to take a measured approach when deciding future State Pension ages.

In its response to the review, the organisation said: “The State Pension Age is a crucial lever for maintaining the long-term sustainability of the State Pension system, while the State Pension itself remains central to ensuring adequate retirement income.”

Pensions UK said policymakers must balance the affordability of the system with fairness for future retirees, particularly as many workers remain heavily reliant on the State Pension as a foundation of retirement income.

The organisation has also stressed the importance of providing certainty so people can plan effectively for retirement.

Why does the State Pension age keep increasing?

Successive governments have argued that rising life expectancy means people are spending longer in retirement than previous generations.

The review reveals that policymakers continue to examine how much of adult life people should spend receiving the State Pension.

It notes that a previous review suggested the Government was minded to commit to “up to 32%” as the appropriate proportion of adult life spent receiving State Pension payments.

That figure is likely to remain a key consideration as ministers weigh up future increases.

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What does it mean for your pension?

If you were born after April 6 1977, current legislation means you are likely to have a State Pension age of at least 68. However, the ongoing Government review means future changes cannot be ruled out.

The full new State Pension is currently worth more than £11,900 a year, making it a crucial source of income for millions of people.

Experts recommend checking your State Pension forecast regularly and ensuring your National Insurance record is complete, particularly as retirement ages continue to move higher.