The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 for people born in the early 1960s, with the gradual increase starting in April 2026
Millions of workers are being encouraged to verify their State Pension age as the long-anticipated increase from 66 to 67 commences next month. The adjustment means individuals born in the early 1960s may not retire at 66 as many anticipated.
Instead, their State Pension age will incrementally rise depending on their precise date of birth. Under the current schedule, the State Pension age will rise from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and March 2028.
Those born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will see their retirement age extended beyond 66, with the exact age contingent on when they were born. For some, this could mean waiting several additional months before they can begin receiving their State Pension.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging people nearing retirement to check their State Pension age so they know precisely when they will become eligible for payments, reports the Daily Record. Officials highlight that many still presume the State Pension automatically starts at 66, but this will no longer be the case for those impacted by the latest increase.
Another crucial point is that the State Pension does not commence automatically – individuals must actively claim it when they reach State Pension age. The Pension Service typically sends an invitation letter around four months prior to someone reaching their State Pension age, explaining how to make a claim.
However, the DWP emphasises the importance of individuals checking their own retirement age to plan ahead and avoid any confusion about when they will start receiving payments.
Determining your State Pension age is straightforward and can be done online by inputting your date of birth into the UK Government’s official State Pension age calculator.
The current full rate of the New State Pension stands at £230.25 a week – set to increase to £241.30 from 6 April – although the precise amount someone receives is dependent on their National Insurance record.
To receive the full New State Pension, most people require approximately 35 qualifying years of National Insurance Contributions (NICs), whilst those with fewer years may receive a reduced amount. A minimum of 10 years of NICs is needed to qualify for any State Pension payments.
The rise in the State Pension age is part of the UK Government’s long-term plans, designed to reflect increasing life expectancy and the escalating cost of pension provision.
Further increases are already scheduled, with the State Pension age anticipated to rise again to 68 in the mid-2040s, although the exact timetable for this change remains under review.
For now, officials state that the priority is ensuring people nearing retirement understand when they will become eligible for the State Pension and how to claim it.
Anyone uncertain about when they will receive their State Pension can verify their exact retirement age through the government’s online service by entering their date of birth.