People will be getting their pensions later under DWP changes (Image: Getty)
The age at which millions of people can claim their state pension is starting to rise to 67 this year – with the changes already taking place – but it depends when you are born experts have explained.
The current state pension age is 66 but this will increase in stages over the next two years until it reaches 67. The first people to feel the impact will be those born between 6 April and 5 May, 1960, who will have to wait an extra month before they are paid a pension.
The move is designed to reflect longer life expectancy with many younger people anticipating working into their 70s, although the government is still reviewing any further pension age rises.
The DWP is publicising the change now with particular emphasis on those people born between 1960 and 1961 for whom State Pension age will be 66 plus a specified number of months, depending on the date of their birthday.
The UK Government also adjusted the timing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, those born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 will become eligible to claim the State Pension upon turning 67. It is vital that the public familiarise themselves with these forthcoming changes, particularly those who already have a retirement plan in place.
A cross-party committee of MPs has launched an inquiry into the pre-pension income gap ahead of the impending State Pension age increase to 67. It said 60-64 year-olds are the joint poorest age group among working-age adults aged 25 and over, as some people leave work early to care for partners or on health grounds despite long careers but are not old enough to take their State Pension. In 2023/24, 22% of them (876,000 people), were living in poverty.
From April, 2026 the Government began to phase in a State Pension age increase from 66 to 67 to be complete within two years. The last time the pension age went up from 65 to 66 it led to 100,000 more 65-year-olds in absolute income poverty compared to before.
Date of birth // Date State Pension age reached
6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960 66 years and 1 month
6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960 66 years and 2 months
6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960 66 years and 3 months
6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 66 years and 4 months
6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 66 years and 5 months
6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 66 years and 6 months
6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 66 years and 7 months
6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 66 years and 8 months
6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 66 years and 9 months
6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 66 years and 10 months
6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 66 years and 11 months
6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977 67
Work and Pensions Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams said when the inquiry was launched: “In our Pensioner Poverty report we called on the Government to create a coherent cross-governmental strategy that would get ahead of the consequences of an ageing society. Its response pointed to a lot of – not unwelcome – standalone policies, but nothing that amounted to a guiding star for all departments for the health of the country as it edges towards retirement. It potentially leaves people exposed to falling between the cracks.
“Pre-pensioners are particularly exposed. You could’ve worked a grueling 45 years as a skilled tradesperson paying taxes only to find yourself short of cash as you limp from day-to-day for more years until the pension payoff. It’s only natural that this situation would make you feel a sense of injustice facing hardship having been independent and contributing for decades. “
Previous increases in the pension age have proved controversial, particularly those leading to the Waspi campaign among women who say they were not given adequate notice of the changes.
Some people affected by pension age rises have needed to rely on private pension savings to bridge the gap, according to the IFS, but increases also led to lower life satisfaction among those who were impacted.
A rising pension age also led to employment rates among affected age groups increasing by 10 percentage points, driven primarily by workers staying in their jobs for longer.
The increase in the state pension age to 68 is currently legislated for 2044–46, although a review will consider whether to change those dates.
Elaine Smith, head of employment and skills at the Centre for Ageing Better, said that the rationale for repeatedly raising the state pension age was based on people living for longer. “But life expectancy nationally is lower now than it was before the pandemic,” she said.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “We’re committed to providing financial support for people at any age who need it.
“Those that have not reached state pension age can access a range of support such as universal credit and other means-tested and disability-related benefits.”
