State Pension age is rising right now — if you were born in the 1960s, your retirement date has changed

From April 2026, the UK State Pension age has begun its legislated rise from 66 to 67. This is not a future change — it is happening right now, in monthly increments, and will complete in April 2028. If you were born between April 1960 and April 1977, your State Pension age is higher than 66. For those born in the 1960s, your exact retirement date is being recalculated right now.

Who is affected by the rise to 67?

The transition affects people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977:

• Born before 6 April 1960: State Pension age is 66. Already eligible or will be at 66.
• Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961: State Pension age rises gradually — your exact age depends on your birth month (between 66 and 67)
• Born from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977: State Pension age is 67
• Born from 6 April 1977 onwards: State Pension age will be 68 (from 2044, but this is under review)

How much is the State Pension in 2026/27?

The full new State Pension rose by 4.8% (triple lock) in April 2026 to £241.30 per week — that is £12,547.60 per year. To receive the full amount, you need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits.

If you have fewer than 35 qualifying years, your State Pension is reduced proportionally. The minimum to receive any State Pension at all is 10 qualifying years.

How does the triple lock work?

The triple lock guarantees the State Pension rises each April by whichever is highest out of:

• Average earnings growth
• Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation
• 2.5%

For 2026/27, earnings growth of 4.8% was the highest of the three measures, triggering the largest cash increase in several years. The triple lock is currently legislated to continue, but is politically contentious given its cost.

Could you be missing NI qualifying years?

This is one of the most valuable checks you can do. Every qualifying year of NI is worth approximately £6.89 per week in extra State Pension for life. If you have gaps in your NI record (due to time abroad, low earnings, or periods without NI credits), you can voluntarily buy missing years.

The deadline to buy back years going all the way back to 2006 was originally April 2025, but has been extended. The cost of voluntary Class 3 NI contributions is £18.40 per week (£957 per year) in 2026/27, which typically pays back within 2–3 years of receiving the pension.

Check your NI record online through your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk, or use our National Insurance guide to understand the full picture.

What is the 'old' vs 'new' State Pension?

There are two different State Pension systems depending on when you reached State Pension age:

• Old (Basic) State Pension: For men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953. Maximum is £169.50/week in 2026/27. Also includes Additional State Pension (SERPS/S2P) built up through employment.
• New State Pension: For everyone else — men born from 6 April 1951 and women from 6 April 1953. Maximum is £241.30/week in 2026/27, with 35 qualifying years.

Can you defer your State Pension?

Yes — and it is often financially advantageous. For every 9 weeks you defer (delay claiming your State Pension beyond State Pension age), your weekly pension increases by 1%. In practice, if you defer for a full year, your pension increases by approximately 5.8%.

Deferring makes sense if you are still working and do not need the income immediately. It is less advantageous if you have health concerns that affect life expectancy.

What about private and workplace pensions?

The State Pension age is separate from the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA), which is the earliest age you can access private or workplace pension savings. The NMPA is currently 55 and rising to 57 in 2028. You could technically access your workplace pension at 57 and defer your State Pension until 67 or later — these are separate decisions. Use our pension guide for more on how workplace pensions interact with the State Pension.

Frequently Asked Questions

I thought I could retire at 66 — has the goalposts moved?

If you were born before 6 April 1960, your State Pension age is still 66 and this is unchanged. If you were born from April 1960 onwards, the age has risen. Use our State Pension age calculator to check your exact date — the transition is gradual and very birth-date specific.

I have 28 qualifying NI years — how much pension will I get?

Your State Pension would be 28/35 × £241.30 = approximately £193.04 per week (£10,038 per year) at today's rates. You can increase this by buying additional NI years or by continuing to work and pay NI. Check your record and options on your Personal Tax Account.

Does it affect women born in the 1960s differently?

The current age transition affects men and women equally — both groups born between April 1960 and April 1977 are in the same rising age band. The previous WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) controversy related to the earlier transition from 60 to 65 for women — a different change that has already passed.

Can I still work past State Pension age?

Absolutely. There is no mandatory retirement age in the UK. You can continue working as long as you wish. If you are over State Pension age and still working, you do not pay employee National Insurance contributions (though you still pay income tax). This can make working past pension age financially quite attractive.

What if I cannot afford to wait until 67?

If you cannot wait, there are several options: access your workplace pension from 55/57, check if you qualify for Universal Credit or Pension Credit while waiting, or consider part-time work. Pension Credit, in particular, provides a minimum income guarantee of £218.15/week for single people and tops up State Pension automatically for those below this threshold.