Pension information is based on current UK legislation. Pensions are regulated by the FCA and The Pensions Regulator. This is not financial advice — consider consulting an FCA-regulated financial adviser.
Contents
Your State Pension age determines when you can claim. Here’s how to find yours and understand upcoming changes.
Read more: See our State Pension guide for a complete overview of this topic.
Current State Pension Age
As of 2026
Status
Age
Current SPA
66 (for anyone born before 6 April 1960)
Both men and women
Same age
Rising now
66 to 67, phased April 2026 – March 2028
Historical Changes
Period
Men
Women
Before 2010
65
60
2010-2018
65
Rising to 65
2018-2020
Rising to 66
Rising to 66
November 2020+
66
66
Future Changes
Scheduled Increases
Period
New SPA
2026-2028
Rising to 67
2044-2046
Rising to 68 (legislated, under review)
Timeline to 67
Birth Date
SPA
Before 6 April 1960
66
6 April 1960 - 5 May 1960
66 + 1 month
6 May 1960 - 5 June 1960
66 + 2 months
6 June 1960 - 5 July 1960
66 + 3 months
… continues monthly…
6 March 1961 onwards
67
Timeline to 68
Birth Date
SPA
Before 6 April 1977
67
6 April 1977 - 5 May 1977
67 + 1 month
… continues monthly…
6 April 1978 onwards
68
Note: This 68 timetable is the current legislated position (Pensions Act 2014). A government review launched in July 2025 is looking at whether it should change; no revised date has been confirmed as of September 2026. However, the Treasury has told the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) that its current policy position is to bring the rise to 68 forward to 2037–2039 — this is not yet law and still needs the review to conclude and Parliament to approve any change.
Accelerated Changes Possible
Government Reviews
Factor
Consideration
Life expectancy
Rising (or not)
Affordability
Cost to state
Fairness
Across generations
Regular review
At least every 6 years (statutory)
Potential Changes
Proposal (Not Yet Law)
Possible Impact
Earlier rise to 68
2037–2039 (Treasury’s stated current policy position, per the OBR’s July 2026 fiscal risks report) — not yet legislated
Further increase to 69
Long-term
Different criteria
Beyond just age
What to Do
Action
Why
Check official calculator
Current law
Plan flexibly
Changes possible
Build private pension
Don’t rely solely on state
Stay informed
Monitor announcements
How to Check Your Age
Official Calculator
Method
Details
gov.uk calculator
Official
Needs
Date of birth, sex
Shows
Exact SPA date
Free
No cost
State Pension Forecast
Service
What It Shows
gov.uk login
Personal forecast
Current estimate
Weekly amount
NI record
Years qualifying
SPA
Your specific date
Getting Your Forecast
Step
Action
1
Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension
2
Log in or create account
3
Verify identity
4
View forecast
Deferring State Pension
How Deferral Works
Element
Details
Don’t claim at SPA
Simply wait
Pension increases
With each week
Current rate
~1% per 9 weeks
Annual increase
~5.8%
Deferral Calculation
Defer For
Extra Pension (%)
1 year
~5.8%
2 years
~11.6%
3 years
~17.4%
5 years
~29%
Example
Scenario
Amount
Standard pension
£241.30/week
Defer 1 year (52 weeks ÷ 9 × 1%)
+£13.94/week
New weekly pension
£255.24/week
Extra annually
£725
Is Deferral Worth It?
Factor
Consider
Break-even
~17 years of payments
If defer 1 year
Takes ~17 years to recoup
Health
Life expectancy
Need income
Now vs later
Tax
Higher pension = more tax
Working Past State Pension Age
Your Options
Choice
Outcome
Stop work, claim pension
Standard approach
Continue work, claim pension
Both incomes
Continue work, defer pension
Higher pension later
No Earnings Limit
Rule
Details
Can earn any amount
No reduction
Pension not affected
By work income
Both taxable
Combined income
NI stops
No longer payable
Tax Considerations
Combined Income
Tax
Pension taxable
Added to earnings
Higher band possible
If earnings + pension high
Personal allowance
Still applies
Plan for
Potential higher tax
National Insurance Requirements
Qualifying Years
To Get
Years Needed
Any State Pension
10 qualifying years
Full State Pension
35 qualifying years
Current full amount
£241.30/week (2026/27)
Building NI Record
Way to Qualify
Details
Employment
NI contributions
Self-employment
Class 4 NI credit if profits are at or above the Lower Profits Limit (£7,105); voluntary Class 2 NI (£3.65/week) if below it