State Pension Age Rising to 67: Full Timetable by Date of Birth (2026–2028)
Last updated: 26 October 2026
The State Pension age in the UK is rising from 66 to 67. The change began in April 2026 and is being phased in month by month until 2028. If you were born on or after 6 April 1960, you will have to wait longer than 66 to claim your State Pension. This guide explains exactly when you can claim, how much the State Pension is worth in 2026/27, and what you can do now to prepare.
Key points
Here’s what you need to know:
- If you were born on or before 5 April 1960, your State Pension age is 66.
- If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, your State Pension age is 66 plus a number of months.
- If you were born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977, your State Pension age is 67.
- Under current law, the State Pension age is due to rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046, but this is being reviewed and could change.
- The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week (about £12,548 a year) in 2026/27.
Why is the State Pension age rising?
The rise to 67 was set out in the Pensions Act 2014. People are living longer, so the government has raised the age at which the State Pension can be claimed to manage the cost and keep the system sustainable. The Pensions Act 2014 also requires the government to review the State Pension age at least every five years, taking into account life expectancy, fairness between generations and cost. A review is currently under way.
State Pension age timetable: 66 to 67
Use the table below to find your State Pension age based on your date of birth.
| Date of birth | State Pension age | You can claim between |
|---|---|---|
| 6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960 | 66 years 1 month | 6 May 2026 – 5 June 2026 |
| 6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960 | 66 years 2 months | 6 July 2026 – 5 August 2026 |
| 6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960 | 66 years 3 months | 6 September 2026 – 5 October 2026 |
| 6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 | 66 years 4 months | 6 November 2026 – 5 December 2026 |
| 6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 | 66 years 5 months | 6 January 2027 – 5 February 2027 |
| 6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 | 66 years 6 months | 6 March 2027 – 5 April 2027 |
| 6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 | 66 years 7 months | 6 May 2027 – 5 June 2027 |
| 6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 | 66 years 8 months | 6 July 2027 – 5 August 2027 |
| 6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 | 66 years 9 months | 6 September 2027 – 5 October 2027 |
| 6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 | 66 years 10 months | 6 November 2027 – 5 December 2027 |
| 6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 | 66 years 11 months | 6 January 2028 – 5 February 2028 |
| 6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977 | 67 | On your 67th birthday |
Example: if you were born on 20 July 1960, your State Pension age is 66 years and 4 months, so you can claim from 20 November 2026.
When will the State Pension age rise to 68?
Under the Pensions Act 2007, the State Pension age is scheduled to rise from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. This would affect people born on or after 6 April 1977. The current review could bring this change forward, and some reports suggest it could happen as early as 2037. However, any change must be approved by Parliament, and the government has committed to giving people at least 10 years’ notice. If you were born after April 1977, your exact State Pension age is not yet certain.
How much is the State Pension in 2026/27?
| Type | Weekly | Yearly (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Full new State Pension (State Pension age reached on or after 6 April 2016) | £241.30 | £12,548 |
| Full basic State Pension (State Pension age reached before 6 April 2016) | £184.90 | £9,615 |
These rates rose by 4.8% in April 2026 under the triple lock, which increases the State Pension each year by the highest of average earnings growth, CPI inflation or 2.5%. The rate for April 2027 is expected to be confirmed around the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026. See our Autumn Budget 2026 guide.
How many National Insurance years do you need?
- You need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension.
- You usually need 35 qualifying years to get the full new State Pension.
- If you have between 10 and 34 years, you will get a reduced amount.
You may also get National Insurance credits, which count towards your record, for periods when you were unemployed and claiming certain benefits, ill, caring for someone, or claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12.
Can you fill gaps in your National Insurance record?
If you have gaps, you may be able to pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions. In 2025/26 a full year of Class 3 contributions cost £923, and one extra qualifying year typically adds around £359 a year to your State Pension, according to Which?. Before paying, always check your forecast and get advice, because extra years do not help everyone, for example if you will already reach the full amount.
Is the State Pension taxable?
Yes. The State Pension counts as taxable income, but it is paid without tax deducted. The personal allowance for 2026/27 is £12,570. The full new State Pension (about £12,548 a year) is just below this, so if the State Pension is your only income, you should not pay income tax on it. If you have other income, such as a workplace pension or earnings, you may pay tax on the amount above your personal allowance.
What if you reach 66 but your State Pension age is later?
If your State Pension age is now 66 and a few months, you may need to plan for a gap in income. Things to consider include:
- Continuing to work, perhaps part time, until you reach State Pension age.
- Using a workplace or personal pension, which you can usually access from age 55 (rising to 57 from April 2028).
- Checking whether you can claim benefits such as Universal Credit if your income is low.
- Building up an emergency fund to cover the extra months.
How to check your State Pension age and forecast
- Use the government’s State Pension age checker on GOV.UK.
- Get your State Pension forecast to see how much you could get and whether you have gaps in your National Insurance record.
- About two months before you reach State Pension age, you should receive a letter explaining how to claim. If you do not, you can claim online, by phone or by post.
The State Pension is not paid automatically; you must claim it. You can also choose to defer (delay) claiming, which increases your weekly payments when you do claim.
Frequently asked questions
When did the State Pension age start rising to 67?
The rise began in April 2026 and is being phased in until 2028, affecting people born on or after 6 April 1960.
I was born in 1960. When can I get my State Pension?
If you were born on or before 5 April 1960, your State Pension age is 66. If you were born after that date in 1960, it is 66 plus between 1 and 9 months, as shown in the table above.
Will the State Pension age go up to 68?
Under current law, it will rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046. A government review is under way and could change this timetable, but at least 10 years’ notice is expected.
How much is the full new State Pension?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27.
Related guides: Winter Fuel Payment 2026 · Self Assessment deadlines 2027 · Energy price cap October 2026
Sources: GOV.UK – State Pension age; Which? – The State Pension age is about to rise; Which? – How much is the State Pension?; Pensions UK – Rising State Pension Age.
This article is general information, not financial advice. For personal guidance, use the free government-backed service MoneyHelper or speak to a regulated financial adviser.
