From Monday 6 April, the age at which people can claim their State Pension begins to rise from 66 to 67, marking the latest stage in a long‑running shift towards later retirement.
The increase will be phased in over the next two years and will affect people born in the early 1960s first. While the change is intended to reflect longer life expectancy, campaigners warn it risks deepening existing inequalities, particularly for people on lower incomes and in areas where healthy life expectancy is significantly shorter.
Who Is Affected by the Change?
The State Pension age will rise gradually until it reaches 67 in 2028. The first people affected are those born between 6 April and 5 May 1960, who will have to wait an extra month to receive their pension. For those born later, the delay increases incrementally.
When Will You Reach State Pension Age?
| Date of birth | Age at qualification | Date you reach State Pension age |
| 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 – 5 October 2026 |
| 6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 | 66 years, 4 months | 6 November – 5 December 2026 |
| 6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 | 66 years, 5 months | 6 January – 5 February 2027 |
| 6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 | 66 years, 6 months | 6 March – 5 April 2027 |
| 6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 | 66 years, 7 months | 6 May – 5 June 2027 |
| 6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 | 66 years, 8 months | 6 July – 5 August 2027 |
| 6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 | 66 years, 9 months | 6 September – 5 October 2027 |
| 6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 | 66 years, 10 months | 6 November – 5 December 2027 |
| 6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 | 66 years, 11 months | 6 January – 5 February 2028 |
| *6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977 | 67 | 6 March 2028 – 5 April 2044 |
| *6 April 1977 onwards | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
* could be affected by the third State Pension age review
Check when you’ll reach State Pension age: Check your State Pension age – GOV.UK.
What Happens Next?
Under existing legislation, State Pension age is due to rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046, although the third State Pension age review, now under way, could recommend that this increase happens earlier.
Supporters argue that many younger workers already expect to work into their 70s. However, critics warn that applying a single national pension age ignores stark regional inequalities in income and health.
Inequality in Healthy Life Expectancy
Rises in the State Pension age disproportionately affects people living in areas where shorter and less healthy working lives are the norm, with official figures revealing stark regional inequalities. Men in Wokingham can expect to remain in good health until nearly 70, and women until almost 71. By contrast, men in Blackpool can expect good health only until around 52, and women in Barnsley until about 53.
In these areas, waiting for access to the State Pension can mean years of financial insecurity, particularly for those in physically demanding jobs or with long‑term health conditions.
Jonathan Safir, CSPA Deputy General Secretary said: “The justification for repeatedly raising the State Pension age has always been that people are living longer, yet healthy life expectancy is now lower than it was before the pandemic. For many people, longer working lives are not matched by longer lives spent in good health.
We are calling for the Triple Lock to be maintained beyond 2029 and for further increases in the State Pension age to be deferred until inequalities in life expectancy are addressed.”
You can find out more about what we’re campaigning for on Pensions – CSPA
