State Pension Age: The Full Timeline to 67 and 68
The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 right now. The change started in April 2026 and phases in by birth date until March 2028, so two people born a few months apart can wait almost a year longer than each other. Here is exactly who is affected and when, plus when the rise to 68 lands.
Where things stand in July 2026
- Born before 6 April 1960: your State Pension age was 66. If you have not claimed yet, nothing changes for you.
- Born 6 April 1960 to 5 March 1961: you are in the transition. Your State Pension age is between 66 and 67, worked out month by month (see the table below).
- Born 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977: your State Pension age is 67.
- Born after 5 April 1977: your State Pension age is currently set at 68, with the exact timing still subject to government reviews.
Source: the government's State Pension age timetable (GOV.UK), checked July 2026.
The 66 to 67 transition, month by month
If you were born in the transition window, each month of birth adds roughly a month to your State Pension age. You do not reach it on your birthday, but on a set date.
| Date of birth | Your State Pension age |
|---|---|
| 6 Apr 1960 – 5 May 1960 | 66 years 1 month |
| 6 May 1960 – 5 Jun 1960 | 66 years 2 months |
| 6 Jun 1960 – 5 Jul 1960 | 66 years 3 months |
| 6 Jul 1960 – 5 Aug 1960 | 66 years 4 months |
| 6 Aug 1960 – 5 Sep 1960 | 66 years 5 months |
| 6 Sep 1960 – 5 Oct 1960 | 66 years 6 months |
| 6 Oct 1960 – 5 Nov 1960 | 66 years 7 months |
| 6 Nov 1960 – 5 Dec 1960 | 66 years 8 months |
| 6 Dec 1960 – 5 Jan 1961 | 66 years 9 months |
| 6 Jan 1961 – 5 Feb 1961 | 66 years 10 months |
| 6 Feb 1961 – 5 Mar 1961 | 66 years 11 months |
| 6 Mar 1961 onwards | 67 |
The precise pay date depends on where in the month your birthday falls, so use the official checker on GOV.UK ("Check your State Pension age") for your exact date. It takes under a minute and needs only your date of birth.
Your private pension age is rising too
Separately from the State Pension, the earliest age you can touch a workplace or personal pension rises from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028. It catches some people born in 1971 to 1973 in an odd way; our guide to the rise to 57 covers who is affected.
When does 68 happen?
Under current law, the rise from 67 to 68 is scheduled for 2044 to 2046, affecting people born on or after 6 April 1977. But treat that date as pencilled in, not carved in stone. Governments review the State Pension age regularly against life expectancy and cost, and past reviews have recommended bringing 68 forward to the late 2030s. No change has been legislated as of July 2026, but anyone now in their 30s or 40s should plan on the assumption that 68 could arrive earlier.
What this means for your planning
- There is a gap to bridge if you retire early. Stop work at 60 with a State Pension age of 67 and your private pension has to carry seven years alone, on top of topping up the years after. Our calculator shows what your pot provides with the State Pension layered on from your State Pension age.
- The State Pension is worth defending. The full new rate is £241.30 a week (£12,548 a year) in 2026/27, which needs 35 qualifying years of National Insurance. Check your forecast on GOV.UK; gaps can often be filled cheaply. Our State Pension guide explains how.
- Deferring is an option. You do not have to claim at your State Pension age. Deferring boosts the payment by 1% for every 9 weeks you wait, just under 5.8% for a full year, paid for life. Worth a look if you are still working at 67.
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This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. State Pension age dates are set by law and can change; figures are correct as of July 2026 and the transition table reflects the government's published timetable. Always confirm your own date with the official GOV.UK checker. For advice tailored to you, speak to a financial adviser regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or get free guidance from MoneyHelper.