The State Pension age is one of the most consequential numbers in personal finance — the date from which you can begin claiming a guaranteed income from the state, regardless of other assets or income.
Current State Pension Age
The State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. This equalisation — women's pension age was gradually raised from 60 between 2010 and 2018 — has been the source of significant controversy, with the WASPI (Women Against State Pension Inequality) campaign continuing to pursue compensation for women affected by accelerated changes.
The Rise to 67
The State Pension age will rise to 67 for people born on or after 5 April 1960. The transition is gradual:
- Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977: pension age will be 67, phased in between 2026 and 2028
- Those born on 6 October 1960 reach pension age during the transitional period — use the government's State Pension age calculator at gov.uk/state-pension-age to find your exact date
The Future: Will It Rise to 68?
The government commissioned a review of the timetable for raising the pension age to 68. The Cridland Review recommended this be brought forward to 2037-39 (affecting those born 1970 or after). The government accepted the recommendation in principle but has not committed to legislation.
A further review, commissioned in 2023 and reporting in 2024, suggested a later timetable was appropriate given evolving life expectancy data.
What This Means for Your Planning
If you are in your 40s or 50s, plan on a pension age of 67 as a base case. If you were born after 1970, a pension age of 68 is a material possibility that should factor into your retirement planning.
The earlier you start saving privately, the less dependent you are on State Pension timing decisions.
