What is the State Pension Age?
The state pension age is when you can start claiming the state pension — currently 66, rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028 for those born after April 1960, with a rise to 68 legislated for the mid-2040s.
Where the age stands
The state pension age is 66 for both men and women. Between 2026 and 2028 it rises in stages to 67, affecting everyone born after 5 April 1960 — if that's you, your exact date depends on your birth month (check your personal date on gov.uk's "Check your State Pension age"). A further rise to 68 is legislated for 2044–46, but successive reviews have debated bringing it forward to the late 2030s, and a fresh statutory review is under way.
Why it keeps rising
Simple arithmetic: when the pension age was set at 65 in 1948, men typically drew a pension for about 12 years; today's retirees can expect 20+. Each year of state pension for everyone costs roughly £10 billion, and the triple lock compounds the pressure. Raising the age is the least visible way to contain the cost — but it hits hardest those with shorter life expectancies and physical jobs, who draw least from a system they've paid into longest. The gap in healthy life expectancy between rich and poor areas exceeds a decade, which is the core fairness objection.
Why it matters now
Any acceleration of the rise to 68 would be one of the biggest personal-finance events of the next Parliament, moving tens of thousands of pounds of pension per person. It connects directly to the Triple Lock Plus debate and the taxation of pensions — see the state pension tax calculator for how your pension interacts with the frozen allowance.
Plain-English guide for general information only — not financial, legal or tax advice. Rates are 2025/26 unless stated. Last reviewed 5 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the state pension age right now?
66 for men and women. It rises to 67 in stages between 2026 and 2028 for those born after 5 April 1960, and a rise to 68 is legislated for 2044–46 — with ongoing reviews debating whether to bring that forward.
When will I get my state pension if I was born in the 1960s?
At 67 — the 66-to-67 transition between 2026 and 2028 covers those born from April 1960 to April 1961, and everyone born after that (until any future change) has a pension age of 67. Check your exact date on gov.uk.
Could the state pension age rise to 68 sooner?
Possibly. The 2044–46 timetable is law, but reviews have recommended the late 2030s to contain costs, and each statutory review reopens the question. Any change requires legislation and, by convention, 10 years' notice.