State pension age starts rising to 67 in the UK

The state pension age in the UK is rising to 67, with the change taking effect from 6 April 2026 and phasing in over two years. The state pension age increase affects everyone born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977, with the earliest-born cohort facing a delay of one month and those born closest to the 1977 cutoff waiting a full year longer than previous generations expected.

The change coincides with an upward adjustment to the weekly payment amount. Under the triple lock policy, which ties annual increases to the highest of inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5%, the new flat-rate state pension rises by 4.8% in line with average wages.

How much is the state pension now?

From April 2026, the new flat-rate state pension, for those who reached state pension age after April 2016, increases to £241.30 a week, or £12,547.60 a year. That represents a rise of £574.60 annually.

The older basic state pension (for those who reached state pension age before April 2016) rises to £184.90 a week, or £9,614.80 a year, an increase of £439.40.

To qualify for the full flat-rate amount, claimants generally need 35 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions. Those with gaps in their record, due to time spent abroad or taking leave to care for children, may receive a reduced amount.

Who is affected and when?

The transition from 66 to 67 is gradual. The first group to feel the change are those born between 6 April and 5 May 1960, who must wait one additional month before claiming their pension. The delay extends incrementally for each subsequent birth month until it reaches a full year for those born between 6 April 1976 and 5 April 1977.

The change is projected to save the Treasury around £10 billion a year by 2030, reflecting the government's stated rationale that pension age should keep pace with longer average life expectancy.

The impact on lower incomes and regional inequality

Campaigners and researchers have raised concerns about the uneven impact of the rise. Official data shows that healthy life expectancy varies significantly across the UK. Men in Wokingham, Berkshire, can expect to be in good health until nearly 70, and women until nearly 71. By contrast, men in Blackpool face healthy life expectancy of around 52, and women in Barnsley around 53.

Laurence O'Brien, senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the people most affected are often those least able to adjust by staying in work or drawing on other savings, including those already out of work or in poor health. He argued that future pension age increases should come alongside targeted financial support for the groups hit hardest.

Previous pension age changes have also fuelled controversy. The Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign, known as Waspi, argued that women were not given adequate notice of earlier rises. Research from the IFS found that pension age increases led to lower life satisfaction among those affected, though employment rates among the relevant age groups rose by around 10 percentage points, driven mainly by workers remaining in employment for longer.

What about further increases?

The government has legislated for the state pension age to rise again to 68 between 2044 and 2046, though a review is under way that may alter those dates. Ministers have not committed to a final position on the timeline.

Elaine Smith, head of employment and skills at the Centre for Ageing Better, challenged the underlying assumption that repeated pension age rises are justified by longer lifespans. She pointed out that national life expectancy is now lower than it was before the pandemic, weakening the case for continued increases based on longevity trends alone.

The Department for Work and Pensions said those who have not yet reached state pension age can access Universal Credit and other means-tested and disability-related benefits.

For those affected by the age rise who hold private pension savings, the IFS found that some have drawn on those funds to bridge the gap between their original expected pension date and the new one. The adequacy of private savings to cover that shortfall varies significantly by income level and employment history.

Industry Impact

The phased rise to 67 adds fresh pressure to UK employers in sectors with ageing workforces, particularly hospitality, retail, and social care, where retaining workers in their mid to late sixties is often a practical and occupational health challenge. Pension providers and financial planning services are likely to see increased demand from workers reassessing their retirement timelines, particularly those without substantial private savings. If the review on the rise to 68 accelerates the timetable, a further wave of planning activity and political pressure from affected cohorts should be expected.