The UK state pension age rise will begin on April 6, 2026, as the country starts moving the retirement age from 66 to 67. The government plans to complete the change in stages over two years, with full implementation expected by early 2028. The move reflects longer life expectancy and is expected to save the treasury around £10 billion a year by 2030.
The change will first affect people born between April 6 and May 5, 1960. That group will need to wait one extra month before receiving their first state pension payment.
From April 6, 2026, the qualifying age will begin increasing in phases. Over the following two years, the state pension age will gradually rise until it reaches 67 for everyone affected by early 2028.
The age is expected to rise to 68 in the future, although this latest change focuses on the move from 66 to 67.
How much pension may people receive?
Alongside the retirement age increase, weekly pension payments will rise by 4.8% under the UK’s triple lock policy, which reflects average wage growth.
The new flat-rate state pension for people who retired after April 2016 will rise to £241.30 a week, or £12,547.60 a year. That marks an increase of £574.60. Meanwhile, the old basic state pension for those who retired before April 2016 will rise to £184.90 a week, or £9,614.80 a year, an increase of £439.40.
A person needs 35 years of National Insurance contributions to qualify for the full amount.
Who will be affected most?
Around 450,000 people born between April 1 and May 1, 1960, fall into the direct group affected by the delay, with their retirement age pushed back by one month after turning 66.
It also identifies an indirect group made up of people born between May 5, 1960, and early 1962, whose pension age will gradually increase to 67 over the next two years.
Experts say the change may hit harder for people with shorter life expectancy, especially those in poorer health or living in deprived areas. It gives Blackpool as an example, where the healthy life expectancy for men is just 52 years.
