The UK State Pension age began its phased rise from 66 to 67 on 6 April 2026, affecting around 1 million people. Legislated under the Pensions Act 2014, the change is due to complete by 6 March 2028.
Key figures at a glance:
- The rise runs from 6 April 2026 to 6 March 2028, phased in monthly increments based on date of birth.
- From April 2026, the full new State Pension is £241.30 per week (£12,547 per year), a 4.8% triple-lock rise.
- The Personal Allowance remains frozen at £12,570 for the 2026 to 2027 tax year, leaving a gap of just £23.
- According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the change could save around £10 billion a year by the end of the decade.
Why the pension age is rising now
This increase was legislated over a decade ago. Section 26 of the Pensions Act 2014 brought the rise to 67 forward by eight years, from a mid-2030s schedule.
Rising life expectancy and an ageing population drove the decision. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates the net fiscal saving at around £10.5 billion in 2029 to 2030, as cited by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Most of that saving comes from paying the pension to fewer people at any given time. Additional revenue flows from higher employment among the affected group.
The State Pension age phased rise timetable
Under this timetable, the change works in monthly steps. Those born before 6 April 1960 already reached pension age 66 and are unaffected.
For the transitional band — born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 — the pension age is 66 plus a set number of months. Each person’s exact State Pension age birthday depends on date of birth.
A few worked examples from the official timetable show how dates shift. Someone born between 6 April and 5 May 1960 reaches pension age at 66 years and 1 month.
That makes the pension claimable from May or June 2026. Meanwhile, a person born on 31 July 1960 reaches the threshold on 30 November 2026.
Further along, someone born on 31 December 1960 reaches 66 years and 9 months on 30 September 2027. A person born on 31 January 1961 hits 66 years and 10 months on 30 November 2027.
Anyone born on or after 6 March 1961 faces a full pension age of 67. The next planned increase to 68 remains scheduled for 2044 to 2046, subject to government review.
Many retirees are unaware of the change
Awareness of the shift appears to be low. An AJ Bell poll found that only around 19% of respondents correctly identified the pension age as 66 before the rise began.
Tom Selby, Director of Public Policy at AJ Bell, stated: “The state pension is the bedrock upon which millions of Brits build their retirement plans.” He warned that many in the transition period are likely unaware of the shift.
A common question now is “when will I get my State Pension.” The answer depends on both date of birth and the phased timetable.
The DWP typically sends an invitation letter roughly four months before a person reaches pension age. Crucially, the pension is not paid automatically — it requires an active claim online, by phone, or by post.
Tax implications in the 2026 to 2027 tax year
The interaction between the pension and income tax is a growing concern. At £12,547 per year, the full new pension sits just £23 below the frozen Personal Allowance of £12,570.
Even a small amount of additional income — from savings interest, part-time work, or a private pension — could push a pensioner into tax. HMRC includes the pension in a person’s tax code, but the pension itself is paid gross.
A common error arises when HMRC uses an estimated annual figure that does not match what is actually received. This mismatch can lead to over- or underpayment across the year.
Pensioners who begin a private pension drawdown alongside the State Pension face particular risk. Providers frequently apply emergency tax codes (1257L M1 or W1) on a first flexible withdrawal.
Under emergency coding, the provider treats the withdrawal as though the same amount is taken every month for a full year. That typically results in significantly overtaxed lump sums.
According to figures reported by the consumer group Which?, HMRC processed approximately 13,900 reclaim forms in the first quarter of 2026. Around £44 million was refunded across those claims.
Three forms cover the main scenarios. Form P55 is for partial pension withdrawals, while Form P53Z applies where the full pot has been taken and other income continues.
P50Z covers cases where the pot is emptied and no other PAYE income is expected. A four-year backdating window applies to all pension-related refund claims.
Deferral, Pension Credit, and planning ahead
Those who do not need the income immediately may consider deferring. Under the new pension rules, deferral increases the weekly payment by 1% for every 9 weeks — roughly 5.8% per full year.
There is no maximum deferral period. Deferring may also reduce a person’s overall tax liability by pushing income into a year when other earnings are lower.
Pension Credit is another area to watch closely. Couples may only claim it once both partners have reached pension age.
If one partner qualifies in 2026 but the other not until 2027, the household could face a State Pension delay 2026 before accessing that support. According to GOV.UK, an estimated 880,000 pensioner households are eligible but not claiming.
The average Pension Credit award is reported at over £3,900 per year. It also acts as a gateway to Council Tax Reduction, Cold Weather Payment, and the Warm Home Discount.
The State Pension age 2026 change marks the first rise in six years. Looking further ahead, State Pension age 67 completes by March 2028, and the next legislated rise to 68 remains set for 2044 to 2046.
What to do if the rise affects your retirement
Anyone born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 should check their personal pension age. The State Pension age timetable means even one day’s difference in birth date could shift the start date by weeks.
Steps to take now
- Check the exact pension age using the GOV.UK calculator and note whether the DWP invitation letter has arrived.
- Review income sources for the gap between a planned retirement date and the revised start date — savings, workplace pensions, or continued employment may help.
- After a first flexible pension withdrawal, check the tax code applied and submit the correct HMRC form (P55, P53Z, or P50Z) if emergency-taxed.
- Consider deferral if still earning, especially for those paying a higher rate of tax at the point of claiming State Pension 2026.
- Check Pension Credit eligibility, particularly if total income falls below £238 per week for a single pensioner or £363.25 for a couple.
For more detail on how the pension interacts with income tax, read our full guide: do you pay tax on the State Pension. Tax Rebate Services may be able to help identify whether a pension-related refund is owed.
Key Takeaways
- The pension age began rising from 66 to 67 on 6 April 2026, completing by 6 March 2028 under the Pensions Act 2014.
- If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, your pension age falls between 66 and 67 — check the official timetable.
- At £241.30 per week, the full new pension sits just £23 below the Personal Allowance, so even modest additional income could trigger a tax liability.
- Emergency tax on first flexible pension withdrawals remains common — reclaim overpaid tax using HMRC forms P55, P53Z, or P50Z within four years.
- Deferring increases your weekly payment by approximately 5.8% per year, which could reduce your overall tax bill if you are still earning.
