If you were born after April 1960, that timetable for collecting your State Pension just shifted a little further down the road. The UK’s retirement age is rising again — from 66 to 67 starting in April 2026 — and the latest official figures also confirm a 4.1% boost to pension payments from spring 2025.

4 related posts

Current State Pension age: 66 · Next increase to 67 begins: April 2026 · Full new State Pension (2025/26 weekly): £230.25 · Full basic State Pension (2025/26 weekly): £176.45 · NI years for full new pension: 35 · Rise to 68 currently planned: 2044-2046

Quick snapshot

1Current State Pension Age
2Upcoming Change to 67
  • Begins April 2026.
  • Completed by March 2028.
  • Affects those born after April 1960.
3Weekly Pension Amounts (2025/26)
  • New State Pension: £230.25. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
  • Basic State Pension: £176.45. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
  • Full amount requires 35 years of NI contributions. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
4Inheritance Rules
  • May inherit Additional State Pension from spouse.
  • New State Pension not inheritable if claimed after April 2016.
  • Special rules for those who reached SPA before April 2016.

The timetable is now locked in: the State Pension age is moving upward in stages while the weekly amounts are being raised in line with earnings.

Ahead of the full table, here is the pattern at a glance:

Fact Value
Current State Pension age 66
Start of increase to 67 6 April 2026
End of increase to 67 6 March 2028
Full new State Pension (weekly) £230.25 (2025/26) (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
Full basic State Pension (weekly) £176.45 (2025/26) (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
Next scheduled increase to 68 Between 2044 and 2046 (GOV.UK)

Will the State Pension age in the UK rise to 67 from 2026 affecting those born after April 1960?

Who is affected by the increase to 67?

  • Anyone born on or after 6 April 1960 will see their State Pension age move from 66 to 67. (GOV.UK – State Pension age)
  • The change applies to both men and women.

What is the exact timetable for the rise to 67?

  • The increase begins on 6 April 2026 and is phased in gradually over two years.
  • It will be fully in place by 6 March 2028. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
The catch

People born in the early 1960s face a double shift: they lose two years of pension eligibility compared to those just a few years older. For someone born in May 1961, the waiting period extends by nearly 24 months.

The implication: the phased approach gives a little breathing room, but the net effect is that retirement planning now requires checking your exact birth date against the official calendar.

What is happening to the State Pension age?

Why is the State Pension age increasing?

  • The State Pension age has been rising gradually from 65 for men and 60 for women (pre-2010) to 66 by October 2020. (GOV.UK)
  • The main driver is increasing life expectancy and the need to keep the system affordable as the population ages.

What are the current and future State Pension ages?

  • Currently 66 for everyone.
  • Next rise to 67 starts April 2026, completes March 2028.
  • A further increase to 68 is currently scheduled between 2044 and 2046. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
What to watch

The third government review of the State Pension age, launched in July 2025, could accelerate or delay the rise to 68. The outcome is expected within two years.

The pattern: each decade pushes the retirement boundary higher. For someone starting work today, the State Pension age may well exceed 70 by the time they retire.

How much is the UK State Pension per week?

What is the difference between the new State Pension and the basic State Pension?

  • The new State Pension (for people reaching State Pension age after 6 April 2016) is a flat rate: £230.25 per week in 2025/26. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
  • The basic State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016) is £176.45 per week. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)

How is the amount calculated?

  • You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits for the full new State Pension.
  • Fewer years reduce the amount proportionally; you need at least 10 years to qualify for any new State Pension.
  • Both rates increased by 4.1% from April 2025, worth an extra £9.05 per week for the new pension and £6.95 for the basic. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)

The trade-off: the full new pension provides a solid base, but for many self-employed or those with career breaks, building 35 NI years requires active planning.

Do I get my husband’s State Pension when he dies?

What can a widow or widower inherit from their spouse’s State Pension?

  • You may inherit part of your late spouse’s Additional State Pension (also called SERPS or S2P).
  • You cannot inherit the new State Pension (the flat-rate amount) if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016.
  • Entitlement depends on when your spouse was born and died.

How does inheriting Additional State Pension work?

  • If your spouse died before 6 April 2016, you could inherit part or all of their Additional State Pension.
  • For deaths after 5 April 2016, the rules changed – inheritance is only possible for certain protected groups.
  • The amount you can inherit is capped at the Additional Pension your spouse had built up. (GOV.UK)
The upshot

For most people reaching State Pension age after April 2016, the old inheritance safeguards no longer apply. Couples should consider private pension planning to cover the survivor’s income shortfall.

The implication: the shift to a flat-rate new pension simplified the system but removed a safety net that widows and widowers once relied on.

When will the State Pension age increase to 68?

What is the current government plan for raising the age to 68?

  • Current legislation sets the rise from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)
  • The original plan was to bring it forward to 2037-2039, but that was postponed.

Why has the increase been delayed?

  • Life expectancy increases have slowed, and the government decided to wait for the third statutory review before committing to a faster timetable.
  • The review began in July 2025 and will consider economic conditions, life expectancy trends, and fiscal sustainability.

The catch: the next few years will reveal whether 68 arrives earlier or later than 2044. Anyone under 50 today should plan for the possibility of working into their late 60s.

Timeline of State Pension age changes

  • 1948-2020: State Pension age gradually equalised and raised from 60/65 to 66.
  • 6 April 2026: First increase from 66 to 67 begins – those born on or after 6 April 1960 affected.
  • 6 March 2028: Increase to 67 completed; State Pension age reaches 67.
  • July 2025: Third government review of State Pension age launched. (GOV.UK)
  • 2044-2046: Current legislation schedules increase from 67 to 68. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)

Confirmed facts

  • State Pension age will rise from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and March 2028.
  • The full new State Pension weekly amount for 2025/26 is £230.25.
  • People born after 5 April 1960 are affected by the increase to 67.

What’s unclear

  • Exact date of the rise to 68: currently scheduled for 2044-2046 but may change based on the third review.
  • Whether inheritance rules for the new State Pension will be amended in future reviews.
  • Potential adjustments to the NI contribution years required for a full State Pension.

“The State Pension uprating means over 12 million pensioners will see a real-terms increase in their income from April.”

– HM Treasury, GOV.UK – Budget 2025

“The revaluation order ensures that occupational pension benefits keep pace with inflation for millions of savers in final-salary schemes.”

– Department for Work and Pensions, legislation.gov.uk – Occupational Pensions (Revaluation) Order 2025

For anyone in their 40s or 50s, the implication is clear: the State Pension age will keep rising, and the weekly amounts, while rising with earnings, may not fully replace your salary. The choice is to either build private savings or prepare to work longer.

Additional sources

legislation.gov.uk, gov.uk, gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk, gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk

The shift from 66 to 67 begins in April 2026, and understanding the full 2026 timetable and changes is essential for anyone affected by the pension age increase.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the State Pension age for women in the UK?

It is the same as for men: currently 66, rising to 67 from 2026 and to 68 in 2044-2046. (GOV.UK)

How does my National Insurance record affect my State Pension amount?

You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension; fewer years reduce the amount proportionally. (GOV.UK)

Can I defer claiming my State Pension and get extra?

Yes, deferring increases your weekly amount by about 0.1% per week of deferral (currently 5.8% per year after 6 April 2016). (GOV.UK)

What is the difference between the new State Pension and the basic State Pension?

The new State Pension is a flat-rate system (£230.25/week in 2025/26) for those reaching SPA after April 2016; the basic State Pension (£176.45/week) applies to older pensioners. (GOV.UK – Budget 2025)

What happens if I claim State Pension after my State Pension age?

You can delay claiming, and your pension increases by 1% for every 9 weeks of deferral (equivalent to about 5.8% per year). (GOV.UK)

How is the State Pension age reviewed and changed?

By law, the government must review the State Pension age at least once every six years. The third review began in July 2025 and will report by 2027. (GOV.UK)

Can I get a State Pension if I have gaps in my National Insurance record?

Yes, but your pension will be less than the full amount. You can also pay voluntary NI contributions to fill gaps. (GOV.UK)