Could a change to your State Pension Age (SPA) impact your retirement plans? The phased increases to SPA reached 66 for both men and women in October 2020.
This is because the State Pension age is regularly reviewed to ensure the State Pension is affordable and fair. People are living longer now, and spending a larger proportion of their adult life in retirement than in the past. The exact date that you can claim your State Pension depends on when you were born.
For men and women born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960; you will start receiving your pension on your 66th birthday. There will be a phased increase in State Pension age for men and women to age 67 in 2028, and eventually to age 68 (2037-2039).
Your date of birth Date Pension age reached
6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960 66 years and 1 month
6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960 66 years and 2 months
6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960 66 years and 3 months
6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 66 years and 4 months (1)
6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 66 years and 5 months
6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 66 years and 6 months
6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 66 years and 7 months
6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 66 years and 8 months
6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 66 years and 9 months (2)
6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 66 years and 10 months (3)
6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 66 years and 11 months
6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977* 67
*For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State
Pension age was already 67
1. A person born on 31st July 1960 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 4 months on
30th November 2026.
2. A person born on 31st December 1960 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 9
months on 30th September 2027.
3. A person born on 31st January 1961 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 10
months on 30th November 2027.
Your date of birth Date Pension age reached
6 April 1977 – 5 May 1977 6 May 2044
6 May 1977 – 5 June 1977 6 July 2044
6 June 1977 – 5 July 1977 6 September 2044
6 July 1977 – 5 August 1977 6 November 2044
6 August 1977 – 5 September 1977 6 January 2045
6 September 1977 – 5 October 1977 6 March 2045
6 October 1977 – 5 November 1977 6 May 2045
6 November 1977 – 5 December 1977 6 July 2045
6 December 1977 – 5 January 1978 6 September 2045
6 January 1978 – 5 February 1978 6 November 2045
6 February 1978 – 5 March 1978 6 January 2046
6 March 1978 – 5 April 1978 6 March 2046
6 April 1978 onwards 68th Birthday
The State Pension Age (SPA) is continuing to change
It’s not all bad news
It’s not all bad news. Since the default retirement age (except for certain occupations) has been phased out, older workers can now choose when they want to retire. This means they can reduce their hours and work part time, rather than retiring from work entirely. The law also protects you against discrimination if you’re over State Pension Age and want to stay in your job or get a new one.
The State Pension Age is going to be kept under review, which means that it could change again in the future, depending on different factors, such as changes in life expectancy. You might decide that you do not want to stop working when you reach State Pension Age. If you do, you’ll no longer have to pay National Insurance.
Working past State Pension Age
Reaching State Pension age doesn’t mean you have to give up work. You can continue working and still receive your State Pension. Find out about your options and the advantages of working longer.
Retirement age is not the same as State Pension Age which can differ, depending when someone was born and if they’re male or female. Anyone can continue working past State Pension Age.
Choosing when to retire
Retirement age is when an employee chooses to retire. Most businesses don’t set an age that their employees must retire at. If an employee chooses to work longer they can’t be discriminated against. However, some employers can set an age that employees must retire at if they can clearly justify it.
If you decide that you want to continue working, you may want to think about flexible working options. Flexible working describes any working pattern adapted to suit your needs. This includes reducing your hours to give you more personal time.
Phased retirement can help you create the work-life balance that suits you. It can help those who are approaching retirement age to continue working with a reduced workload, and eventually transition from full-time work to full-time retirement.
The value of pensions and investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise.
You may get back less than you invested.
This is because the State Pension age is regularly reviewed to ensure the State Pension is affordable and fair. People are living longer now, and spending a larger proportion of their adult life in retirement than in the past. The exact date that you can claim your State Pension depends on when you were born.
For men and women born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960; you will start receiving your pension on your 66th birthday. There will be a phased increase in State Pension age for men and women to age 67 in 2028, and eventually to age 68 (2037-2039).
Your date of birth Date Pension age reached
6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960 66 years and 1 month
6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960 66 years and 2 months
6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960 66 years and 3 months
6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960 66 years and 4 months (1)
6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960 66 years and 5 months
6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 66 years and 6 months
6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960 66 years and 7 months
6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960 66 years and 8 months
6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961 66 years and 9 months (2)
6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961 66 years and 10 months (3)
6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961 66 years and 11 months
6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977* 67
*For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State
Pension age was already 67
1. A person born on 31st July 1960 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 4 months on
30th November 2026.
2. A person born on 31st December 1960 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 9
months on 30th September 2027.
3. A person born on 31st January 1961 is considered to reach the age of 66 years and 10
months on 30th November 2027.
Your date of birth Date Pension age reached
6 April 1977 – 5 May 1977 6 May 2044
6 May 1977 – 5 June 1977 6 July 2044
6 June 1977 – 5 July 1977 6 September 2044
6 July 1977 – 5 August 1977 6 November 2044
6 August 1977 – 5 September 1977 6 January 2045
6 September 1977 – 5 October 1977 6 March 2045
6 October 1977 – 5 November 1977 6 May 2045
6 November 1977 – 5 December 1977 6 July 2045
6 December 1977 – 5 January 1978 6 September 2045
6 January 1978 – 5 February 1978 6 November 2045
6 February 1978 – 5 March 1978 6 January 2046
6 March 1978 – 5 April 1978 6 March 2046
6 April 1978 onwards 68th Birthday
The State Pension Age (SPA) is continuing to change
It’s not all bad news
It’s not all bad news. Since the default retirement age (except for certain occupations) has been phased out, older workers can now choose when they want to retire. This means they can reduce their hours and work part time, rather than retiring from work entirely. The law also protects you against discrimination if you’re over State Pension Age and want to stay in your job or get a new one.
The State Pension Age is going to be kept under review, which means that it could change again in the future, depending on different factors, such as changes in life expectancy. You might decide that you do not want to stop working when you reach State Pension Age. If you do, you’ll no longer have to pay National Insurance.
Working past State Pension Age
Reaching State Pension age doesn’t mean you have to give up work. You can continue working and still receive your State Pension. Find out about your options and the advantages of working longer.
Retirement age is not the same as State Pension Age which can differ, depending when someone was born and if they’re male or female. Anyone can continue working past State Pension Age.
Choosing when to retire
Retirement age is when an employee chooses to retire. Most businesses don’t set an age that their employees must retire at. If an employee chooses to work longer they can’t be discriminated against. However, some employers can set an age that employees must retire at if they can clearly justify it.
If you decide that you want to continue working, you may want to think about flexible working options. Flexible working describes any working pattern adapted to suit your needs. This includes reducing your hours to give you more personal time.
Phased retirement can help you create the work-life balance that suits you. It can help those who are approaching retirement age to continue working with a reduced workload, and eventually transition from full-time work to full-time retirement.
The value of pensions and investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise.
You may get back less than you invested.
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