UK State Pension Age Explained
Your UK State Pension age isn't a single number — it's a month-by-month timetable set by the DWP. Here's how to read it, how to find your date, and what the timetable doesn't tell you.
The timetable
| Born | State Pension age |
|---|---|
| On or before 5 April 1960 | 66 |
| 6 April 1960 – 5 March 1961 | 66, rising month by month to 67 |
| 6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977 | 67 |
| 6 April 1977 – 5 March 1978 | 67, rising month by month to 68 |
| On or after 6 March 1978 | 68 |
The transition windows phase the rises in month by month — which is why your exact birth date matters. The UK State Pension calculator applies your precise date.
How to check your date
- Find your birth date in the timetable above and read your State Pension age.
- Add it to your birth date — that's your State Pension date.
- Confirm it on GOV.UK's State Pension age page, which has the official checker.
What the timetable doesn't say
- Your pension amount — set by your National Insurance record, not the timetable.
- Contracting out — affects the amount, not the age or date.
- Deferral — you can take your pension later than the date above; the timetable gives when it becomes available.
- Future rises — Parliament can change the timetable; this reflects current law.
Related
Source: Department for Work and Pensions — State Pension age timetable
Frequently asked questions
Is the State Pension age the same for men and women?
Yes — equalization completed in October 2020. The timetable applies to everyone.
Will it rise to 69?
Further rises have been discussed but are not current law. The timetable above is what's legislated — check GOV.UK for any change.
Do I have to claim on my State Pension date?
No — it's when the pension becomes available. You can defer, and you don't have to stop working.