The State Pension age is rising again in November, with another group of people reaching the point at which they can claim their State Pension at 66 years and seven months. The latest group includes people born between November 6, 1960, and December 5, 1960, according to the timetable set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Who Is Affected By The November Change?
The State Pension age is gradually increasing from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. People born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, are covered by a phased timetable. This means they reach State Pension age at different ages depending on their date of birth.
For the latest group, people born between November 6 and December 5, 1960, will reach State Pension age at 66 years and seven months. The change applies to both men and women.
State Pension Age Is Moving Towards 67
The increase follows changes introduced under the Pensions Act 2014, which brought forward the timetable for raising State Pension age from 66 to 67. Under the current schedule, the State Pension age will gradually reach 67 between 2026 and 2028.
The date someone can start receiving their State Pension therefore depends on their date of birth. People approaching retirement can use the Government’s State Pension age calculator to check their individual State Pension age.
State Pension Payments Are Due To Rise In April
While the State Pension age is increasing, payments are also expected to rise next year. State Pension payments are due to increase by 3.9% in April under the Government’s triple lock policy.
The Government has announced that the existing triple lock will remain in place until April 2030. Under the current system, the State Pension rises each year by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5%.
The Government has also indicated that a further safeguard will help protect the value of the State Pension against changes in average earnings over time.
The Change Could Affect Retirement Plans
People reaching State Pension age later may need to rely on other sources of income for longer before their State Pension begins. These could include workplace pensions, private pensions and personal savings.
Fiona Turner, of law firm Weightmans, warned that people should not assume the State Pension will automatically cover any gap in their retirement income. She said the State Pension may form part of someone’s retirement income, but people need to consider their wider financial position when planning for retirement.
This can be particularly relevant after major life events such as divorce, which can also affect pension arrangements.
Check Your State Pension Age
Anyone approaching retirement should check their individual State Pension age rather than relying on the age of friends or family members. The phased increase means people born only a few months apart can face different dates for reaching State Pension age.
Checking the official timetable can help people work out when their State Pension could start and how much time they have to plan their other retirement income. With the State Pension age moving towards 67, the November change marks another step in the Government’s existing timetable for increasing the retirement age.
