The UK State Pension age is scheduled to begin increasing from 66 to 67 in 2026, with the full shift set to be completed by 2028. As outlined by the Daily Record, this change will apply to individuals born between March 6, 1961 and April 5, 1977, who will only be able to claim their State Pension once they turn 67.
This change stems from the Pensions Act 2014, which brought forward the pension age rise by eight years. A second planned increase—from 67 to 68—is also set to take place between 2044 and 2046, under current legislation.
Who Is Affected and How to Check
People impacted by the age shift will be notified by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). To avoid uncertainty, individuals can check their personal State Pension age using the official tool at GOV.UK, which also reveals when they’ll qualify for Pension Credit and free bus travel.
The upcoming changes highlight the importance of retirement planning, especially for those nearing retirement who may need to adjust their expectations based on the new timeline.
Boosting Your State Pension
Those concerned about how much they’ll receive in retirement can still take action. HMRC has extended the deadline to make voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions for the years 2006 to 2018, now set for April 5, 2025. This offers people a unique opportunity to fill gaps in their NI record, which can significantly increase their future pension payments.
According to Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest:
“People typically need at least 10 qualifying years of NI contributions to receive any state pension at all and at least 35 years to receive the full new State Pension.”
She added:
“Plugging gaps can be quite an expensive process, so it is important to assess whether you actually need to buy back any missing years.”
“A short survey assesses the person’s suitability to pay online with those eligible to pay directly given a series of options to plug any gaps depending on when someone wants to stop working.”
People can check their current State Pension forecast, view NI payment gaps, and pay voluntary contributions online through the HMRC app or their personal tax account.
