Overview

• The State Pension age will increase from 66 to 67 in stages from April 2026 through April 2028 following the Pensions Act 2014 mandate.
• Birth cohorts from April 6, 1960, to March 5, 1961, will face eligibility delays of one to 11 months beyond their 66th birthday according to the detailed schedule.
• Anyone born after April 5, 1977, will first become eligible at age 67 under existing legislation, with the rise to 68 in 2044–46 retained pending future review.
• The triple-lock mechanism delivered a 4.1% uprating in April 2025 and will continue to index pensions by the highest of inflation, wage growth, or 2.5%.
• Office for Budget Responsibility analysis forecasts savings from the age rise while Institute for Fiscal Studies modelling warns pension ages may need to climb to 69 by 2048–49 and 74 by 2068–69 to contain spending.