What is the State Pension age?
State Pension age is the earliest age at which you can start receiving the State Pension. It is set by law and is the same for men and women. It is not a compulsory retirement age – you can keep working for as long as you like, and you can choose to defer claiming your State Pension in exchange for a higher weekly amount later.
The State Pension age has been rising to reflect increased life expectancy. Under current legislation (the Pensions Acts of 2007, 2011 and 2014):
- It is currently 66.
- It is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, affecting people born on or after 6 April 1960.
- It is legislated to rise from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046, affecting people born on or after 6 April 1977.
The government reviews the timetable periodically, and future changes are possible. Always confirm your date with the official GOV.UK State Pension age checker.
How the calculator works
Enter your date of birth and the calculator applies the legislated timetable:
- Born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960: State Pension age is 66.
- Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961: your State Pension age is 66 plus a number of months, increasing by one month for each monthly birth cohort (for example, born 6 April to 5 May 1960 means 66 years and 1 month).
- Born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977: State Pension age is 67.
- Born between 6 April 1977 and 5 April 1978: a transitional group whose State Pension age falls between 67 and 68, set as specific dates – the calculator points you to the official checker.
- Born on or after 6 April 1978: State Pension age is 68 under current law.
How much State Pension will I get?
For people reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, the new State Pension applies. The full rate for 2026/27 is £241.30 a week (source: GOV.UK). To get it you usually need 35 qualifying years on your National Insurance record, and you need at least 10 qualifying years to get anything at all.
As a simple rule of thumb for people whose record started after April 2016, each qualifying year is worth 1/35 of the full rate. The calculator uses this rule to give an indicative figure. If you were “contracted out” of the Additional State Pension before 2016, or paid into the old system, your actual amount may be higher or lower, which is why your personal forecast on GOV.UK is the authoritative figure.
What counts as a qualifying year?
You get a qualifying year if you paid enough National Insurance contributions in a tax year, or received National Insurance credits. Credits are given automatically in many situations – for example, if you claim Child Benefit for a child under 12, receive Carer's Allowance or Universal Credit, or are unable to work because of illness. Some people can also fill gaps by paying voluntary Class 3 contributions; for 2026/27 the Class 3 rate is £18.40 a week (source: HMRC).
How the State Pension increases
Under the “triple lock”, the new State Pension rises each year by the highest of average earnings growth, CPI inflation or 2.5%. This policy is set by the government of the day and is not guaranteed indefinitely.
Deferring your State Pension
The State Pension is not paid automatically – you need to claim it. If you delay your claim, your weekly payment increases by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer (just under 5.8% for each full year) under the new State Pension rules. Deferring can make sense if you are still working and do not need the income, but you should weigh the higher payments against the income you give up while waiting.
Planning around your State Pension age
Knowing your State Pension age helps you plan when to stop working, how long your private savings need to bridge any gap and when to start drawing from workplace pensions. Remember that the minimum age for private pensions is lower than the State Pension age, so many people use their private pension to bridge the years before the State Pension starts.
This tool is for guidance only. Use the GOV.UK State Pension forecast for your personal entitlement.