The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is calling all those born between specific dates to verify their State Pension eligibility date via the online checker on GOV.UK. Next year marks the start of the State Pension age increment, transitioning from 66 to 67, scheduled to be uniform for both men and women across the UK by 2028.
This anticipated amendment to the official retirement age has been statutory since 2014, while an additional rise in the State Pension age from 67 to 68 is expected to occur between 2044 and 2046.
The DWP took to X, previously known as Twitter, stating: “Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961? Check today to find out what your State Pension age will be.”
With birthdays falling on 6 April 1960, individuals will attain the State Pension age of 66 come 6 May 2026, whereas those born on 5 March 1961 will hit the State Pension threshold of 67 on 5 February 2028. Assess your personal State Pension age online right here.
It’s crucial to stay informed about these imminent adjustments, particularly if you’re orchestrating a retirement strategy. Everyone impacted by the State Pension age alteration will be notified adequately beforehand through a letter from the DWP, reports the Daily Record.
Under the Pensions Act 2014, there’s an obligation for the State Pension age to undergo periodic reviews at minimum every five years. These appraisals are centred around allowing individuals a specified proportion of their adult life to benefit from the State Pension.
A review of the proposed increase to 68 is due before the end of this decade. The Conservative government had originally scheduled it for two years post the general election, which would have been 2026.
The review of the State Pension age will consider life expectancy and other relevant factors.
Once the review has concluded, the UK Government may decide to implement changes to the State Pension age. However, any proposals must be approved by Parliament before they become law.
Check your State Pension age online
Your State Pension age is the earliest you can start receiving your State Pension. It might differ from the age you can get a workplace or personal pension.
Anyone, regardless of age, can use the online tool on GOV.UK to check their State Pension age, an essential part of retirement planning.
You can use the State Pension age tool to check:
- When you will reach State Pension age
- Your Pension Credit qualifying age
Check your State Pension age online here.
State Pension payments 2025/26
Full New State Pension
- Weekly payment: £230.25
- Four-weekly payment: £921
- Annual amount: £11,973
Full Basic State Pension
- Weekly payment: £176.45
- Four-weekly payment: £705.80
- Annual amount: £9,175
Future State Pension increases
The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases:
- 2025/26 – 4.1%, he forecast was 4%
- 2026/27 – 2.5%
- 2027/28 – 2.5%
- 2028/29 – 2.5%
- 2029/30 – 2.5%
A recent Royal London report shows that only about half of the retirees getting the New State Pension in the past year received the full weekly amount, with approximately 150,000 earning less than £100 each week.
Many of the 12.9 million State Pension claimants will have already received a letter from the DWP, informing them of their updated payments rates as well as clarifying whether they’re eligible for Pension Credit or not.
State Pension and tax matters will be a significant focus for pensioners, as the Personal Allowance continues to be fixed at £12,570 through the 2025/26 financial year. It’s important for recipients to know that those entirely reliant on the State Pension will not be taxed on this income.
However, those with additional revenue besides the State Pension should be prepared to pay taxes. Taxes are paid retrospectively, meaning that if the 2025/26 fiscal year’s increase pushes someone over the tax-free limit, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) won’t issue a tax bill until July 2026.
How to get full New State Pension
To get the complete New State Pension, Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, an online investment platform, states: “People typically need at least 10 qualifying years of NI (national insurance) contributions to receive any State Pension at all and at least 35 years to receive the full New State Pension – though they don’t need to be consecutive years.
“Plugging gaps can be quite an expensive process, so it is important to assess whether you actually need to buy back any missing years. This will depend on how many more years you plan to work, and whether you are eligible for NI tax credits, which fill the gaps, such as those who have been sick, were unemployed or took time out to raise a family or care for elderly relations.
“Plugging gaps in your record is relatively straightforward since the Government rolled out its new NI payments services in April last year – a State Pension forecast tool that has been checked by 3.7m since its launch.”
She went on to say: “People simply need to log into their personal tax account or the HMRC app to not only view any payment gaps but also check if they can plug those gaps directly through the UK Government’s digital channels.
“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.
“Calculating whether to top up can be confusing though and ultimately there is no point paying for more years than you need because you won’t get that money back.”
Ms Haine added: “People who might need to top up include those that took a career break as well as low earners or expatriates living and working abroad.”
