Website of the UK government

Current State Pension age

For men born before 6 December 1953, the current State Pension age is 65.

For women, the current State Pension age is increasing from 60 to 65 from April 2010. This affects women born on or after 6 April 1950.

Proposal to increase State Pension age to 66

The government has published new proposals for increasing the State Pension age to 66.

Women’s State Pension age will increase more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018.

From December 2018 the State Pension age for both men and women will start to increase to reach 66 in 2020.

These proposals affect you if you are one of the following:

• a woman born on or between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1960
• a man born on or between 6 December 1953 and 5 April 1960

These proposed changes are not yet law and still require the approval of Parliament. If you are affected by these proposals, see ‘Proposed changes to State Pension age’ to find out what your State Pension age will be.

• Amendments to the proposed increase in State Pension age

People not affected by these proposed changes

These proposals do not affect you, if you are one of the following:

• a woman born on or before 5 April 1953
• a man born on or before 5 December 1953
• a man or woman born on or after 6 April 1960

The State Pension age calculator will tell you when you will reach State Pension age under the current law.

The current law already provides for the State Pension age to increase to:

• 67 between 2034 and 2036
• 68 between 2044 and 2046

However, the government is considering how the State Pension age should be changed in the future.  This may mean the timetable for increases to 67 and 68 will be revised. The government will bring forward proposals in due course. Any change to the timetable would require the approval of Parliament.

Choices you have at State Pension age

State Pension age is not the same as retirement age. Retirement age is when you choose to retire, but you can still work after State Pension age.

When you reach State Pension age, you can:

If you put off claiming your State Pension, you may be able to get extra State Pension or lump-sum payment when you do claim it.

If you go on working after State Pension age, you don't have to carry on paying National Insurance contributions.

Putting off claiming the State Pension

You can choose to put off claiming your State Pension for as long as you want. When you do claim, you will will get your regular weekly State Pension and either

• extra State Pension each for the rest of your life
• a one-off, taxable lump-sum payment (which will be equivalent to the State Pension you put off claiming, plus interest)

• State Pension deferral - taking up your State Pension later

Tell The Pension Service about a change in your circumstances

Find out what you need to report, such as a change of address or bank details.

• Report your change of address, bank details or other circumstances to The Pension Service

More useful links

• State Pension profiler – get a quick estimate of your basic State Pension

• Working past State Pension age - your options

• Free bus travel in England for older and disabled people

Useful contacts

• Retirement contacts

• Financial advice and support contacts

• Over 50s contacts