State Pension Age Calculator
Enter your date of birth to get the exact date you reach UK State Pension age, your age then and how long to go, from the Pensions Act 1995 timetable.
Enter your date of birth.
State Pension age by date of birth
The full timetable from Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4, as amended. Where a row gives an age, you reach State Pension age on the day you turn that age; where it gives a date, everyone born in that row reaches it on that date. Births before 6 October 1954 fall under earlier tables and reached State Pension age by 6 September 2020.
| Born from | Born to | State Pension age |
|---|---|---|
| 6 October 1954 | 5 April 1960 | Age 66 |
| 6 April 1960 | 5 May 1960 | Age 66 years and 1 month |
| 6 May 1960 | 5 June 1960 | Age 66 years and 2 months |
| 6 June 1960 | 5 July 1960 | Age 66 years and 3 months |
| 6 July 1960 | 5 August 1960 | Age 66 years and 4 months |
| 6 August 1960 | 5 September 1960 | Age 66 years and 5 months |
| 6 September 1960 | 5 October 1960 | Age 66 years and 6 months |
| 6 October 1960 | 5 November 1960 | Age 66 years and 7 months |
| 6 November 1960 | 5 December 1960 | Age 66 years and 8 months |
| 6 December 1960 | 5 January 1961 | Age 66 years and 9 months |
| 6 January 1961 | 5 February 1961 | Age 66 years and 10 months |
| 6 February 1961 | 5 March 1961 | Age 66 years and 11 months |
| 6 March 1961 | 5 April 1977 | Age 67 |
| 6 April 1977 | 5 May 1977 | On 6 May 2044 |
| 6 May 1977 | 5 June 1977 | On 6 July 2044 |
| 6 June 1977 | 5 July 1977 | On 6 September 2044 |
| 6 July 1977 | 5 August 1977 | On 6 November 2044 |
| 6 August 1977 | 5 September 1977 | On 6 January 2045 |
| 6 September 1977 | 5 October 1977 | On 6 March 2045 |
| 6 October 1977 | 5 November 1977 | On 6 May 2045 |
| 6 November 1977 | 5 December 1977 | On 6 July 2045 |
| 6 December 1977 | 5 January 1978 | On 6 September 2045 |
| 6 January 1978 | 5 February 1978 | On 6 November 2045 |
| 6 February 1978 | 5 March 1978 | On 6 January 2046 |
| 6 March 1978 | 5 April 1978 | On 6 March 2046 |
| 6 April 1978 | onwards | Age 68 |
Month-end birthdays: the Act fixes three cases where the target month is shorter. For example, someone born on 31 December 1960 reaches 66 years and 9 months on 30 September 2027 (Sch 4 para 1(7A)). A 29 February birthday reaching 66, 67 or 68 in a year without a 29 February gets 1 March, which is what the gov.uk checker returns.
Worked examples
- Born 15 September 1960. This falls in Table 3, so State Pension age is 66 years, 6 months: 15 March 2027.
- Born 20 April 1977. This falls in Table 4, which sets a date rather than an age: 6 May 2044, when this person is 67 years, 16 days old.
- Born 6 April 1978 or later. State Pension age is 68 under current law, so someone born on that day reaches it on 6 April 2046.
What to do when you get there
- You cannot take it early. State Pension age is the earliest you can get your State Pension; if you retire before it you have to wait (gov.uk early retirement). Workplace and personal pensions are usually available from 55, rising to 57 from 6 April 2028 (Finance Act 2022 s.10).
- You have to claim. The new State Pension is not paid automatically. You can phone the Pension Service if you will reach State Pension age in the next 4 months; to apply online you need the invitation code from your letter, and you can request one if you are within 3 months of State Pension age and have not had a letter (gov.uk how to claim).
- Or defer. If you do not claim, your State Pension defers automatically. For State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, when you claim you can take what you deferred as a one-off arrears payment of up to 52 weeks, as increased weekly payments, or both. Increased payments need at least 9 weeks of deferral and add 1% for every 9 weeks (just under 5.8% for each 52 weeks) (gov.uk deferring).
- The amount is separate from the age. 35 qualifying National Insurance years usually gives the full new State Pension of £241.30 a week in 2026/27. Check yours at gov.uk/check-state-pension, or project it with our State Pension forecast.
- Pension Credit starts at the same age. You must have reached State Pension age to qualify; a couple needs both partners over it, unless one gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age (gov.uk Pension Credit).
Could the dates change?
The Pensions Act 2014 s.27 requires the Secretary of State to review the State Pension age rules from time to time, having regard to life expectancy. The third review was launched on 21 July 2025. When we checked on 9 November 2026 it had published two sets of terms of reference and a call for evidence (now closed), with neither report published and no proposal to let people take the State Pension early, despite headlines about a "3 years early" policy. Until Parliament changes the Act, the timetable above is the law: 67 for people born 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977, and the rise to 68 between May 2044 and April 2046.
This timetable is in an Act that extends to England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland legislates separately; nidirect sends readers there to the same gov.uk checker.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim my State Pension 3 years early?
No. Your State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension, and there is no early-claim option (gov.uk). Workplace and personal pensions are different: they can usually be taken from 55, rising to 57 from 6 April 2028 under Finance Act 2022 s.10.
Has the government set out a policy to pay the State Pension 3 years early?
No. A reduced State Pension taken up to three years early is not government policy. When we checked on 9 November 2026, the third State Pension age review on gov.uk held two sets of terms of reference (for the independent report and the Government Actuary's report) and a closed call for evidence, with neither report published and no early-access proposal. The rules are unchanged: the earliest you can get your State Pension is your State Pension age.
At what age can I claim the full State Pension?
The age is the same whatever amount you get: it is your State Pension age from this timetable. The amount depends on your National Insurance record, not your age. 35 qualifying years usually gives the full new State Pension, £241.30 a week in 2026/27.
When does the State Pension age rise from 66 to 67?
It phases in between May 2026 and March 2028. People born 6 April 1960 to 5 March 1961 reach State Pension age at 66 plus 1 to 11 months, depending on birth month. Anyone born from 6 March 1961 reaches it at 67, the first of them on 6 March 2028.
Is the State Pension paid automatically when I reach State Pension age?
No. gov.uk says you will not get your new State Pension automatically - you have to claim it. You can phone the Pension Service to claim if you will reach State Pension age in the next 4 months, or apply online with the invitation code from your letter.
What happens if I do not claim at State Pension age?
Your State Pension defers automatically. If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, you can take what you deferred as a one-off arrears payment of up to 52 weeks, as increased weekly payments (1% for each 9 weeks deferred, just under 5.8% for every 52 weeks), or both (gov.uk).
Is the rise to 68 certain?
It is current law: people born from 6 April 1977 reach State Pension age between May 2044 and April 2046, and 68 for births from 6 April 1978. The Pensions Act 2014 s.27 requires periodic reviews, and the third review was launched on 21 July 2025, so this later part could change.
Is the Pension Credit qualifying age the same as State Pension age?
Yes. You must have reached State Pension age to qualify for Pension Credit. A couple claims together and is eligible only if both have reached State Pension age, or one of them gets Housing Benefit for people over State Pension age (gov.uk).