The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is increasing the State Pension age from 2026, but the change isn’t happening overnight. It is being implemented gradually over the course of a year.

In fact, everyone born between April 1960 and March 1961 will see the date at which they can claim the State Pension delayed by between one and 11 months. Currently, the age at which you can claim your State Pension in the UK – for men and women – is 66. This age was implemented between December 2018 and October 2020, having increased from 65. However, a further age increase is due to be implemented again between 2026 and 2028, rising to 67 for both men and women.

This change will be carried out in phases which will affect when people born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, can claim the State Pension. Anyone born between these two dates will still receive their State Pension at age 66, but they cannot claim it as soon as they TURN 66 – meaning you won’t be able to get it on or immediately after your 66th birthday.

The phased age increase to 67 means that people born between these dates will instead reach State Pension age at 66 years and a specified number of months.

The gradual increase means that some people will only be a month or two away from their 67th birthday by the time they can claim their State Pension.

The DWP has set out the following timetable for the increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67, which will take place from 2026 to 2028:

• Born between April 6, 1960 and May 5, 1960 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 1 month
• Born between May 6, 1960 – June 5, 1960- Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 2 months
• Born between June 6, 1960 – July 5, 1960- Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 3 months
• Born between July 6, 1960 – August 5, 1960 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 4 months
• Born between August 6, 1960 – September 5, 1960 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 5 months
• Born between September 6, 1960 – October 5, 1960 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 6 months
• Born between October 6, 1960 – November 5, 1960 – Reach State Pension
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   age at 66 years and 7 months
• Born between November 6, 1960 – December 5, 1960 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 8 months
• Born between December 6, 1960 – January 5, 1961 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 9 months
• Born between January 6, 1961 – February 5, 1961 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 10 months
• Born between February 6, 1961 – March 5, 1961 – Reach State Pension age at 66 years and 11 months
• Born between March 6, 1961 – April 5, 1977 – Reach State Pension age at 67

The DWP said: “The Pensions Act 2014 brought the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 forward by 8 years. The State Pension age for men and women will now increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

“The government also changed the way in which the increase in State Pension age is phased so that rather than reaching State Pension age on a specific date, people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will reach their State Pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months.

“For people born after 5 April 1969 but before 6 April 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, State Pension age was already 67.”