Millions of people living and working in the UK have grown up with a simple expectation: you can claim your State Pension at 65 or 66, depending on when you were born. But as we approach 2026, that rule is changing — and for many younger workers, the familiar “retire at 67” milestone is being recast as part of a new official pension timetable.
The government and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have now confirmed that the planned increase in the State Pension age — the age at which you become eligible to receive your state pension — will go ahead exactly as laid out in current law. That means the era of a flat retirement age (like everyone receiving their pension at 66) is ending, and the age you’ll need to wait until to claim the State Pension will depend on when you were born.
The Official Position: What Has Been Approved
Under existing UK law (in the Pensions Act 2014), the State Pension age is due to rise from:
- Age 66 → age 67 for both men and women
- This increase is scheduled to happen gradually between April 2026 and April 2028.
That means the idea of a fixed age of 67 as “the rule” — where anyone can claim their State Pension at exactly 67 — is being updated. Instead, the pension age becomes something that steps up based on your date of birth, so people born later may need to wait a little longer (for example, 66 years and several months) than people born earlier.
This new timetable is officially confirmed by government publications and reflects the most recent assessment of how long people live and how sustainable the pension system is over the long term.
Who Will Be Affected by This Change?
Because the rise to age 67 is phased, not sudden, it affects people differently depending on birth date:
- If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977, your State Pension age will gradually move from age 66 up to age 67 — depending on exactly when you were born.
- For people born after 5 April 1977, the State Pension age is already legislated to be 67 — but future reviews may affect ages beyond that.
Because of this phased approach, the simple “67 rule” people often quote is being replaced by a more tailored timetable that precisely matches an individual’s date of birth to their pension age.
Why the Change Is Happening
The UK government reviews the State Pension age periodically to make sure the system remains fair and sustainable. Life expectancy has increased significantly over recent decades, meaning people spend more years in retirement than they once did. An ageing population puts more long-term pressure on public finances.
Rather than keeping a static age like 67 forever, the government’s position — backed by expert actuarial advice — is that the age at which we claim a pension should reflect demographic and economic trends, while still giving people plenty of time to plan.
What This Means for Retirement Planning
This change is important for anyone who hasn’t yet reached State Pension age, especially those in their 40s, 50s and early 60s:
- Your State Pension age might be later than you expect if you’re born after April 1960.
- Pension planning — both state and private — needs to take this timetable into account when thinking about income in retirement.
- Many financial advisers now recommend including the 2026–28 State Pension age rise as part of a broader retirement income strategy.
Although the change doesn’t affect people already receiving their pension, it does affect the timing of eligibility for future claimants.
Beyond Age 67: What Comes Next?
While the current confirmed increase is to 67, the law also sets out future rises:
- The State Pension age is due to rise to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046 under existing legislation.
Independent reviews have looked at whether this timetable should be brought forward (for example, between 2037 and 2039), but no formal change has been approved yet — future decisions will depend on life expectancy, pension sustainability, labour markets and public finances.
The government also commits to giving at least 10 years’ notice of any future pension age rises, so people have time to prepare.
Practical Tips If You’re Near Retirement
If you’re approaching retirement age and are wondering how this affects you:
- Check your exact State Pension age on the official GOV.UK calculator.
- Review your National Insurance record to make sure you’ll receive the full State Pension once you hit that age.
- Consider how private pension savings might bridge any gap if you have to wait longer to claim the state retirement.
- Stay updated with reviews — a new review was called for evidence recently and could influence future changes.
Final Thoughts
The idea that the UK has “ended the 67 rule” is partly true in the sense that the fixed notion of 67 as a universal pension age is being replaced by a timetable that ties your State Pension age directly to your date of birth. The increase to age 67 between 2026 and 2028 is now officially confirmed — and it marks the end of the old “66 era,” as many commentators have described it.
But it’s also a planned, gradual shift that’s been part of pension law for years, designed to keep the State Pension system workable for future generations. If you’re affected by this, understanding when you qualify for your pension is now more important than ever.