The state pension age in the UK is the earliest age you can start claiming your state pension. This age depends on when you were born. The state pension age is currently 66 for both men and women but will increase again from 6 May 2026 to 67 for those born on or after April 1960.
HMRC’s 'Check your State Pension age' tool is available at www.gov.uk/state-pension-age/y.
The online tool allows taxpayers to check the following:
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the earliest age they can start receiving the State Pension;
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their Pension Credit qualifying age; and
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when they will be eligible for free bus travel.
The Pensions Act 2014 requires the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to review the State Pension age regularly. This helps ensure that the government can consider the latest information to inform any future decision on the State Pension age. This review includes life expectancy and population projections, the economic position, and the impact on the labour market.
The government is currently required to provide 10 years' notice of changes to the State Pension age, enabling people to plan effectively for retirement. It is thought that all options for increasing the State Pension age from 67 to 68 that meet the 10 years' notice period will be in scope at the next review.
How much is the state pension?
The full state pension you can receive only if you have an entire NIC history is £221.20 per week. This amount will vary depending on your contributions towards your national insurance. If your NICs equal or exceed at least 10 years to receive a state pension and gain the maximum state pension, you must have an NIC record spanning 35 years.
How to check your state pension entitlement.
You can also check your state pension age and your entitlement. Your state pension forecast provides you with the following
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how much state pension you are entitled to
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how you can get your pension
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provide you with tips on how to increase your state pension.
Contact us
If you're starting to think about your future and need help organizing your pension, contact our tax team today. Our team can advise you on how to best prepare your state pension for your future. For more support and advice with your state pension, contact Moore South today.