The Short Answer
The current State Pension age for women in the UK is 66 years, the same as for men. This equalization was completed in 2018, and the pension age for both genders will start to increase again from May 2026.
How We Got Here: The Journey to Pension Age Equality
If you’re a woman wondering when you can claim your State Pension you might remember when the age was just 60 for women while men had to wait until 65. Those days are long gone!
The path to the current situation has been a bit of a winding road. so let’s break it down in simple terms
The Historical Timeline
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Before 2010, women had to wait until they were 65 to get their State Pension, while men could get it at age 60.
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The Pensions Act of 1995 began the process of bringing all state pension ages into line. Between April 2010 and April 2020, the retirement age for women began to rise slowly from 60 to 65.
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The Pensions Act of 2011 sped things up. From April 2016 to November 2018, the age of pension for women rose to 65 more quickly.
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December 2018 onwards: From this point, both men and women’s State Pension age began to increase together toward 66.
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October 2020: State Pension age reached 66 for both men and women.
At this point, in October 2025, the State Pension age is 66 for both men and women.
When Can You Claim Your State Pension?
The exact date you can claim your State Pension depends on your date of birth. Here’s what you need to know:
- If you were born before 6 October 1954: You’ve already reached State Pension age.
- If you were born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April 1960: Your State Pension age is 66.
I know it can be confusing to work out exactly when you qualify, but don’t worry! The government has a really useful State Pension age calculator on GOV.UK that tells you precisely when you’ll reach State Pension age based on your gender and date of birth.
Future Changes: What’s Coming Next?
The State Pension age isn’t staying at 66 forever. Here’s what’s planned:
1. Increase to 67
Under the Pensions Act 2014, the State Pension age will increase from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. This affects people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977.
If you’re born within this range, your State Pension age will be:
- Born 6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960: 66 years and 1 month
- Born 6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960: 66 years and 2 months
- Born 6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960: 66 years and 3 months
And so on, adding one month for each monthly birth cohort until:
- Born 6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961: 66 years and 11 months
- Born 6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977: 67 years
2. Increase to 68
Under current legislation (the Pensions Act 2007), the State Pension age will increase from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. However, this timetable might change following government reviews.
In fact, in the Autumn Statement of December 2013, the Chancellor indicated that the government believes State Pension age should rise to 68 by the mid-2030s and 69 by the late 2040s. But remember, these dates are only indicative and haven’t been legislated yet.
Why Is the State Pension Age Changing?
You might be wondering why the government keeps pushing back the age when we can receive our pensions. Well, there are several reasons:
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Increasing life expectancy: People are living longer, which means more years spent in retirement.
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Balancing the books: The government needs to ensure the State Pension system remains affordable.
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Regular reviews: The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to review the State Pension age at least once every 5 years.
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Proportion of life principle: The government aims for people to spend up to a third of their adult life receiving their State Pension.
How to Check Your Own State Pension Age
With all these changes, it’s important to know exactly when you’ll be eligible for your State Pension. Here’s how you can find out:
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Use the official calculator: The GOV.UK website has a State Pension age calculator. You just need to enter your date of birth and gender.
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Contact the Pension Service: If you prefer speaking to someone, you can call the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.
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Get advice from Age UK: Age UK’s advice line (0800 678 1602) can help if you’re unsure about your pension entitlements.
What If I’m Affected by the Changes?
If the changes to State Pension age mean you’ll have to wait longer than you expected, here are some options to consider:
Continue Working
Many people choose to work up to their State Pension age or even beyond. Some benefits of this include:
- Continuing to earn an income
- Possibly increasing your pension entitlement
- Staying active and socially engaged
Look Into Early Retirement
If you have other pension savings or sources of income, you might consider retiring before reaching State Pension age. Remember though:
- You won’t receive your State Pension until you reach the qualifying age
- You’ll need to bridge the gap with other income sources
- Early withdrawals from private pensions might affect their value
Check Other Benefits
Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for other benefits such as:
- Universal Credit if you’re under State Pension age and on a low income
- Pension Credit once you reach State Pension age (if you’re on a low income)
- Other age-related benefits like Winter Fuel Payment
My Advice From Experience
When I was planning for my retirement, I was caught out by the changes to the women’s State Pension age. I had always thought I’d retire at 60, but suddenly found I needed to work an extra six years!
My advice would be:
- Don’t rely solely on State Pension for your retirement
- Start planning early and check your State Pension forecast regularly
- Consider getting financial advice about your pension options
- Stay informed about any policy changes that might affect you
In Summary
To wrap up, the current State Pension age for women in the UK is 66, the same as for men. This will start to increase again from May 2026, eventually reaching 67 by 2028, and is planned to reach 68 by 2046 (though this may be brought forward).
The best way to know exactly when you’ll reach State Pension age is to use the government’s official calculator, and to stay informed about any policy changes that might affect the timetable.
Remember, it’s never too early to start planning for your retirement, and knowing when you’ll receive your State Pension is an important part of that planning!
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK State Pension age calculator
- Age UK advice line: 0800 678 1602
- The Pension Service: 0800 731 0469
- Age UK’s State Pension information guide
Will the State Pension age change again?
The age at which you can get a state pension will be looked at often, so it may change again before too long. This depends on different factors, such as changes in life expectancy.
Check your State Pension age
Use the governments State Pension calculator to find out your State Pension age.
Pension age review launched in the UK
FAQ
What is the female State Pension age in the UK?
When can I start getting my State Pension? The current age for both men and women to get their State Pension is 66, but from May 6, 2026, it will start slowly going up again.
Which country has the best pension?
Which Countries Have the Most Sustainable Pension Systems? Iceland, Denmark, and the Netherlands have the most financially sustainable pension systems due to well-balanced contribution rates and participation.
Can I retire at 62 and get State Pension in England?
To access your State Pension, you need to: Be at least 66 years old (which will rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and eventually 68) Have made at least ten years’ worth of National Insurance contributions.
When did women’s retirement age change from 60 to 65 in the UK?
Under the Pensions Act 1995, the SPA for women will rise from 60 to 65 over time, starting in April 2010 and ending in 2020. This will bring it in line with the SPA for men. The Pensions Act 2011 brought forward the increase in women’s SPA to 65 to November 2018. These changes and how they were communicated have been controversial.
What is the pension age for women in the UK?
Today, the state pension age for women in the UK is 66. This is the same as the age for men. A few years ago, women could claim their pension at 60, but the rules changed to make things fairer between genders and to reflect longer life expectancy. By 2028, the state pension age is expected to rise to 67 for everyone. Why Did the Age Change?.
How old is a woman in a state pension?
By November 2018, the State Pension age for women had increased so that it matched the age for men at 65 years. More changes followed, reaching 66 by 2020, and set to reach 67 between 2026 and 2028. Further plans were to extend the age to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
What is the pension age for a married woman?
For people reaching State Pension age now, it will be age 66 for women and men. For those born after 5 April 1960, there will be a phased increase in State Pension age to 67, and eventually 68. What is the pension for a married woman in the UK?.
Is the state pension age different for men and women?
Traditionally, the State Pension ages for men and women were different, but the government has brought them in line with each other. By November 2018, the age at which women could get the State Pension had been raised to 65, the same age as men. More changes followed, reaching 66 by 2020, and set to reach 67 between 2026 and 2028.
When will women’s state pension age increase?
Under the Pensions Act 2011, 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 by October 2020. The Pensions Act 2014 brought the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 forward by 8 years.
Is there a gender difference in the UK state pension?
The historical gender difference was only applicable up to 2018, before which the retirement age for women in the UK in terms of State Pension, was 60. However, beginning as of November 6, 2018, both men and women were set to receive their State Pensions at the age of 65. It increased to 66 in October 2020.