State pension age changes starting in April will affect nearly everyone who has not yet reached 66. However, people born on particular dates may face entirely different state pension ages compared to those born merely days apart, as ministers continue to discuss the implications and financial savings of the adjustment.

The state pension age is the earliest point at which you can start claiming your state pension, though you have the option to postpone it for later payments. It remains under Government review, with officials weighing factors including rising life expectancy, employment market dynamics, expenditure, and long-term viability.

While future increases remain subject to modification, a confirmed increase from 66 to 67 will commence in April through a gradual implementation over the following two years. Consequently, people born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will each face varying state pension ages based on their precise birth date.

State pension age according to your birthday:

• 6 April 1960 – 5 May 1960: 66 years and 1 month
• 6 May 1960 – 5 June 1960: 66 years and 2 months
• 6 June 1960 – 5 July 1960: 66 years and 3 months
• 6 July 1960 – 5 August 1960: 66 years and 4 months
• 6 August 1960 – 5 September 1960: 66 years and 5 months
• 6 September 1960 – 5 October 1960 : 66 years and 6 months
• 6 October 1960 – 5 November 1960: 66 years and 7 months
• 6 November 1960 – 5 December 1960: 66 years and 8 months
• 6 December 1960 – 5 January 1961: 66 years and 9 months
• 6 January 1961 – 5 February 1961: 66 years and 10 months
• 6 February 1961 – 5 March 1961: 66 years and 11 months
• 6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977: 67 years

The increase from 66 to 67 is projected to deliver £10billion in savings for the Government and was originally proposed by the former Conservative administration. Addressing the Work and Pensions Committee on March 18, Pensions Minister Torsten Bell explained that adjusting the state pension age aligns with increasing life expectancy across the UK, ensuring each generation can enjoy “at least a third” of their life during retirement.

He emphasised: “At the point which the state pension age was first introduced, only about half of people were expected to even get to state pension age. It’s 93% now. We want to make sure we have a sustainable state pension in the longer term.”

He noted that increasing the state pension age “never feels like an easy decision”. Anyone impacted by modifications to their State Pension age should expect to receive correspondence from the DWP with substantial notice. Having advanced knowledge of these changes enables people to adjust their retirement plans accordingly.

Your state pension age can be checked online via the Gov.UK website. The platform also offers a state pension forecast tool, as the amount received upon reaching state pension age varies between people.

Generally, a minimum of 10 qualifying years is required, during which National Insurance contributions were paid or National Insurance credits were received, to obtain any portion of the new state pension.

Upon accumulating 35 qualifying years, you become entitled to the full new state pension. According to Royal London’s analysis, in 2023, slightly more than half of the 3.4 million people currently claiming the new state pension receive the complete amount. The new state pension presently stands at £230.25 weekly, but will rise to £241.30 per week from April.