The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging individuals born between specific dates to verify their State Pension eligibility through the online checker on GOV.UK.
With the upcoming changes to the State Pension age and the transition from 66 to 67 starting next year, it’s essential for those planning their retirement to stay informed.
State Pension Age Changes and Future Projections
The State Pension age is set to increase gradually, transitioning from 66 to 67 by 2028. This increase, established by the Pensions Act 2014, is part of an effort to align the pension age for both men and women across the UK.
Additionally, a further rise in the State Pension age, from 67 to 68, is expected between 2044 and 2046.
The government’s decision to implement this increase was initially scheduled in 2014, with reviews every five years as mandated by law.
A review of the proposed rise to 68 is expected before the end of this decade, and the government will consider factors like life expectancy and other relevant aspects before deciding to move forward.
When Will Your State Pension Age Be?
The DWP has highlighted that people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 should verify their State Pension age using the GOV.UK online checker. For instance:
- Born on 6 April 1960: You will reach the State Pension age of 66 on 6 May 2026.
- Born on 5 March 1961: You will reach the State Pension age of 67 on 5 February 2028.
These dates represent the moment you are eligible to start receiving your State Pension, which may vary depending on your birthdate and other factors.
How to Check Your State Pension Age Online
Anyone, regardless of age, can use the GOV.UK online tool to check their State Pension age. This tool is a helpful resource for retirement planning, and it can provide you with:
- The date when you will reach State Pension age.
- Your Pension Credit qualifying age.
You can check your State Pension age here
State Pension Payment Rates for 2025/26
The new State Pension and Basic State Pension amounts for 2025/26 are as follows:
- Full New State Pension:
- Weekly payment: £230.25
- Four-weekly payment: £921
- Annual amount: £11,973
- Full Basic State Pension:
- Weekly payment: £176.45
- Four-weekly payment: £705.80
- Annual amount: £9,175
Future Increases to the State Pension
The Labour Government has pledged to maintain the Triple Lock on State Pension increases throughout its term. The following are the forecasted increases for future years:
- 2025/26: 4.1%
- 2026/27: 2.5%
- 2027/28: 2.5%
- 2028/29: 2.5%
- 2029/30: 2.5%
Impact of the State Pension on Taxes
For pensioners, understanding how the State Pension affects taxes is crucial. The Personal Allowance, which is the amount of income you can earn before paying income tax, will remain fixed at £12,570 for the 2025/26 financial year.
Also See:
DWP New Income Tax Limit is going to rise from £12,570 to £20,000 – New update
Pensioners who rely entirely on the State Pension will not be taxed. However, if you have additional income, you may need to pay tax.
Taxes are paid retrospectively, which means that if your total income in the 2025/26 fiscal year exceeds the tax-free allowance, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will not issue a tax bill until July 2026.
How to Get the Full New State Pension
To receive the full New State Pension, individuals need at least 35 qualifying years of National Insurance (NI) contributions.
If you don’t have 35 years of contributions, you may be able to “top up” your NI record by paying for missing years. However, the process can be expensive, and it’s important to assess whether it’s worth the investment based on how much longer you plan to work.
You can check and fill any gaps in your NI contributions by logging into your personal tax account or using the HMRC app.
The government’s online National Insurance payments service, launched in April, allows individuals to view and pay for missing contributions directly through digital channels.
With the State Pension age changes coming soon and the government’s focus on ensuring pensioners receive the correct payments, it’s important for individuals to verify their State Pension eligibility.
Whether you are approaching retirement or already retired, checking your State Pension age and understanding the payment rates and tax implications is crucial for effective retirement planning. The online tools provided by GOV.UK make it easier than ever to stay informed.
FAQs
How can I check my State Pension age?
You can check your State Pension age online using the GOV.UK tool. It will tell you when you will reach your State Pension age and whether you qualify for Pension Credit.
When will the State Pension age increase?
The State Pension age will increase from 66 to 67 by 2028, with future increases to 68 expected between 2044 and 2046.
How much will I receive from the State Pension in 2025?
In 2025/26, the Full New State Pension will be £230.25 per week, and the Full Basic State Pension will be £176.45 per week.
Will I be taxed on my State Pension?
If your State Pension is your only income, you won’t be taxed. However, if you have additional income, you may be liable for taxes.
How can I top up my State Pension if I have missing National Insurance contributions?
You can log into your personal tax account or the HMRC app to check for gaps in your National Insurance record and find out how to pay for missing years online.
Starmer & his witches deserve lynching for telling so many porkies before the election. Just proves they are a group of first class liar’s.
Well said ,how do they expect people who have severe arthritis to carry on we’re paying for lazy one and illegal
The government are rubbish and need out
Well said …..we are paying for the lazy ones
Some People have been very unluckyin as much as some have been trying to retire for the last 3 or 4 years but are caught in these regular increases over the same period.
At this rate they will be lucky if they ever retire.
The present government don’t want you to retire instead they want people to drop down dead when they do retire it will save them billions in pensions. We all need to make a stand they work for us not the other way round.
The government want us to die befor we reach state pension age Saves them money. Even though we we are true British born in this country and worked all our life’s Tossers
Hello Dean Swann,
Yes you are right, Govt must decrease the retirement age but govt is planning to increase.
Looks like I miss 66 by 4 months had letter this week which was filed where it belongs in the bin . Don’t know why we are expected to pay all these years for the pitance you do get
I miss out by DAYS!! Just unbelievable. I work hard as a teaching assistant and am truely exhausted already. Never been shy of work, always doing my best for future of children I work with. Repaid with this! Thanks gvmt! I owe you NOTHING!! About time teaching staff and all people who care for others at the coal face, be given a tax break at least! Then you’ll get more willing and able staff in all areas!! Sorry to rant in your reply!
If I could afford it I’d leave this country.. its all full of immigrants, and the likes of us true brits are treated like dirt. Guy faulkes should have finished the job
Right
Yep
Let’s see them digging trenches at 67 they only good with a pen what arsehole
And that would make you an immigrant, do you see the irony ? 😂😂😂
Lower the age limit, enabling more people to retire, therefore making more jobs available for the younger generations.
Get rid of the personal allowances for MPs
They will be taxing us on the air that we breathe next
Don’t put ideas into their heads
Very true
They are already .. ULEZ and Congestion charge
This pension age is inhumane people would be falling down on the job. This could never be right just now they would say work till you drop down and died .This world is just getting harsh to it own inhabitants .I vote to take it back to 60 years .Allow people to enjoy their one life they have .it’s just wicked I say wicked.
They can’t afford to pay those at 66 let alone take it to 60 . Until 1945 it was 70 ..
The rise in pensionable age has very little to do with people living longer, you invite millions of foreigners into the country this costs money and savings have to be made, Then theres the fact also these people get old and will require a pension. This was debated in parliament over six years ago and it was decided then that they wanted the retirement age put upto 72 years of age but as an election was near they agreed to do it slowly.
How do they expect manual workers I.E builders, mechanics,lift engineers, etc,to work until they are 68, these politicians should try a week on a building site grafting from 7:30 until 5 see how they get on.
Oh come on……… by the time I’ll get to retirement I’ll be 96….. 🤬
Of course non of these rules apply to MPs & Senior Civil Servants! The will ‘retire’ early with a massive golden handshake that should ‘help out’ until their date!
Mmmm obviously the rise in retirement age will make sure that a large number of retirees will have popped there Gloggs
Are we just going to suck it up us English men and woman uk citizens have no balls if they say retirement at 70 no one would bat a eye lid it’s time we had a revolution
Other countries wouldn’t except this 67 68 69 70 71 death
I agree with all the comments,how dare these people in government,the labour party that is put the age of retirment up again.its ok for these people sat on there fat arses ,plenty of money in the bank telling us when to retire,makes me sick to the back teeth.this government needs to retire immediately,as somebody said we will be dead by the time we retire they dont give a toss about the working class
Having worked from age of 18,paying taxes etc.,I thankfully retired at 66. I wake up every morning,but lots of people dont even make it to retirement age…whatever hapoens to their entitlement?
Absolutely criminal behaviour
Let’s make retirement fair. If they want us to work until we are 68.
Isn’t it right that teachers, police officers, firemen, nurses, doctors and council workers all work until they reach 68.
Only ever the working class that gets beaten. Let’s have another read of the Magna Carta and see what that says. They would birch mps and politicians.
People normally pay 50 years national insurance anyway where does that extra money go .And they still want you to work longer
I hate that saying, we are all living longer, not every individual is living longer, why not stop giving money to countries that are richer than us, also, stop giving millions to the visitors coming across the channel in dingies. Dump that net zero nonsense that will never be achievable, there you go 20 years more pension money for people who have worked all their lives. The only problem is we have a government with no back bone.
Grow up people and use your Brains there arnt enough working people to pay your pensions and you need imigrants or else you would have to wok even longer
So unfair. Obviously wearing out as we get older. How can careworkers do the job efficiently at that age. Ridiculous.
I think it stinks.eu countries get over £2.000 a week .we get a pittance for all the years I been working . arthritis put a stop to me working as well muscle skeleton problems .partially working kidneys and a heart defect.. I can’t get pension credit because I am £2 over the limit …stop housing immigrants…… We British should be top of the housing list…they are slowly killing the pensioners off.
I was born in 1961 I have not been out of work except for 2weeks when I left school I have got health issues and told I can’t get any help as I’m still working maybe I should just stop and get help of off the government to help me get on with my life