In the forthcoming years, the UK government will raise the minimum age of obtaining state pension. In the period of 2026-2028, the age will be raised up to 67 years, and previously it was 66 years. It is expected that the immediate effect of this change will touch those individuals who have been born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961.
The department of work and pension of UK (DWP) is asking individuals to find out their state pension age. To this, the government has also posted an online tool on GOV.UK site.
Why is it important to check your state pension age?
If you have crossed the age of 60 or there is someone in your family who has crossed the age of 60, then this information is very important. At this age, people often plan for retirement and if there is a change in the age of receiving pension, then it can have a profound impact on their planning.
For example:
- A person born on 6 April 1960 will start getting pension from 6 May 2026.
- A person born on 5 March 1961 will get pension from 5 February 2028.
It is clear from these dates that now the pension age of every person will depend on the individual date of birth.
There will be more changes in the future
The government has already indicated that the pension age can be increased to 68 years between 2044 and 2046. However, the final decision on this will be taken only after the government review. Under the Pensions Act 2014, there is a provision that the pension age will be reviewed every five years.
Online tool will help in pension planning
With the help of the tool available on GOV.UK, you can check the following things:
- When will your state pension age come?
- Are you eligible for Pension Credit or not?
- When will you get the facility of free bus travel (in Scotland it is available at the age of 60)?
With this tool you can make better plans for your future.
Status of pension payments in 2025-26
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
However, a study has revealed that only half of the people are getting the full new pension amount, and about 1.5 lakh people are getting pension of less than £100 per week.
Information about tax with pensions
If a person’s only income is from the state pension and it is less than the Personal Allowance* of £12,570, then they will not have to pay any tax. But those who have additional income other than the pension may have to pay tax.
This tax is usually delayed by one year. If your income goes above the tax limit in the year 2025/26, you may get a tax bill from HMRC in July 2026.
Eligibility for full pension
Alice Haine, a financial adviser at Bestinvest, says that to get the full new state pension, a person must pay National Insurance (NI) contributions for at least 35 years. To get the minimum pension, 10 years of contributions are also required.
If you’re missing some years of contributions on your record, you can make up for them, but this can be an expensive option. So make sure you check whether you need to make these payments first.
How to make up for missing contributions?
The government has launched a new NI Payment Service tool that allows you to:
- View old records by logging into your personal tax account.
- You can also do this using the HMRC app.
- If you’ve missed some years (such as because you’re caring for family or living abroad), there’s an option to make up for them.
A simple survey checks whether you’re eligible for online payments.
Who should make up for missing contributions?
- People who have taken a career break.
- Low-income workers.
- Expats who have worked abroad.
- Women who have taken a break from work to care for family or the elderly.
All such people must check whether there are any gaps in their records, which they need to fill.
Conclusion: Be prepared now for the coming changes
Changes in the state pension scheme can affect anyone’s retirement plans. If you or someone you know is over 60, then find out now about your pension age, eligibility and potential benefits.
The government will send letters to all affected people to inform them, but it is wise to be prepared at an individual level.
Check your pension age today by visiting the website of GOV.UK and strengthen your retirement plan.
Important Links:
Check your State Pension age – GOV.UK
I am also willing to make a PDF of this article or make a shorter post to the social media, should you want one. How I can assist you.
FAQs
Q1. Who will be affected by the upcoming State Pension age change?
People born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 will be the first to be affected as the State Pension age rises from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
Q2. How can I check my State Pension age?
You can check your State Pension age using the official tool on the GOV.UK website.
Q3. What is the full weekly amount for the New State Pension in 2025/26?
If your total income (including pension) stays below the £12,570 Personal Allowance, you won’t need to pay income tax.
Q4. How many years of National Insurance do I need for a full State Pension?
You typically need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to receive the full New State Pension.
Q5. Do I need to pay tax on my State Pension?
If your total income (including pension) stays below the £12,570 Personal Allowance, you won’t need to pay income tax.
