UK pension age rises to 67, affecting those born 1960‑61

The UK state pension age is being increased from 66 to 67 in a staged transition that began in April 2026 and will finish within two years. People born between 6 April 1960 and 5 May 1960 will be the first to experience a one‑month delay, with subsequent birth‑date cohorts receiving a proportionate increase in months up to a full shift to age 67 for those born from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says the change reflects longer life expectancy and the expectation that many workers will remain employed into their 70s. A cross‑party committee has warned that pre‑pensioners, especially those aged 60‑64, are already among the most financially vulnerable groups, with 22 % (about 876,000 people) living in poverty in 2023‑24. Earlier rises from 65 to 66 added roughly 100,000 new pension‑age poor. Lawmakers are calling for a coordinated, cross‑government strategy to mitigate the impact on this cohort.