DWP urges people born between these dates to take action | Personal Finance | Finance
The Department for Work and Pensions is urging those born between specific dates to check their State Pension eligibility date using the online tool on GOV.UK. From next year, the State Pension age will rise from 66 to 67, a change that will be phased in and apply to both men and women across the UK by 2028. This change was first announced in 2014, and a further increase from 67 to 68 is expected between 2044 and 2046.
On social media platform X, the DWP posted: “Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961? Check today to find out what your State Pension age will be.” Individuals born on 6 April 1960 will reach State Pension age of 66 on 6 May 2026, whereas those born on 5 March 1961 will reach State Pension age of 67 on 5 February 2028. It is possible to check personal State Pension age online.
It is essential to be aware of these upcoming changes, particularly for those planning their retirement. The DWP will notify those affected by the change in State Pension age in advance by letter.
Under the Pensions Act 2014, there’s a requirement for the State Pension age to undergo regular reviews at least every five years. These assessments are focused on allowing individuals a certain proportion of their adult life to benefit from the State Pension.
A review of the proposed increase to 68 is due before the end of this decade. The Conservative government had originally scheduled it for two years after the general election, which would have been 2026.
The review of the State Pension age will take into account life expectancy and other relevant factors. Once the review has concluded, the UK Government may decide to implement changes to the State Pension age. However, any proposals must be approved by Parliament before they become law.
Check your State Pension age online
Your State Pension age is the earliest you can start receiving your State Pension. It might differ from the age you can get a workplace or personal pension. Anyone, regardless of age, can use the online tool on GOV.UK to check their State Pension age, an essential part of retirement planning.
You can use the State Pension age tool to check:
- When you will reach State Pension age
- Your Pension Credit qualifying age
Check your State Pension age online here.
State Pension payments 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
Future State Pension increases
The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases:
- 2025/26 – 4.1%, he forecast was 4%
- 2026/27 – 2.5%
- 2027/28 – 2.5%
- 2028/29 – 2.5%
- 2029/30 – 2.5%
A recent Royal London report shows that only about half of the retirees getting the New State Pension in the past year received the full weekly amount, with approximately 150,000 earning less than £100 each week.
Many of the 12.9 million State Pension claimants will have already received a letter from the DWP, informing them of their updated payments rates as well as clarifying whether they’re eligible for Pension Credit or not.
State Pension and tax matters will be a significant focus for pensioners, as the Personal Allowance continues to be fixed at £12,570 through the 2025/26 financial year. It’s important for recipients to know that those entirely reliant on the State Pension will not be taxed on this income.
However, those with additional revenue besides the State Pension should be prepared to pay taxes. Taxes are paid retrospectively, meaning that if the 2025/26 fiscal year’s increase pushes someone over the tax-free limit, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) won’t issue a tax bill until July 2026.
Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, has shared crucial insights on securing the full New State Pension: “People typically need at least 10 qualifying years of NI (national insurance) contributions to receive any State Pension at all and at least 35 years to receive the full New State Pension – though they don’t need to be consecutive years.”
She warns that filling in missing NI contribution years can be costly, advising: “Plugging gaps can be quite an expensive process, so it is important to assess whether you actually need to buy back any missing years. This will depend on how many more years you plan to work, and whether you are eligible for NI tax credits, which fill the gaps, such as those who have been sick, were unemployed or took time out to raise a family or care for elderly relations.”
She highlights the ease of updating records with the Government’s new online services: “Plugging gaps in your record is relatively straightforward since the Government rolled out its new NI payments services in April last year – a State Pension forecast tool that has been checked by 3.7m since its launch.”
To check and rectify any gaps in NI contributions, Ms Haine suggests: “People simply need to log into their personal tax account or the HMRC app to not only view any payment gaps but also check if they can plug those gaps directly through the UK Government’s digital channels.”
Finally, she explains the process for making up for lost time: “A short survey assesses the person’s suitability to pay online with those eligible to pay directly given a series of options to plug any gaps depending on when someone wants to stop working.”
According to Ms Haine: “Calculating whether to top up can be confusing though and ultimately there is no point paying for more years than you need because you won’t get that money back. People who might need to top up include those that took a career break as well as low earners or expatriates living and working abroad.”
