State Pension age calculator: when do you reach State Pension age?
Under current law (Pensions Act 1995, Schedule 4, as amended), State Pension age is 66 for people born from 6 October 1954 to 5 April 1960, rises from 66 and 1 month to 66 and 11 months for births from 6 April 1960 to 5 March 1961, is 67 for births from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977, rises from 67 to 68 for births from 6 April 1977 to 5 April 1978, and is 68 for anyone born after 5 April 1978. For births before 6 December 1953 the rules differ for men and women. Enter a date of birth to see the date; the result is an estimate from the statute.
When do you reach State Pension age?
Enter a date of birth to see the date. The result is worked out in your browser and is not stored.
- Sex is used only for births before 6 December 1953; the Act has separate rules for a man and a woman born before that date.
- The calculator applies the statutory tables as legislation.gov.uk shows them and ignores any State Pension age review, which is not law.
- The date is State Pension age. It does not say whether you can be paid: payment depends on your National Insurance record, and deferral is separate.
- Births on 31 July 1960, 31 December 1960 and 31 January 1961 use the dates the Act sets. A birth on 29 February whose anniversary year has no 29 February is shown as 1 March, with the basis stated beside the result.
- The tables are those of the Pensions Act 1995 (England, Wales and Scotland); the Northern Ireland Order prints the same four tables.
- The result is an estimate from the statute, not a statement from DWP; GOV.UK's own service is the official check.
State Pension age by date of birth
These rules are Pensions Act 1995, Schedule 4, Part I, paragraph 1, as amended by the Pensions Acts 2007, 2011 and 2014, read on legislation.gov.uk:
- A man born before 6 December 1953 attains pensionable age at 65 (rule (1)).
- A woman born before 6 April 1950 attains pensionable age at 60 (rule (2)).
- A woman born 6 April 1950 to 5 December 1953 attains it on the day in Table 1 (rule (3)).
- Born 6 December 1953 to 5 October 1954, man or woman: the day in Table 2 (rule (5)).
- Born 6 October 1954 to 5 April 1960: age 66 (rule (6)).
- Born 6 April 1960 to 5 March 1961: age 66 plus 1 to 11 months, as in Table 3 (rule (7)).
- Born 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977: age 67 (rule (8)).
- Born 6 April 1977 to 5 April 1978: the day in Table 4, 6 May 2044 to 6 March 2046 (rule (9)).
- Born after 5 April 1978: age 68 (rule (10)).
Each birth period runs from the 6th of one month to the 5th of the next, so a birth on the 5th and one on the 6th can land in different rows.
66 to 67: births from 6 April 1960 to 5 March 1961 (Table 3)
| Period within which birthday falls | Age pensionable age attained |
|---|---|
| 6 April 1960 to 5 May 1960 | 66 years and 1 month |
| 6 May 1960 to 5 June 1960 | 66 years and 2 months |
| 6 June 1960 to 5 July 1960 | 66 years and 3 months |
| 6 July 1960 to 5 August 1960 | 66 years and 4 months |
| 6 August 1960 to 5 September 1960 | 66 years and 5 months |
| 6 September 1960 to 5 October 1960 | 66 years and 6 months |
| 6 October 1960 to 5 November 1960 | 66 years and 7 months |
| 6 November 1960 to 5 December 1960 | 66 years and 8 months |
| 6 December 1960 to 5 January 1961 | 66 years and 9 months |
| 6 January 1961 to 5 February 1961 | 66 years and 10 months |
| 6 February 1961 to 5 March 1961 | 66 years and 11 months |
The Act adds three dates for births on a 31st, as legislation.gov.uk words rule (7A):
“For the purposes of table 3— (a) a person born on 31st July 1960 is to be taken to attain the age of 66 years and 4 months at the commencement of 30th November 2026; (b) a person born on 31st December 1960 is to be taken to attain the age of 66 years and 9 months at the commencement of 30th September 2027; (c) a person born on 31st January 1961 is to be taken to attain the age of 66 years and 10 months at the commencement of 30th November 2027.”
67 to 68: births from 6 April 1977 to 5 April 1978 (Table 4)
Under current law the age rises from 67 to 68 for births from 6 April 1977; the Act's table gives the day, and anyone born after 5 April 1978 attains it at 68.
| Period within which birthday falls | Day pensionable age attained |
|---|---|
| 6 April 1977 to 5 May 1977 | 6 May 2044 |
| 6 May 1977 to 5 June 1977 | 6 July 2044 |
| 6 June 1977 to 5 July 1977 | 6 September 2044 |
| 6 July 1977 to 5 August 1977 | 6 November 2044 |
| 6 August 1977 to 5 September 1977 | 6 January 2045 |
| 6 September 1977 to 5 October 1977 | 6 March 2045 |
| 6 October 1977 to 5 November 1977 | 6 May 2045 |
| 6 November 1977 to 5 December 1977 | 6 July 2045 |
| 6 December 1977 to 5 January 1978 | 6 September 2045 |
| 6 January 1978 to 5 February 1978 | 6 November 2045 |
| 6 February 1978 to 5 March 1978 | 6 January 2046 |
| 6 March 1978 to 5 April 1978 | 6 March 2046 |
Earlier tables (births from 6 April 1950 to 5 October 1954)
Table 1: women born 6 April 1950 to 5 December 1953
| Period within which woman’s birthday falls | Day pensionable age attained |
|---|---|
| 6 April 1950 to 5 May 1950 | 6 May 2010 |
| 6 May 1950 to 5 June 1950 | 6 July 2010 |
| 6 June 1950 to 5 July 1950 | 6 September 2010 |
| 6 July 1950 to 5 August 1950 | 6 November 2010 |
| 6 August 1950 to 5 September 1950 | 6 January 2011 |
| 6 September 1950 to 5 October 1950 | 6 March 2011 |
| 6 October 1950 to 5 November 1950 | 6 May 2011 |
| 6 November 1950 to 5 December 1950 | 6 July 2011 |
| 6 December 1950 to 5 January 1951 | 6 September 2011 |
| 6 January 1951 to 5 February 1951 | 6 November 2011 |
| 6 February 1951 to 5 March 1951 | 6 January 2012 |
| 6 March 1951 to 5 April 1951 | 6 March 2012 |
| 6 April 1951 to 5 May 1951 | 6 May 2012 |
| 6 May 1951 to 5 June 1951 | 6 July 2012 |
| 6 June 1951 to 5 July 1951 | 6 September 2012 |
| 6 July 1951 to 5 August 1951 | 6 November 2012 |
| 6 August 1951 to 5 September 1951 | 6 January 2013 |
| 6 September 1951 to 5 October 1951 | 6 March 2013 |
| 6 October 1951 to 5 November 1951 | 6 May 2013 |
| 6 November 1951 to 5 December 1951 | 6 July 2013 |
| 6 December 1951 to 5 January 1952 | 6 September 2013 |
| 6 January 1952 to 5 February 1952 | 6 November 2013 |
| 6 February 1952 to 5 March 1952 | 6 January 2014 |
| 6 March 1952 to 5 April 1952 | 6 March 2014 |
| 6 April 1952 to 5 May 1952 | 6 May 2014 |
| 6 May 1952 to 5 June 1952 | 6 July 2014 |
| 6 June 1952 to 5 July 1952 | 6 September 2014 |
| 6 July 1952 to 5 August 1952 | 6 November 2014 |
| 6 August 1952 to 5 September 1952 | 6 January 2015 |
| 6 September 1952 to 5 October 1952 | 6 March 2015 |
| 6 October 1952 to 5 November 1952 | 6 May 2015 |
| 6 November 1952 to 5 December 1952 | 6 July 2015 |
| 6 December 1952 to 5 January 1953 | 6 September 2015 |
| 6 January 1953 to 5 February 1953 | 6 November 2015 |
| 6 February 1953 to 5 March 1953 | 6 January 2016 |
| 6 March 1953 to 5 April 1953 | 6 March 2016 |
| 6 April 1953 to 5 May 1953 | 6 July 2016 |
| 6 May 1953 to 5 June 1953 | 6 November 2016 |
| 6 June 1953 to 5 July 1953 | 6 March 2017 |
| 6 July 1953 to 5 August 1953 | 6 July 2017 |
| 6 August 1953 to 5 September 1953 | 6 November 2017 |
| 6 September 1953 to 5 October 1953 | 6 March 2018 |
| 6 October 1953 to 5 November 1953 | 6 July 2018 |
| 6 November 1953 to 5 December 1953 | 6 November 2018 |
Table 2: men and women born 6 December 1953 to 5 October 1954
| Period within which birthday falls | Day pensionable age attained |
|---|---|
| 6 December 1953 to 5 January 1954 | 6 March 2019 |
| 6 January 1954 to 5 February 1954 | 6 May 2019 |
| 6 February 1954 to 5 March 1954 | 6 July 2019 |
| 6 March 1954 to 5 April 1954 | 6 September 2019 |
| 6 April 1954 to 5 May 1954 | 6 November 2019 |
| 6 May 1954 to 5 June 1954 | 6 January 2020 |
| 6 June 1954 to 5 July 1954 | 6 March 2020 |
| 6 July 1954 to 5 August 1954 | 6 May 2020 |
| 6 August 1954 to 5 September 1954 | 6 July 2020 |
| 6 September 1954 to 5 October 1954 | 6 September 2020 |
Where the Act applies, and Northern Ireland
legislation.gov.uk marks Part I of Schedule 4 of the Pensions Act 1995 as extending to England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Schedule 2, paragraph 1, which prints the same four tables as the Act (we compared every row on 5 November 2026; the rule numbers differ). The Northern Ireland text is up to date on legislation.gov.uk to 05 November 2026 on the same terms.
Births on 29 February
Born on 29 February: 1 March is shown for the anniversary. GOV.UK’s State Pension age service gives this date (checked 5 November 2026); Scots law (Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 s.6(2)) takes 1 March as the anniversary; the England and Wales statutes we read (Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 and Family Law Reform Act 1969 s.9) do not say.
GOV.UK's own State Pension age service gave these dates for 29 February dates of birth when we tried them on 5 November 2026 (all sex-neutral unless marked):
| Date of birth | Sex entered | Date GOV.UK's service gave |
|---|---|---|
| 29 February 1960 | Not entered | 1 March 2026 |
| 29 February 1956 | Not entered | 1 March 2022 |
| 29 February 1964 | Not entered | 1 March 2031 |
| 29 February 1968 | Not entered | 1 March 2035 |
| 29 February 1972 | Not entered | 1 March 2039 |
| 29 February 1976 | Not entered | 1 March 2043 |
| 29 February 1948 | Male | 1 March 2013 |
| 29 February 1952 | Male | 1 March 2017 |
The Scottish Act reads:
“(2)Where a person has been born on 29th February in a leap year, the relevant anniversary in any year other than a leap year shall be taken to be 1st March.”
The Family Law Reform Act 1969 section 9 and the Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 texts we read do not mention 29 February.
Status of the law and of the review
Status: current law, as legislation.gov.uk showed it when we checked on 5 November 2026
“Pensions Act 1995, SCHEDULE 4 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 November 2026.”
In the list of changes not yet applied to Schedule 4 that legislation.gov.uk prints, the entries for Schedule 4 itself name paragraph 18 or 21, not paragraph 1, where the tables above sit. The 2007, 2011 and 2014 Acts have already been applied to paragraph 1.
Status: launched (July 2025); no outcome published on the GOV.UK collection page when we checked on 5 November 2026; not law
“The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to regularly review State Pension age. The first review of State Pension age concluded in 2017 and the second review concluded in 2023. The government announced the launch of the third review of State Pension age in July 2025. This review will consider whether the rules around pensionable age are appropriate, based on the latest life expectancy data and other evidence.”
“The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to review the State Pension age every 6 years.”
The GOV.UK collection page for the review was last updated on 18 August 2025 and it lists the terms of reference for the independent report and for the Government Actuary's report and a closed call for evidence; it lists no final report, outcome or recommendation. Nothing in the review changes the tables on this page until Parliament changes the law.
The two documents give different review frequencies, so both are shown with their dates: the 2025 terms of reference (published 21 July 2025) say every 6 years, and the 2014 paper (marked Updated 15 May 2014), quoted next, says at least once every 5 years. This page does not resolve the difference.
The only GOV.UK wording we found on how a change to the 67 to 68 timetable would happen comes from a policy paper published in 2014 (marked Updated 15 May 2014), so it is quoted as a 2014 statement and not as current policy:
“The Pensions Act 2014 provides for a regular review of the State Pension age, at least once every 5 years. The government is not planning to revise the existing timetables for the equalisation of State Pension age to 65 or the rise in the State Pension age to 66 or 67. However the timetable for the increase in the State Pension age from 67 to 68 could change as a result of a future review. Before any future changes could become law Parliament would need to approve the plans.”
In that paper, Parliament would need to approve any change before it became law. A review is therefore not a change in the law, and this page does not present any proposal as law.
State Pension age is not the same as being entitled to a payment
“Your State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension. It may be different to the age you can get a workplace or personal pension.”
GOV.UK words the new State Pension eligibility, and its exception, like this:
“You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension when you reach State Pension age if you’re: a man born on or after 6 April 1951 a woman born on or after 6 April 1953 If you were born before, these rules do not apply. Instead, you’ll get the basic State Pension. You may also get Additional State Pension.”
“You’ll need 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension. A qualifying year is one in which you were: working and made National Insurance contributions getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer paying voluntary National Insurance contributions You might also qualify if you’ve lived or worked abroad or paid reduced rate National Insurance for married women.”
Deferring your State Pension
“If you do not claim your State Pension at State Pension age, it automatically defers. You do not have to do anything.”
GOV.UK adds an exception on the same guide:
“You cannot build up deferred State Pension while you or your partner are getting certain benefits.”
“If you spent time in prison You cannot build up deferred State Pension for any time you’ve spent in prison.”
Check with GOV.UK
GOV.UK runs its own service: Check your State Pension age. It says:
“The State Pension age is regularly reviewed, so the results of this tool may change in the future.”
Dates matter for tax too: see UK tax year dates for the 6 April to 5 April tax year and Self Assessment deadlines, and UK dividend tax rates for how dividends are taxed. UK bank holidays have their own page, and every UK page is listed in the UK section.
Frequently asked questions
What is my State Pension age if I was born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961?
Under Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 (legislation.gov.uk), State Pension age is 66 plus a number of months: 66 and 1 month for births from 6 April 1960 to 5 May 1960, rising by one month for each later birth month to 66 and 11 months for births from 6 February 1961 to 5 March 1961. The Act sets three dates of its own for births on 31 July 1960, 31 December 1960 and 31 January 1961 (30 November 2026, 30 September 2027 and 30 November 2027), because the month it counts to has no 31st. This is current law, not a forecast of any review.
What is State Pension age for people born on or after 6 March 1961?
Under current law in Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 (legislation.gov.uk), State Pension age is 67 for births from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977. For births from 6 April 1977 to 5 April 1978 it rises from 67 to 68 on a month-by-month table (6 May 2044 to 6 March 2046), and for births after 5 April 1978 it is 68. A change to any of this would need Parliament to legislate.
Is State Pension age the same as when I can be paid the State Pension?
No. GOV.UK says State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension. Being paid also depends on your National Insurance record: GOV.UK says you need 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension, which applies to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953, and that people born before those dates get the basic State Pension under different rules. GOV.UK also says you might qualify if you have lived or worked abroad. A State Pension not claimed at State Pension age defers automatically, except that GOV.UK says you cannot build up deferred State Pension while you or your partner are getting certain benefits, or for any time you have spent in prison.
Will State Pension age change?
Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 sets the State Pension age for each birth date, and legislation.gov.uk showed it up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 5 November 2026. The government announced the third review of State Pension age in July 2025, and the GOV.UK collection page for it, last updated on 18 August 2025, lists the terms of reference and a closed call for evidence and lists no final report, outcome or recommendation. A review is not law: a change would need Parliament to approve it.
Do men and women have the same State Pension age?
For births on or after 6 December 1953, yes: Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 (legislation.gov.uk) applies the same dates and ages to men and women. For births before 6 December 1953 it differs. A man born before 6 December 1953 attains pensionable age at 65, a woman born before 6 April 1950 at 60, and a woman born from 6 April 1950 to 5 December 1953 on the dates in Table 1 of the Act.
How does the calculator treat a birthday on 29 February or on 31 July 1960?
It applies Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 as written. Births on 31 July 1960, 31 December 1960 and 31 January 1961 use the three dates the Act sets. For a birthday on 29 February, the Act says a person attains an age (60, 65, 66, 67 or 68 depending on the date of birth) but the legislation.gov.uk text does not say which day counts when that year has no 29 February. The calculator shows 1 March, because GOV.UK State Pension age service gave 1 March for every 29 February date of birth tried on 5 November 2026, and the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 section 6(2) takes 1 March as the anniversary in Scotland; the England and Wales statutes we read do not say.
Where can I check my own State Pension age?
GOV.UK runs its own Check your State Pension age service, and says its results may change in the future because State Pension age is regularly reviewed. The calculator applies the statutory tables in Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 and gives an estimate; it does not say whether you can be paid or how much.
Does the calculator cover Northern Ireland?
Pensions Act 1995 Schedule 4 extends to England, Wales and Scotland, as legislation.gov.uk marks it. Northern Ireland has its own Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, and its Schedule 2 paragraph 1 prints the same four tables as the Act, which we compared row by row on 5 November 2026. GOV.UK State Pension age service is the official check for any individual case.
More UK pages
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Pensions Act 1995, Schedule 4
- legislation.gov.uk: Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, Schedule 2, paragraph 1
- legislation.gov.uk: Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991, section 6
- legislation.gov.uk: Family Law Reform Act 1969, section 9
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1960-02-29
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1956-02-29
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1964-02-29
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1968-02-29
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1972-02-29
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1976-02-29
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1948-02-29 (male)
- GOV.UK State Pension age service, date of birth 1952-02-29 (male)
- GOV.UK: State Pension age timetable (policy paper, updated 15 May 2014)
- GOV.UK: Check your State Pension age
- GOV.UK: The new State Pension, Eligibility
- GOV.UK: Defer (delay) your State Pension
- GOV.UK: Third State Pension age review (collection)
- GOV.UK: Third Review of State Pension age, Independent Report Terms of Reference
All sources were fetched directly from the publishers on 5 November 2026. Reviewed 5 November 2026. FedRateCalc is not affiliated with GOV.UK, HM Revenue and Customs, the Department for Work and Pensions or the UK Government; their pages are the official sources, and anything they publish after that date overrides this site. Nothing here is tax, legal or financial advice.