State pension age is rising - does the change coming into effect this week affect you?

STATE PENSION age is rising, meaning some people will reach state pension age later than they may have previously expected. A change to the age detailed in the timetable took place this week, but who does it directly affect?

In the past, the age was 60 for women and 65 for men. Changes in recent years have since seen the state age for women rise to be in line with men, reaching 65 in November 2018, under the Pensions Act 1995 and the Pensions Act 2011. Now, the state pension age for both sexes is continuing to rise.

From December 2018, the state pension age for both men and women has started to increase, and is due to reach 66 by October 2020.

Yesterday, January 6, 2020, marked a significant date in terms of the changes to the state pension age.

This is because it is when some people have reached state pension age.

The people directly affected are those with the date of birth which ranges from May 6, 1954 to June 5, 1954.


State pension age is rising: 2020 calendar and calculator

State pension age is rising - the timetable of the changes can be found online (Image: GETTY)

Further changes are in store, with the next people to reach state pension age being those born between June 6, 1954 and 5 July 5, 1954.

They are set to reach state pension age on March 6, 2020.

The government website details the timetables for the changes, and it is also possible to check what a person’s state pension age is online, using the “Check my State Pension age” tool.

Between 2026 and 2028, the state pension age for men and women is set to increase from 66 to 67, under the Pensions Act 2014.



The way in which this change will take place differs to previous phasing of the state pension age changes.

This means that under these changes, people born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will reach their state pension age at 66 years and the specified number of months.

Under the Pensions Act 2007, the state pension age for men and women will increase from 67 to 68.

Based on current law, the state pension age is due to rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046.

State pension age is rising: 2020 calendar in pictures

State pension age is rising, with it set to reach 66 for men and women by October 2020 (Image: GETTY)

The state pension amount is set to rise in April 2020 by 3.9 percent, in line with inflation.

It increases each year under the triple lock.

This means that the state pension increases each year by whichever is the highest out of the average percentage growth in wages in Great Britain, the percentage growth in prices in the UK as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), and 2.5 percent.

While some people who claim the state pension will get to enjoy the increases come April, not everyone who gets the payment will do so.

State pension UK: When state pension is paid according to

State pension UK: When the state pension is paid depends on one's National Insurance number, according to (Image: GETTY)

This is because the state pension does not increase for people each year if they live in certain countries.

These are:

  • The European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Gibraltar
  • Switzerland
  • Countries that have a social security agreement with the UK (but a person cannot get increases in Canada or New Zealand).

If a person lives outside of these aforementioned countries, then they will not get yearly increase.

The individual’s pensions will go up to the current rate if they return to live in the UK, the government website says.