State Pension age is the earliest age at which you can get your State Pension. 

There are now two types of State Pension:

• Basic State Pension for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
• New State Pension for people who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016

You can check the date that you reach State Pension age on the Check your State Pension age page of the government website.

State Pension age has been changing. State Pension age has been increasing for women to match the State Pension age for men. From December 2018, State Pension age increased for both men and women to the age of 66. From 2026, it will be increased again. Read more about the changes in the State Pension age - What is happening to State Pension age? section of this guide. 

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Options when you reach State Pension age:

• Stop working and get your State Pension
• Carry on working and get your State Pension as well
• Carry on working and put off claiming your State Pension. You may be able to get extra State Pension or a lump-sum payment when you do claim it.

Updated June 2022

Women's State Pension age increased to 65

From 6 April 2010 to November 2018, the State Pension age for women gradually increased from 60 to 65. This affects all women born on or after 6 April 1950.

Men and women's State Pension age increasing to 66

From December 2018, men and women's pension age increased from 65 so that it reached 66 by October 2020. You are affected by this if you are a woman born on or after 6 April 1953 or a man born on or after 6 December 1953.

Men and women's State Pension age increasing further

The Government plan to increase State Pension age to raise it from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. This would affect those born on or after 6 April 1960.

A further increase is planned to raise the State Pension age from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046, but this may be brought forward.

You can check the date that you reach State Pension age on the Check your State Pension age page of the government website.

Updated June 2022

You can check your State Pension age on the Check your State Pension age page of the government website.

Your age may affect which benefits you can claim. When you reach State Pension age, you can start claiming some benefits but some other benefits will stop. There are also some benefits that you can claim at any age (as an adult).

Your State Pension age is the same as your Pension Credit age unless you are a man born before 6 December 1953. You can check your State Pension age and whether you can start claiming Pension Credit on the Check your State Pension age page of the Gov.uk website.

Benefits affected by your Pension age

Benefits you can claim when you are old enough

State Pension age

Basic State Pension is available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 if they paid enough national insurance contributions.

New State Pension is available to people who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 if they paid enough national insurance contributions.

Attendance Allowance can be claimed if you are pension age or over and you have care needs.

Pension Credit can be claimed once you (or your partner) have reached Pension age. Pension Credit is for older people on a low income. From 15 May 2019, you will only usually be able to claim Pension Credit if both you and your partner are over Pension Credit age. You can check this using our benefits calculator.

Winter Fuel Payment is available once you (or your partner) have reached Pension age. It is a one-off payment £100 or £200 per year towards your heating costs.

At age 80+

Winter Fuel Payment increases to £150, £200 or £300 per year when you reach 80 years old.

Other help you can claim when you are old enough

At age 60+ 

When you are 60 or over, you are eligible for a Senior Railcard so you can pay cheaper fares on national rail. You can find out more on the Senior Railcard website.

State Pension age

Free local bus transport is available once you have reached State Pension age. You can apply for a pass from your local council. You can find your local council’s website on the Find your local council page on the Gov.UK website

At age 75+

If you are 75 or over and getting Pension Credit, you are entitled to a free TV licence. See TV and Telephone Costs for more information.

Benefits you can't claim when you reach State Pension age 

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and Universal Credit stop when you reach pension age. 

New Style Jobseeker's Allowance and Contributory / New Style Employment and Support Allowance stop when you reach State Pension age.

You cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Adult Disability Payment or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) once you have reached State Pension age. If you were already claiming DLA, Adult Disability Payment or PIP, you can renew the claim even though you are over State Pension age, as long as you are claiming for the same health conditions and your last claim ended less than one year ago. (DLA claimants who were born before 8 April 1948 will not be transferred to PIP. Other claimants will be transferred to PIP).

Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance are not available once you reach State Pension age.

Benefits not affected by your Pension age

You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age:

• Child Benefit
• Carer’s Allowance
• Guardian’s Allowance
• Statutory Sick Pay

You can claim these benefits even if you are over State Pension age as long as your income is low enough:

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support
• Support for Mortgage Interest
• Working Tax Credit (You can't make new claims for this but if you're already getting it you can carry on receiving it.)
• Child Tax Credit (You can't make new claims for this, but if you're already getting it you can carry on receiving it.)
• Help with Health Costs
• Cold Weather Payment
• Warm Home Discount Scheme

Updated: June 2022

The changes to State Pension age are unlikely to affect when people can take their work or personal pensions because this age is usually set by the employer or pension provider.

You can find more information on the Pension Reform page of the Pensions Advisory Service website