Proposed new timetable for State Pension age increases
20 July 2017
State Pension age is due to increase to 68 between 2044 and 2046. It has been proposed to bring this forward seven years to between 2037 and 2039.
The government’s review proposes a new timetable for the rise to 68, in line with continuing increases in life expectancy.
The State Pension age is regularly reviewed to make sure that the State Pension is affordable and fair. People are living longer, and spending a larger proportion of their adult life in retirement than in the past.
When the State Pension was introduced in 1948, a 65-year-old could expect to spend 13.5 years in receipt of it – around 23% of their adult life. This has been increasing ever since. In 2017, a 65-year-old can now expect to live for another 22.8 years, or 33.6% of their adult life.
Latest projections from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people over State Pension age in the UK is expected to grow by a third between 2017 and 2042, from 12.4 million in 2017 to 16.9 million in 2042.
The proposals
Under the current law, the State Pension age is due to increase to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
Following a recent review, the government has announced plans to bring this timetable forward. The State Pension age would therefore increase to 68 between 2037 and 2039.
|
Your date of birth |
How the proposals affect you |
|---|---|
|
On or before 5 April 1970 |
No change |
|
Between 6 April 1970 and 5 April 1978 |
Your State Pension age is currently 67. It would increase to between 67 years and 1 month, and 68 years, depending on your date of birth |
|
After 6 April 1978 |
No change. Your State Pension age remains 68 |
These proposed changes would have to be approved by Parliament before they are agreed.
Those affected by this proposed timetable will on average continue to spend longer in receipt of the State Pension than anyone reaching State Pension age in the last 25 years.
The proposed changes were informed by the independent recommendations made by John Cridland CBE in March 2017.