Will the State Pension age go to 68, and when?

Yes, the State Pension age will rise to 68. The only open question is when.

What is law now

The Pensions Act 2007 raises the State Pension age from 67 to 68 between 6 May 2044 and 6 March 2046, phased by date of birth for people born between 6 April 1977 and 5 March 1978. Anyone born on or after 6 April 1978 reaches it at 68.

What has been proposed

• 2017, Cridland review: recommended bringing 68 forward to 2037 to 2039, affecting people born after 5 April 1970. The government said it would legislate "in due course" and never did.
• 2023, second review: kept 2044 to 2046 but said a further review within two years of the next Parliament would decide, and that any change needs at least 10 years notice.
• 22 July 2025, third review launched: Dr Suzy Morrissey is writing the independent report on what the government should consider; the Government Actuary's Department is reporting separately on life expectancy. No report date has been set. The Pensions Act 2014 requires the next review to be published by March 2029.

What would have to happen for it to change

New primary legislation through both Houses of Parliament, with at least 10 years between the law passing and the first person affected. So the earliest realistic date for 68 to start, if the law passed in 2027, would be 2037. Nobody born before 6 April 1970 can be affected by any plausible timetable.

The honest position

Life expectancy growth has slowed since 2011, which weakens the case for bringing it forward. The cost of the State Pension (around £150bn a year) strengthens it. We do not predict; we log what is announced on the register and email subscribers the day anything changes.

Sources

• State Pension age timetable, gov.uk
• State Pension age review 2023, gov.uk

Information only, not financial advice. If a figure here and gov.uk ever disagree, gov.uk is right and we will fix it.