Following this increase, a further rise from 67 to 68 is scheduled to take place between 2044 and 2046, as outlined in the Pensions Act 2007.

The UK State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 starting in 2026, with full implementation expected by 2028.

This change was legislated under the Pensions Act 2014, which accelerated the increase by eight years.

To qualify for a State Pension, individuals must have at least 10 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions, and 35 years are required for the full pension.

Since the launch of a new digital service last year, over 10,000 payments totaling £12.5 million have been made to boost State Pensions.

Individuals can check their State Pension age online using a tool provided by the UK Government.

Individuals born between early March 1961 and early April 1977 will be impacted, as they will need to claim their State Pension at age 67.

The UK Government plans to review the State Pension age every five years, with the next review originally scheduled for 2026, now expected to occur before the end of this decade.

This review will consider factors such as life expectancy and may lead to changes that require Parliamentary approval.

National Insurance credits may be available for those who were sick, unemployed, or took time off for caregiving, which could reduce the need for voluntary contributions.

The deadline for making voluntary National Insurance contributions to top up State Pensions is April 5, 2025, for tax years from April 6, 2006, to April 5, 2018.