Check Your State Pension Age – Don’t Leave It to Chance - 04 Nov 2025

Are you approaching your retirement years? It’s important to know exactly when you’ll reach State Pension age — and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has just launched a campaign to make this easier than ever.

Who This Affects
The campaign is particularly aimed at people born between 6 April 1960 and 1970. If that includes you, it’s essential to use GOV.UK’s online calculator to check your State Pension age. This simple tool can help you plan for retirement and avoid any surprises.

Why Checking Matters
Right now, the State Pension age is 66. However, as set out in the Pensions Act 2014, it will gradually increase to 67 between 6 April 2026 and 5 March 2028.

If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, your State Pension age isn’t just 66 — it’s 66 plus a number of months. Many people assume it’s simply 66, and this small detail can make a big difference in planning your retirement.

Don’t Wait for the Letter
You might think your pension will just appear automatically — but that’s not the case. You must apply to start receiving your State Pension. The Pension Service will send out invitation letters about four months before you reach your State Pension age, giving you the details on how to claim.

But why wait? You can find out your exact date now using the Check Your State Pension forecast service. This tool also shows:

• How much State Pension you could get
• Whether you have any gaps in your National Insurance record
• How you might boost your pension by filling in any gaps

How to Check
It’s easy: simply visit GOV.UK’s State Pension Age Calculator and enter your date of birth. The calculator will tell you your exact State Pension age and give you an estimate of your payments.

Spread the Word
Planning for retirement is important for everyone, and it’s easy to forget to check your pension age. Please share this information with family and friends, especially those born between 1960 and 1970, so they can check theirs too.

Knowing your State Pension age gives you peace of mind and allows you to plan for the next chapter of your life confidently. Don’t leave it to chance — check today!