The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that eight groups of state pensioners will be affected by a new age threshold rule, as the state pension age rises incrementally. The change impacts individuals born between April 6, 1960, and July 6, 1960, with the pension age increasing from 66 to 67 over a phased period.
Details of the State Pension Age Change
The DWP stated: "The Pensions Act 2014 brought the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 forward by eight years. The State Pension age for men and women will now increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028." The government also altered the phasing so that instead of reaching state pension age on a specific date, those born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, will reach it at 66 years plus a specified number of months.
Eight Groups Affected by the Rule
The eight groups are defined by birthdate ranges and the corresponding age at which they will receive their state pension. For example, those born between July 6, 1960, and August 5, 1960, will receive their pension at 66 years and 4 months, instead of age 66. Similarly, August 6, 1960, to September 5, 1960, birthdays will get theirs at 66 years and 5 months, and September 6, 1960, to October 5, 1960, at 66 years and 6 months.
Further Breakdown of Affected Birthdays
Other affected groups include: October 6, 1960, to November 5, 1960, at 66 years and 7 months; November 6, 1960, to December 5, 1960, at 66 years and 8 months; December 6, 1960, to January 5, 1961, at 66 years and 9 months; January 6, 1961, to February 5, 1961, at 66 years and 10 months; and February 6, 1961, to March 5, 1961, at 66 years and 11 months. Those born between March 6, 1961, and April 5, 1977, will reach state pension age at 67.
Impact on Pensioners
The DWP timetable confirms that the state pension age increase will affect thousands of pensioners. For people born after April 5, 1969, but before April 6, 1977, under the Pensions Act 2007, the state pension age was already set at 67. The new rule means that those in the affected groups will have to wait longer to access their state pension, potentially impacting retirement plans and financial security.
