When can I claim the UK State Pension?

Your State Pension age depends on when you were born. The UK State Pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028 under the Pensions Act 2014. People born before 6 April 1960 reached State Pension age at 66; those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 are in the transitional band; people born from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977 will reach State Pension age at 67; and people born from 6 April 1977 onwards are scheduled to reach State Pension age at 68. Enter your date of birth above to see the exact day.

When can I access my private pension?

The Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) for accessing most UK defined contribution pensions is currently 55. From 6 April 2028 it rises to 57. The Treasury's rule is that anyone who reaches age 55 before 6 April 2028 keeps the right to access at 55; anyone who reaches 55 on or after 6 April 2028 has to wait until 57. Some older scheme members have a "protected" lower retirement age written into their original pension contract — these protections can still apply.

Is my State Pension age set in stone?

Once you have reached your State Pension age, your entitlement is fixed. But for people not yet at State Pension age, the timetable can change — and has done several times. The 2023 government State Pension age Review confirmed the move from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028, and kept the existing plan to rise from 67 to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046, but said another review will happen within two years of the next Parliament. The independent Neville-Rolfe Review recommended bringing 68 forward to 2041–2043 but the government did not adopt that. Our countdown uses the current law.

Can I retire before State Pension age?

Yes. State Pension age is the earliest you can claim the State Pension, but it is not the earliest you can stop work. You can normally access a workplace or personal pension from age 55 (57 from 6 April 2028), and you can fund a gap year or two with ISAs, savings or part-time work. The "early retirement gap" — from 55/57 until State Pension age (currently 67) — is often the most expensive part of retirement to fund because you are drawing on private savings before the State Pension kicks in.

How long until you can retire?

Enter your date of birth. We'll show the exact day you reach UK State Pension age, when you can first touch a private pension, and a live countdown.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-16

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Common questions

When can I claim the UK State Pension?: Your State Pension age depends on when you were born. The UK State Pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028 under the Pensions Act 2014. People born before 6 April 1960 reached State Pension age at 66; those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 are in the transitional band; people born from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977 will reach State Pension age at 67; and people born from 6 April 1977 onwards are scheduled to reach State Pension age at 68. Enter your date of birth above to see the exact day.
When can I access my private pension?: The Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) for accessing most UK defined contribution pensions is currently 55. From 6 April 2028 it rises to 57. The Treasury's rule is that anyone who reaches age 55 before 6 April 2028 keeps the right to access at 55; anyone who reaches 55 on or after 6 April 2028 has to wait until 57. Some older scheme members have a "protected" lower retirement age written into their original pension contract — these protections can still apply.
Is my State Pension age set in stone?: Once you have reached your State Pension age, your entitlement is fixed. But for people not yet at State Pension age, the timetable can change — and has done several times. The 2023 government State Pension age Review confirmed the move from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028, and kept the existing plan to rise from 67 to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046, but said another review will happen within two years of the next Parliament. The independent Neville-Rolfe Review recommended bringing 68 forward to 2041–2043 but the government did not adopt that. Our countdown uses the current law.
Can I retire before State Pension age?: Yes. State Pension age is the earliest you can claim the State Pension, but it is not the earliest you can stop work. You can normally access a workplace or personal pension from age 55 (57 from 6 April 2028), and you can fund a gap year or two with ISAs, savings or part-time work. The "early retirement gap" — from 55/57 until State Pension age (currently 67) — is often the most expensive part of retirement to fund because you are drawing on private savings before the State Pension kicks in.