State Pension Age Checker
Find out when you can claim your UK State Pension based on your date of birth.
Your date of birth
Day
Month
Year
Your State Pension
State Pension age
68
20.2 years to go
You can claim from
15 June 2046
Current State Pension (2025/26)
Weekly:
£221.20
Annually:
£11,502.40
Why this age?
Under current legislation (Pensions Act 2014), your State Pension age is 68.
Understanding UK State Pension
The UK State Pension is a regular payment from the government that you can claim when you reach State Pension age. It's not automatic — you need to claim it. The amount you receive depends on your National Insurance (NI) contribution record.
How much will I get?
The full new State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age after 6 April 2016) is currently £221.20 per week or £11,502.40 per year (2025/26 rates).
To get the full amount, you need 35 years of National Insurance contributions. You need at least 10 years to get anything at all. If you have between 10 and 35 years, you get a proportional amount.
Check your own forecast
This calculator shows the maximum amount and your State Pension age. Your actual entitlement may be different. Check your personal forecast (including exact amounts and qualifying years) at gov.uk/check-state-pension.
State Pension age is rising
State Pension age has been increasing since 2010 and is currently on track to reach 68 for those born after April 1978. The government reviews State Pension age every six years and may increase it further based on life expectancy changes.
• Before 6 Oct 1954: State Pension age 66
• 6 Oct 1954 – 5 Apr 1960: Gradually rising from 66 to 67
• 6 Apr 1960 – 5 Apr 1977: State Pension age 67
• 6 Apr 1977 – 5 Apr 1978: Gradually rising from 67 to 68
• After 6 Apr 1978: State Pension age 68
What is the Triple Lock?
The Triple Lock is a guarantee that the State Pension will increase each April by the highest of:
• Average earnings growth
• Inflation (measured by CPI in September)
• 2.5%
This ensures the State Pension keeps pace with living costs and wage growth. It's politically popular but expensive — future governments may reform or remove it.
Can I claim early or delay?
No, you cannot claim early. Unlike private pensions (which you can access from age 55, rising to 57 in 2028), the State Pension is only available from State Pension age.
You can defer claiming, though. For every 9 weeks you defer, your weekly amount increases by 1% (equivalent to ~5.8% per year). If you defer for a year, your State Pension increases by about £667.14 per year for life.
National Insurance credits
You don't always need to be working to build up qualifying years. You can get National Insurance credits if you're:
• Unemployed and claiming benefits
• Ill or disabled
• Caring for someone (Carer's Allowance)
• A parent or guardian (Child Benefit — even if you don't receive it)
Check your National Insurance record at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record. If you have gaps, you may be able to make voluntary contributions to fill them.
What about the old State Pension?
If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you're on the old "basic State Pension" system (maximum £169.50/week in 2025/26) plus potential Additional State Pension (SERPS/S2P). The new State Pension replaced this for people reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards. You're automatically on whichever system applies to your date.