State Pension age: currently 66, rising to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028. Type your age to see years to go.
UK State Pension age (SPA) is currently 66, rising to 67 on a phased schedule that completes by April 2028. Reaching State Pension age is not the same as retiring — there is no default retirement age in the UK. You can keep working past SPA, claim the State Pension while still working, or defer claiming it for a higher payment later.
Workplace and personal pensions are separate from the State Pension and are usually accessible earlier: from age 55 today, rising to 57 from April 2028. The calculator above uses the age you enter to show how many years remain until State Pension age — type a different age to recalculate.
How it works.
How the years-to-retirement figure is calculated:
Take the age you enter.
Subtract it from the applicable State Pension age — 66 today, or 67 once the current transition finishes in April 2028.
The result is the number of years left until State Pension age, assuming no further change in the law.
State Pension age is set by Parliament and reviewed periodically. A further rise to 68 is currently pencilled in for 2044-2046, affecting people born in 1977-1978 — though this date could move, as it has before.
Currently scheduled for 2044-2046 for those born 1977-1978. Future governments may bring this forward.
Can I take pension early?
Personal/workplace pension yes, from 55 (rising to 57 from 2028). State Pension cannot be taken early but can be deferred for higher payments.
What happens if I defer my State Pension?
You simply delay claiming it past State Pension age — there's no upper limit on how long you can defer, and the payment increases the longer you wait. Deferring is separate from working: you can keep working and claim the State Pension at SPA, defer it and keep working, defer it without working, or claim it and stop working — any combination is allowed.
Is State Pension age the same as my retirement age?
No. The UK has no fixed retirement age. State Pension age is only the earliest point you can claim the State Pension — you can work before or after it. Workplace and personal pensions can usually be drawn earlier, from age 55 today (57 from 2028).
How much State Pension will I get once I reach State Pension age?
Up to £241.30 a week (£12,547.60 a year) for 2026/27, if you have 35 qualifying National Insurance years. Fewer years reduce the amount pro-rata, down to a 10-year minimum to qualify at all. Get a full forecast calculator at pensioncalculator.org.uk or your personal record at gov.uk/check-state-pension.