Changes to the State Pension age and Pension Credit qualifying age
The State Pension age for women is gradually increasing to 65, to match the State Pension age for men. The Pension Credit qualifying age for men and women is rising in line with this.
Details of when a woman will reach her State Pension age or a man or women will reach their Pension Credit qualifying age are in the table below.
The Government has announced new proposals for increasing State Pension age. If the new proposals become law, the State Pension age will change for:
- women born between 6 April 1953 and 5 April 1960
- men born between 6 December 1953 and 5 April 1960.
These new proposals will increase women’s State Pension age to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018, so it will be the same as men’s.
Between December 2018 and April 2020, everyone’s State Pension age will increase from 65 to 66.
Changes to the State Pension age are likely to affect the Pension Credit qualifying age.
Parliament needs to agree the new proposals before they become law. They are included in the Pensions Bill 2011.
Table showing the date when a woman will reach State Pension age or a man or woman will reach the Pension Credit qualifying age. This is for people born between 6 August 1950 and 5 February 1953.
| Date of birth | Date a woman will reach State Pension age or a man or women will reach the Pension Credit qualifying age |
|---|---|
| 6 August 1950 to 5 September 1950 | 6 January 2011 |
| 6 September 1950 to 5 October 1950 | 6 March 2011 |
| 6 October 1950 to 5 November 1950 | 6 May 2011 |
| 6 November 1950 to 5 December 1950 | 6 July 2011 |
| 6 December 1950 to 5 January 1951 | 6 September 2011 |
| 6 January 1951 to 5 February 1951 | 6 November 2011 |
| 6 February 1951 to 5 March 1951 | 6 January 2012 |
| 6 March 1951 to 5 April 1951 | 6 March 2012 |
| 6 April 1951 to 5 May 1951 | 6 May 2012 |
| 6 May 1951 to 5 June 1951 | 6 July 2012 |
| 6 June 1951 to 5 July 1951 | 6 September 2012 |
| 6 July 1951 to 5 August 1951 | 6 November 2012 |
| 6 August 1951 to 5 September 1951 | 6 January 2013 |
| 6 September 1951 to 5 October 1951 | 6 March 2013 |
| 6 October 1951 to 5 November 1951 | 6 May 2013 |
| 6 November 1951 to 5 December 1951 | 6 July 2013 |
| 6 December 1951 to 5 January 1952 | 6 September 2013 |
| 6 January 1952 to 5 February 1952 | 6 November 2013 |
| 6 February 1952 to 5 March 1952 | 6 January 2014 |
| 6 March 1952 to 5 April 1952 | 6 March 2014 |
| 6 April 1952 to 5 May 1952 | 6 May 2014 |
| 6 May 1952 to 5 June 1952 | 6 July 2014 |
| 6 June 1952 to 5 July 1952 | 6 September 2014 |
| 6 July 1952 to 5 August 1952 | 6 November 2014 |
| 6 August 1952 to 5 September 1952 | 6 January 2015 |
| 6 September 1952 to 5 October 1952 | 6 March 2015 |
| 6 October 1952 to 5 November 1952 | 6 May 2015 |
| 6 November 1952 to 5 December 1952 | 6 July 2015 |
| 6 December 1952 to 5 January 1953 | 6 September 2015 |
| 6 January 1953 to 5 February 1953 | 6 November 2015 |
Visit Directgov for more about the proposed changes to State Pension age