Exact age you need to be now to avoid state pension age hike and still retire at 67
MILLIONS face having to work longer under government plans to hike the state pension age.
Brits born in the 1970s and later could be told they must work until they’re 68 under the proposals.
The current state pension is paid to both men and women aged 66 and over.
The state pension age is already due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
But the increase to 68 should be brought forward an upcoming review is set to say.
Ministers are planning to bring in the hike earlier due to people living longer, The Sun has exclusively revealed.
As the population gets older and birth rates plummet, it means there are few young people to pay the tax bill.
A previous review suggested it should come forward to as early as 2037.
But the Treasury is said to want the change to 68 to come in as early as 2035 — two years earlier.
The Sun has learnt the Chancellor is eyeing up announcing the move as early as the March Budget.
But what does this mean for people looking to retire at 67? And will you have to work longer than expected?
Experts at AJ Bell shared their calculations with The Sun and those aged between around 45 to 56 could be affected.
Anyone older looks set to avoid the change and can still retire at 67.
It’s important to note that these changes to state pension age are not definite and the government could revert back to the former plan.
Of course, you can retire at any time, but you need to have a personal pension or retirement plan in place.
The state pension age is set by the government and once you reach it you can start drawing your state pension.
It’s currently worth £185.15 a week or around £9,627 a year, but the exact amount you get will depend on the number of years of National Insurance you’ve paid.
How old do I need to be to retire at 67?
According to AJ Bell, if you’re still looking to get your state pension at 67, these are the exact ages you need to be based on the year the increase could be brought forward to.
At the moment under current law anyone born after March 6, 1969 is set to retire at the age of at least 67 – that means anyone aged less than 61-years-old right now.
Anyone aged around 45 or under right now is already set to retire at 68 if existing plans to hike the age by 2046 at the latest go ahead.
The exact age will depend on when your birthday is as the changes roll out gradually over two years.
So anyone born on or before 5 April, 1977 is on track to retire at 67.
Those born from 6 April, 1977 and up to 5 April 1978, will retire at 67 and a couple of months depending on date of birth.
And those born after 6 April 1978 will retire at 68.
Here’s the age you’d retire under current plans
- 67: born on or before 5 April 1977
- 67 Plus a few months (depending on DOB): born from 6 April 1977 – 5 April 1978
- 68: born 6 April 1978 onwards
But if the change is brought in earlier to 2035, those aged between around 54 and 56 now will retire after the age of 67.
Again it would depend on your date of birth – and of course if the change does actually go ahead earlier.
Here’s the age you’d retire under new plans if it is brought in as 68 between 2033 and 2035:
- 67: born on or before 5 April 1966
- 67 Plus a few months (depending on DOB): Born from 6 April 1966 to 5 April 1967
- 68: Born 6 April 1968 onwards
How can I work out my current state pension age?
You can use the state pension checker tool on Gov.uk.
The government tool is there to help you find out how many years of contributions you have, how much state pension you’ll get and the exact date on which you’ll receive payments.
It’s important to note that you can retire at any time, but you need to have a personal pension or retirement plan in place.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk