State Pension age rises to 67 for first cohort born in 1960

The state pension age began rising to 67 in April, and the first people affected were born between April 6 and May 5, 1960. For that cohort, the change means waiting one extra month before payments begin.

The increase will continue over the next two years until the qualifying age reaches 67. The Treasury expects the change to deliver about £10billion in annual savings by 2030.

Peter Bradbury on Preston

Peter Bradbury, a state pension recipient from Preston, said: "It is annoying, I'll do some other work and I can't travel as much as I wanted to." His response captures the immediate effect for people close to retirement: plans built around a fixed start date now have to absorb a delay.

The new flat-rate state pension now stands at £241.30 a week, equal to £12,547.60 a year, after a 4.8 per cent rise under the triple lock policy. People on the old basic state pension receive £184.90 a week, or £9,614.80 a year.

National Insurance Years

To receive the full state pension, individuals typically need 35 years of national insurance contributions. The fact that gaps can arise after time overseas or time out of work for caring responsibilities gives the age rise a sharper edge for people who are already close to retirement but may not yet have a full record.

That leaves the affected group with two linked changes at once: a later starting age and a higher weekly payment once they qualify. For someone born in the first affected window, the question is not whether the pension still exists, but how much longer they must bridge the gap before it starts.