State Pension age changes for women born in the 1950s

Women born in the 1950s were told for most of their working lives that their State Pension would start at 60. For many, it did not. The State Pension age for women rose in stages from 60, beginning in April 2010, reaching 65 in November 2018 and 66 by October 2020¹. Anyone born on or before 5 April 1960 now has a State Pension age of 66².

The effect was a wait of up to six years longer than expected for women born in the 1950s³. The rise was legislated in two main stages: the 1995 Pensions Act set a staged increase from 60 to 65, and later legislation brought the timetable forward so women reached 65 in November 2018 rather than April 2020⁴.

This page sets out how the change worked, which birth dates were affected and by how much, how many qualifying years you need for the basic State Pension, what happens next under current law, and how to check your own State Pension age and forecast.

How women's State Pension age rose from 60 to 65

From the 1940s until April 2010, the State Pension age was 60 for women and 65 for men⁴. The 1995 Pensions Act included provision to increase the State Pension age for women from 60 to 65 in stages between April 2010 and 2020⁴. The intention was to bring women's State Pension age into line with men's.

The rise began on 6 April 2010. From that date the State Pension age for women increased gradually, and since December 2018 it has been increasing further⁷. The original timetable was then accelerated. Women's State Pension age reached 65 by November 2018 rather than April 2020⁸. The Department for Work and Pensions describes the change as a gradual increase for women from 60 in April 2010 to 65 in November 2018, and for both men and women to 66 by October 2020¹.

The Office for Budget Responsibility records the same sequence: from 60 to 65 for women between April 2010 and November 2018⁵. In April 2018, partway through the change, the State Pension age was over 64 years 5 months for women and 65 years for men⁹. By October 2020 it had reached 66 for both men and women⁹.

The practical effect was that a woman's date of birth, not her expectation, decided when her pension started. Two women born a few months apart could have State Pension ages months apart, because the increase moved in steps tied to birth date.

Waiting up to six years longer than expected

For women born in the 1950s, the increase to the State Pension age in recent years meant waiting up to six years longer than expected for their State Pension³. Full Fact's analysis puts the combined effect of the changes at delaying women's State Pension age between three and six years compared to retiring at 60⁵.

The 2011 changes alone affected 2.6 million women⁵. Women born between 1950 and 1953 were affected by the 1995 law and reached retirement age by March 2017⁵. The Pensions Policy Institute noted that the legislation capped any increase in the length of time a woman would need to wait for her State Pension at 18 months¹⁰.

The wait had knock-on effects. The qualifying age for State Pension Credit rose gradually from 60 to 65 in line with women's State Pension age, starting in April 2010¹¹. That meant some women reached pension age for the State Pension later while also reaching the age for pension-age benefits later.

The government's own analysis looked at the employment rates of women born between 1950 and 1958, and at the private pension wealth of men and women born between 1942 and 1966 by age and sex¹². A separate estimate set out the cost of reducing women's State Pension age to 60 and men's to 65 over the period 2010/11 to 2025/26¹².

Which birth dates were affected and by how much

The change was not a single cut-off. It moved in steps, so the amount of notice a woman had depended on her date of birth. Women born on or before 5 April 1953 claim the basic State Pension, while women born on or after 6 April 1953 claim the new State Pension¹⁴.

The table shows why two women born in the same year could have different State Pension ages. The rise was tied to birth date, and the later stages moved in shorter steps.

The underpayment issue is separate but related. The National Audit Office investigated underpayments of State Pension affecting anyone born before 6 April 1953 for women or 6 April 1951 for men¹⁷. The women affected will have been born before 6 April 1953 and are most likely to be widows, married or divorced women¹⁸.

Qualifying years for the basic State Pension: as few as one for some

How many qualifying years you need depends on when you were born and which State Pension you claim. For women born between 1950 and 1953, as little as 1 qualifying year is enough to get some basic State Pension¹⁴. For women born before 1950, the minimum is 10 qualifying years¹⁴.

The full amount needs more. Women born before 1950 need 39 qualifying years for the full basic State Pension, and women born between 1950 and 1953 need 30 qualifying years⁶. Age UK notes that women born before 6 April 1950 may need more years of National Insurance contributions¹⁹.

For women who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010, the rules were different again: 39 qualifying years for a woman and 44 qualifying years for a man for the full basic State Pension²⁰. The minimum for any payment in that group was at least 10 qualifying years for a woman and 11 qualifying years for a man²⁰.

The new State Pension, for women born on or after 6 April 1953, usually needs 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to be eligible²². A state pension payable at the reduced rate applies where someone has at least the minimum number of qualifying years but fewer than 35 qualifying years²³.

Caring can count towards your record. Carers UK explains that your State Pension age is worked out based on your gender and date of birth, and that caring can affect your National Insurance record²⁰. You can check your record and fill gaps through paying voluntary National Insurance.

Further rises to 67 and 68 under current law

The State Pension age for men and women is gradually increasing from 65 to 68²⁴. Under current law it is due to rise for both men and women to 67 between 2026 and 2028 and to 68 between 2044 and 2046⁴. The rise to 67 will reach completion by April 2028²⁵.

For those born on or after April 1960, the age rises gradually to 67 between 2026 and 2028²⁶. A further rise to 68 is planned for those born from April 1977 onwards, but this is subject to review²⁸.

The timetable has moved before. The Resolution Foundation notes that the State Pension age should be increased from 67 to 68 from 2037 to 2039, announced in July 2017 after the Cridland review²⁹. Current law allows for the increase from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046, but the timetable could be changed²⁴.

The State Pension age is under review and may change in the future³⁰. The government's own calculator notes that the State Pension age is regularly reviewed, so the results may change in the future³¹.

Checking your own State Pension age and forecast

Your State Pension age is worked out based on your gender and date of birth²⁰. You can check it through the government's online service, which gives the exact date for your birthday³¹. The State Pension age is regularly reviewed, so the results of this calculator may change in the future³¹.

A State Pension forecast shows more than the age. It sets out your National Insurance record and an estimate of what you may receive³². The State Pension age is under review and may change in the future, so a forecast is a snapshot rather than a fixed promise³⁰.

If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, you can defer your State Pension and take a one-off arrears payment of up to 52 weeks, increased regular payments, or both³³. Deferring means claiming later, not earlier: the State Pension cannot be claimed before your State Pension age. You can read more about deferring your State Pension and about claiming your State Pension while still working.

If you have lived or worked overseas, your State Pension can be affected³⁴. The International Pension Centre handles enquiries about State Pension abroad²⁵. For more on the rules in Northern Ireland, see the State Pension in Northern Ireland.