One More Year: Are people ready for a State Pension age of 67?

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How do people in their 60s feel about the rising State Pension age – and what does it mean for their finances, work, and retirement plans? We surveyed over 3,000 people and interviewed individuals directly impacted to find out. 

From April 2026 the State Pension age will begin to rise in increments from 66 to 67. Those born between 6 April1960 and 5 March 1961 will have a transitional State Pension age between 66 and 67, and those born after that will reach State Pension age at 67. 

This original research draws on a representative survey of 3,030 people in the UK aged 60-69, and 10 in-depth one-to-one interviews with people in their mid-60s who will be directly impacted by the rising State Pension age.  

Key findings: 

Awareness of the change is high, but not universal  

• A clear majority (77%) of people aged 60 to 65 are aware that the State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 soon. 
• However, 13% believe this statement is false, and 10% say they don’t know.

Many expect it to impact their lives 

• Half of people expect the change to impact their household finances. Four in ten expect it to impact work and retirement decisions, and one third expect it to impact their health.  
• Women aged 60 to 65 are twice as likely as men to say the rise will have a ‘major impact’ on their health (15% and 7% respectively). 
• One in three people (36%) aged 60 to 65 who have not yet retired say they plan to work for longer because of the increase in the State Pension age. 

In comparison to people in their 60s above State Pension age, people aged 60 to 65 are more likely to say they continue to work because they:   

• need money for day-to-day expenses 
• want to save more into their pension  
• are worried they haven’t saved enough for retirement 

For some, the delay deepens financial hardship  

• 13% of 65-year-olds have gone without essentials in the last year, compared to 4% of those aged 67.
• One in three (31%) of those in poor health aged 60 to 65 have gone without essentials in the last 12 months. 
• Half of women (50%) feel pressured because of the rise in the State Pension age, compared to 31% of men.