Thousands of people approaching retirement face a longer wait before they can claim their pensions (Image: Getty)
Thousands of pensioners born between June 6 and July 5, 1960, are facing a significant delay in receiving their State Pension, leaving some missing out on around £3,136.89 on average in payments due to changes to the UK’s State Pension age rules.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently implementing a gradual increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67. The change began on April 6, 2026, and will be phased in over a two-year period, affecting people born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961.
Changes to the State Pension age mean some retirees could miss out on more than £3,000 in payments (Image: Getty)
Under the previous system, individuals could begin claiming their State Pension as soon as they turned 66. However, the new timetable means those reaching their 66th birthday during the transition period will have to wait longer before becoming eligible for payments.
People born between June 6 and July 5, 1960, will now reach State Pension age at 66 years and three months rather than exactly 66. As a result, they face a three-month delay before receiving their first pension payment.
With the full new State Pension currently worth £241.30 per week, annual payments amount to £12,547.60. Spread across 12 months, this equates to approximately £1,045.63 per month. A three-month delay therefore represents a loss of around £3,136.89 for those entitled to the full amount.
The delay is part of a wider phased increase that affects different birth dates to varying degrees. Those born later in the transition period face even longer waits, with some having to wait almost a full year beyond their 66th birthday before becoming eligible.
The DWP‘s timetable for the transition is as follows:
- Born April 6, 1960, to May 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 1 month
- Born May 6, 1960, to June 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 2 months
- Born June 6, 1960, to July 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 3 months
- Born July 6, 1960, to August 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 4 months
- Born August 6, 1960, to September 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 5 months
- Born September 6, 1960, to October 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 6 months
- Born October 6, 1960, to November 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 7 months
- Born November 6, 1960, to December 5, 1960 – State Pension age: 66 years and 8 months
- Born December 6, 1960, to January 5, 1961 – State Pension age: 66 years and 9 months
- Born January 6, 1961, to February 5, 1961 – State Pension age: 66 years and 10 months
- Born February 6, 1961, to March 5, 1961 – State Pension age: 66 years and 11 months
- Born March 6, 1961, to April 5, 1977 – State Pension age: 67
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Government estimates suggest the increase to age 67 will save around £10 billion by the end of the decade compared with maintaining the pension age at 66, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The changes come amid growing concerns about retirement finances.
Experts have warned that many workers are not saving enough into private pensions, while ongoing reviews of the State Pension system could potentially bring forward a planned increase to age 68.
The rise to 68 is currently scheduled to take place between 2044 and 2046.
However, a Government review launched last year is examining whether the timetable should be accelerated in response to increasing life expectancy and pressures on public finances.
For those approaching retirement, checking your State Pension age and ensuring your National Insurance record is up to date remains crucial, particularly as the phased changes continue to affect when future pensioners can access their entitlement.