The UK state pension age has just gone up for millions of people born after December 5, 1953.
The rise is the first of a series of planned increases aimed at making the state pension more affordable for the government.
And the change marks the first adjustment of the state pension age for men since the benefit was introduced in 1948.
For women, the bar for paying the state pension has moved several times to align the age when the payment is made for men and women.
State pension age depends on someone’s birth date.
Men and women born on or after October 6, 1954 to April 5, 1960 receive their first payment on their 66thbirthday.
Those born on or after December 6, 1953 to October 5, 1954 fall in to one of several state pension dates:
State pension age for men and women born in the 1950s
| Born from | To | State pension age |
| 06/12/1953 | 05/01/1954 | 06/03/2019 |
| 06/01/1954 | 05/02/1954 | 06/05/2019 |
| 06/02/1954 | 05/03/1954 | 06/07/2019 |
| 06/03/1954 | 05/04/1954 | 06/09/2019 |
| 06/04/1954 | 05/05/1954 | 06/11/2019 |
| 06/05/1954 | 05/06/1954 | 06/01/2020 |
| 06/06/1954 | 05/07/1954 | 06/03/2020 |
| 06/07/1954 | 05/08/1954 | 06/05/2020 |
| 06/08/1954 | 05/09/1954 | 06/07/2020 |
| 06/09/1954 | 05/10/1954 | 06/09/2020 |
| 06/10/1954 | 05/04/1960 | 66th birthday |
Source: Department of Work and Pensions
How the change hits a pensioner in the pocket
For those born on or after April 6, 1960, the state pension age rises to 67 years old by 2028 and to the age of 68 by 2039.
The government has hinted further rises may be on the way to take the state pension age over 70 years old.
“At the lower end, a three-month rise in the state pension age could cost someone over £2,000 in retirement income. Those who must wait a full year longer could miss out on over £8,000 in state pension,” said pension analyst Tom Selby of platform AJ Bell.
“While this might feel like a cruel lottery for those immediately affected, younger generations will need to prepare for rises in the state pension age to 67 and 68. Indeed, if life expectancy continues its long-term trend upwards, a state pension age of 70 could well be on the cards.”
The state pension age changes apply to expats as well as those living in the UK.
