Retirement Age – Born in 1978

Last updated on April 10th, 2023

What is my retirement age if I was born in 1978? (Updated March 2023)

born in 1978If the above question applies to you then then the answer to this question is a bit up in the air. According to the Pensions Act 2007 (which is currently the most recent legislation on State Pension age), there was a difference for those who were born before 6th April 1978 and those who were born on or after that date.

However, the independent review of State pension ages that was produced by John Cridland in 2017, recommended that the state pension age increase to 68 for those born after 1971 (this has not yet been put into legislation), and the second review of March 2023 recommended that it was not brought in that early but to those born after 1973.

Anyone who was born in 1978 under the current legislation will have a tapered retirement age shown in the table below. If further legislation takes place you may just have a fixed retirement age of 68 rather than the tapered dates.

Although there will be further regular reviews of State pension ages, it is unlikely that your retirement age will increase any higher than age 68 because the government have stated that they do not plan to make more than one increase (of a year) in retirement ages in the space of 10 years.

The increase of the State pension age to age 68 in 2037-39 according to the Cridland report will still need to have legislation passed before it is final and this is now unlikely as the Neville-Rolfe Report proposed 2041-43 and no legislation will be put in place until after the next report.

Here is the table that shows the current legislated situation and gives you your State retirement date.

Date of birth between Pension Date
6th April 1977 to 5th May 1977 6th May 2044
6th May 1977 to 5th June 1977 6th July 2044
6th June 1977 to 5th July 1977 6th September 2044
6th July 1977 to 5th August 1977 6th November 2044
6th August 1977 to 5th September 1977 6th January 2045
6th September 1977 to 5th October 1977 6th March 2045
6th October 1977 to 5th November 1977 6th May 2045
6th November 1977 to 5th December 1977 6th July 2045
6th December 1977 to 5th January 1978 6th September 2045
6th January 1978 to 5th February 1978 6th November 2045
6th February 1978 to 5th March 1978 6th January 2046
6th March 1978 to 5th April 1978 6th March 2046