General Discussion
Okay, I hold both hands up to the accusation that I covered this subject on this forum about a year or so ago. So why am I doing it again? Because my gut instinct that these changes hadn't necessarily registered with those who are affected by them got confirmed when I had, by chance, a conversation with a woman the other day about work and getting older and things like that.
She then said "But never mind I can retire in 4 years time and get my pension". So I said "What, you mean a private pension?" and she said "Oh, no I mean my state pension. I'll get my free bus pass then as well". This woman is 56 years of age. I had to break it to her gently. You should have seen her face. And I'm still not sure if she believes me or if she thinks I made it all up.
Here is some info from the CAB (Citizens' Advice Bureau) website concerning changes to the qualfying age for the state pension. Note that there are changes for men as well as women.
State pension age
State pension age is the age when people can choose to start getting their State Pension. State pension age used to always be 60 for a woman and 65 for a man. However, state pension age is changing for most people.
If you are a woman born on or after 6 April 1950, you will no longer be able to claim a state pension age at the age of 60 and if you are a man born on or after 6th December 1953 you will no longer be able to claim a state pension at the age of 65.
If you fall into one of these groups of men or women, the age when you can claim your state pension will gradually increase, depending on your date of birth.
State pension age for women
If you were born before 6 April 1950, your state pension age is 60.
If you were born on or after 6 April 1950 but before 6 December 1953, your state pension age will be somewhere between 60 and 65, depending on your date of birth.
If you were born on or after 6 December 1953 but before 6 April 1978, your state pension age will be somewhere between 65 and 68 depending on your date of birth.
If you were born on or after 6 April 1978, your state pension age will be 68.
You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator on the Directgov website. Go to: www.directgov.uk.
State pension age for men
If you were born before 6 December 1953, your state pension age is 65.
If you were born on or after 6 December 1953 but before 6 April 1978, your state pension age will be somewhere between 65 and 68 depending on your date of birth.
If you were born on or after 6 April 1978, your state pension age will be 68.
You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator on the Directgov website. Go to: 
www.directgov.uk.
If you're unsure about when you'll be able to get your State Pension, you can ask an experienced adviser, for example at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on 
nearest CAB.
