• Born between 1971 and 1973? You could lose up to two years of pension access.
• Thought you could retire or pay off your mortgage at 55? You might need to wait until 57.
• Even if you’re older, now’s the time to check your pension plans still work as you expect.
The normal minimum pension age is increasing – could this affect you?
From April 2028, the Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA), the earliest age most people can access their pension, will rise from 55 to 57.
This change particularly affects people born between 6 April 1971 and 5 April 1973. This means that thousands of retirees could be affected.
At first glance, a two-year increase might not seem significant, but for some people, it could create real financial disruption, especially if you were planning to retire, reduce working hours, or pay off your mortgage at 55.
Who us affected?
To Summarise:
1. Those born before 6th April 1971 are unaffected.
2. Those born after 5th April 1973 will only be able to access their pensions from age 57.*
3. Those born between 6th April 1971 – 5th April 1973 may have a limited opportunity to access their pensions before the NMPA increase to age 57.
People who fall under point 3 will only be able to access funds already in drawdown once the NMPA increases.*
Why this matters
Imagine preparing to retire at 55, only to discover that your pension is locked away for another two years. That delay could mean postponing life plans, taking on debt, or missing key opportunities.
*The challenge is that the rules are not as simple as they sound. Some people may have a protected pension age, others may not. Even small details like how your pension scheme is structured or whether you’ve transferred funds can make a big difference.
Plan ahead
The increase in the NMPA may feel like a technical change, but for those caught in this narrow birth date range, it might have a large impact. For others in this date range, you may not feel this is a concern as you did not expect to access your pension pot.
Planning ahead can make all the difference. By preparing for the NMPA increase, you could avoid being caught out.
Before making any decisions about your retirement timing or withdrawal options, it’s vital to speak with a professional adviser.
The Robson Laidler Wealth team can help you:
• Understand how the NMPA increase applies to your specific pensions.
• Identify whether you have a protected pension age.
• Explore options to manage any shortfall or delay in access.
• Align your retirement funding with your lifestyle goals.
Don’t leave it too late
This isn’t a change to ignore, and by the time 2028 arrives, it will be too late to act. If you were born before April 1971, other pension technicalities could potentially affect your retirement plans without professional advice.
If you’re unsure whether this increase could affect your retirement plans, or you just want to make sure your strategy is still on track, now is the time to have that conversation.
Reach out to us at Robson Laidler Wealth by filling in our contact us form. We can help you plan confidently for the future and make sure your retirement isn’t delayed by a simple oversight.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. Please do not take or refrain from action based on its contents. Information is based on our understanding of legislation at October 2025 and may change in future.