When will my state pension start if I've worked in several countries?

Each country pays its own state pension from its own statutory age, so your pensions can start years apart. This tool lays them out on one timeline by your year of birth.

What is the state pension 'gap'?

The gap is the stretch between when you plan to stop working and when your first state pension begins — years you'd need to fund from savings or other income.

Can I claim my state pension early or late?

Many countries let you claim within a window (for example the US at 62–70 or Canada at 60–70), usually with a reduction for claiming early and a bonus for deferring.

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Pension Age Gap Timeline

See when each of your state pensions starts, plus the gap years nobody warned you about.

Statutory ages current for 2026 · reviewed Jul 2026

Year of birth

Countries you've worked in (2/4)

United KingdomUnited States

Pick 2–4 countries where you've built up state pension years.

When do you want to stop working? (age 65)

Statutory ages current for 2026 · reviewed Jul 2026

Your pensions start across a span of 1 year — and there's a 2-year gap between when you want to stop working and your first pension.

Sources:

Assumptions & caveats

Statutory state pension ages only — they can change by law, and transition-year births (e.g. UK around 1960 and 1977–78) should confirm the exact date on the official national checker linked below. Occupational and private pensions aren't included here.

Verify with the official source

Confirm the exact date for your birth year on each country's official checker.

This is one pension in isolation.

PensionChart shows all of yours together — how they interact and the deadlines you can't miss.

Want the amounts on this timeline, and how claiming order changes your taxes?

Estimates only, not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

When will my state pension start if I've worked in several countries?: Each country pays its own state pension from its own statutory age, so your pensions can start years apart. This tool lays them out on one timeline by your year of birth.
What is the state pension 'gap'?: The gap is the stretch between when you plan to stop working and when your first state pension begins — years you'd need to fund from savings or other income.
Can I claim my state pension early or late?: Many countries let you claim within a window (for example the US at 62–70 or Canada at 60–70), usually with a reduction for claiming early and a bonus for deferring.