Have you just unwrapped some presents? Been sitting in a soft play centre and watched a toddler blow out some candles? Double-checked what time the party starts later?<\/p>\n
With 26 September being statistically the most common day to have a birthday<\/a> in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics, it is quite possible that you or someone close to you is marking another trip around the sun.<\/p>\n Even if you no longer celebrate the big day with a party or family outing, there are still reasons why it is worth noting because some milestones bring gifts of their own.<\/p>\n Age 12<\/p>\n You can legally buy Christmas crackers<\/a>. At this stage, the jokes will be much older than you are.<\/p>\n Crackers can now be added to the Christmas shopping list. Photograph: stuartbur\/Getty Images\/iStockphotoAge 14<\/p>\n You can get a part-time job. There are some professions \u2013 acting and modelling, for example \u2013 where you can work from a younger age. There are some local councils that allow you to work from the age of 13 for a very limited number of hours a week.<\/p>\n Age 16<\/p>\n You are entitled to earn \u00a38 an hour under the UK\u2019s minimum wage<\/a> laws. You may also have to pay national insurance (NI). This tax is collected by your employer if you earn more than \u00a3242 a week from one job. You will be issued with a NI number and card before your birthday. You should receive a letter \u2013 make sure you read it and amend any mistakes.<\/p>\n You can also take charge of your child trust fund<\/a> (if you have one) although you cannot withdraw the money yet. You and your parents should get a letter from the provider about this.<\/p>\n Age 17You can start motoring. Photograph: Benjamin John\/Alamy<\/p>\n This is the legal driving age for most people in the UK. You can apply for your provisional licence much earlier in Great Britain \u2013 from the age of 15 years and nine months, or two months before you turn 17 if you live in Northern Ireland. It costs \u00a334 to apply online and \u00a343 to do so by post in Great Britain, or \u00a362.50 in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n Age 18<\/p>\n You can withdraw your child trust fund or junior Isa<\/a> \u2013 but you do not have to. If it is a child trust fund, you can transfer it to an Isa; if it is a junior Isa, it will automatically become an adult one. Lots of people are unaware they have a child trust fund<\/a>: you can check for yourself or your child on the government website<\/a>.<\/p>\n At this age you can open an Isa \u2013 either cash or stocks and shares. You could choose a lifetime Isa, which is designed to help you raise a deposit for a home and is not an account you can dip into, or a standard Isa, which will be more flexible.<\/p>\n Benefits such as universal credit<\/a> can be claimed once you turn 18 if you are not in education and are on a low income or out of work. Payments are lower for under-25s than older claimants.<\/p>\n The minimum wage you are entitled to also goes up to \u00a310.85 an hour (currently \u2013 the rates change in April each year).<\/p>\n Age 21<\/p>\n You are entitled to the full adult minimum wage, which is now \u00a312.71 an hour.<\/p>\n Age 26There are discount travel options on the railways after outgrowing what was once called a Young Persons Railcard. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod\/The Guardian<\/p>\n You have outgrown what used to be called the Young Persons Railcard but have no fear: you can still get one-third off train travel, only now with\u00a0a 26-30 Railcard<\/a>. It costs \u00a335 for a year and is available online, so you can buy it and use it on the same day.<\/p>\n Age 28<\/p>\n You are no longer a young person in the eyes of car rental companies. They typically charge a young driver\u2019s fee: a surcharge that is usually about \u00a335 a day and is paid on top of the regular hiring cost. The age up to which this is charged varies by company. At Budget, for example, it is up to the age of 25, while at Europcar, it is 26. At Sixt the surcharge applies to bookings by those under 28.<\/p>\n Age 39Last call for lifetime Isas. Photograph: 57stock\/Alamy<\/p>\n This year is your last chance to open a lifetime Isa<\/a>. This is the tax-free account that offers a government bonus on your savings every year to help you save a deposit for a property or towards your retirement. The account is available to 18- to 39-year-olds who can pay in up to \u00a34,000 a year each. This is boosted by a payment worth 25% of what you paid in each month. Between the ages of 40 and 50 you can keep paying into the account. At 50 you will not be able to add any more; you can withdraw the money to buy a home or when you turn 60.<\/p>\n Age 40<\/p>\n People in England, Wales and Northern Ireland<\/a> who have a close relative with a glaucoma diagnosis can get free eye tests from the age of 40. Ask your optician if you think this applies to you.<\/p>\n Age 50Saga is well known for providing holidays. Photograph: SaGa\/Alamy<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome to the Saga club!\u201d is the sort of thing people say when you hit your half century. Saga is the company well known for offering products and services, including insurance and holidays, exclusively to the over-50s.<\/p>\n This is also the age when you may be targeted by over-50s life insurance providers. With this type of cover, typically aimed at those aged 50 to 85, you pay a fixed monthly premium and are guaranteed a fixed payout when you die \u2013 but there are downsides<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are some train discounts available to those who are 50 and older. ScotRail has Club 50<\/a>, which gives you a 20% discount on most tickets when bought online, plus other benefits (it costs \u00a315 a year). In England, for Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services, there is the Club\u00a050 Railcard<\/a> (\u00a325 for a year), which works in a similar way.<\/p>\n Age 55<\/p>\n This is usually the earliest age at which you can take money from your private or workplace pension<\/a> \u2013 it is rising to 57 from 6 April 2028. You may be able to take your pension before 55 if, for example, you need to retire early because of poor health. However, a private pension is normally designed to pay out from about the age of 65, so you will usually get less money than you expect if you access it early.<\/p>\n The age of 55 is typically the earliest age at which you can take money from your private or workplace pension. Photograph: Warren Bourne\/Alamy<\/p>\n That\u2019s because the headline estimate of your future retirement income that will be in the documents usually assumes you will continue paying in until the scheme\u2019s normal pension age.<\/p>\n Some cinemas offer cheap tickets to those aged 55-plus (but for most, 60 is the important age). The upmarket Everyman chain runs Silver Screen<\/a>: weekly matinee screenings with a reduced ticket price for those\u00a055 or older. Tickets include a complimentary hot drink and a slice of cake.<\/p>\n Age 60<\/p>\n In England, NHS prescriptions become free<\/a>, saving you \u00a39.90 an item. They are already free for everyone in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n Some good travel schemes kick in at this age. The over-60s can get a third off rail travel with a Senior Railcard<\/a> costing \u00a335 for a year or \u00a380 for three years. The average saving that holders enjoy is said to be \u00a3114 a year.<\/p>\n If you live in London, you can get a 60+ London Oyster photocard<\/a>, which gives you free travel on buses, the tube and other transport within the capital, but is subject to some restrictions. You have this until you reach state pension age and are eligible for a Freedom Pass<\/a>. If you are in Wales, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales and the borders and get discounted or free travel on many rail services by getting a Concessionary Travel Card<\/a>.<\/p>\n NHS prescriptions become free in England at 60. On the shopping front, the retailer Iceland offers 10% off for all customers aged 60 or over every Tuesday. You need an Iceland Bonus Card (this is free) and to show valid proof of age at the till \u2013 for example, a senior bus pass, driving licence or senior railcard. This in-store-only deal applies to all UK Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores but excludes Iceland Local and The Range stores.\u200b<\/p>\n The bakery chain Patisserie Valerie offers the over-60s with a valid passport or driving licence 10% off. To access this, you need to verify your age via a service run by a separate company.<\/p>\n In England and Wales, you become entitled to a free NHS\u00a0eye test. In Northern Ireland, you\u00a0can get a free Health and Social Care (HSC) sight test. In Scotland, NHS eye tests are free for everyone.<\/p>\n Many local authority leisure centres offer free swimming for over-60s at specified times, and some theatres \u2013 including the National Theatre in London<\/a> and some ATG venues<\/a> \u2013 give discounts on selected shows.<\/p>\n Age 65<\/p>\n A few companies offer discounts \u2013 for example, at some Hilton hotels in the UK, guests who are 65-plus can enjoy savings of up to 6%. This is also the age that some theatre discounts for older people kick in (for example, at Birmingham Hippodrome<\/a> and the RSC<\/a> in Stratford-upon-Avon).<\/p>\n A ballet at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Photograph: Tristram Kenton\/The Guardian<\/p>\n You should also be able to get the free NHS flu jab<\/a>. This is typically offered from September or October (in regions such as England and Wales, this includes those who will turn 65 by 31 March 2027).<\/p>\n Age 66+<\/p>\n If you were born on or before 5 April 1960, your state pension age is 66. As of now it is rising gradually each month, and by one month at a time, until it reaches 67 in April 2028. It will eventually rise to 68, affecting those born after April 1977.<\/p>\n The new state pension (as opposed to the old basic state pension) is up to \u00a3241.30 a week, and entitlement can unlock other benefits and help. The MoneyHelper website<\/a> has more information.<\/p>\n Age 75<\/p>\n You can apply for a free TV licence<\/a>, provided you (or your partner living at the same address) receive pension credit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Age 80More help is available for energy bills. Photograph: Mark Sykes Energy And Power\/Alamy<\/p>\n To get the winter fuel payment for 2026-27, you have to be 66-plus (born on or before 27 June 1960) \u2013 however, those aged 80-plus (born before 28 September 1946) can get more: a total of \u00a3300. It is available to those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland has its own scheme), and the rules are complicated<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some people who receive little or no basic state pension are able to apply for the \u201cover 80 pension<\/a>\u201d. This can now give you \u00a3110.75 a week.<\/p>\n Age 100<\/p>\n
Photograph: Christopher Jones\/Alamy<\/p>\n