New calls for the state pension to be £586.08 per week or about £30,476.16 per year ‘as a right’
DWP Secretary Pat McFadden. The department has responded to calls for the pension age to be lowered (Image: Getty)
A big update has been given to campaigners battling to get state pension for everyone over the age of 60. The Department for Work and Pensions has given an official response to a petition soaring on the Parliament website, as it’s gone beyond 10,000 signups in short order.
The petition asks for the change to the ages – and for it to be linked to working a full week at the national living wage. It comes against a backdrop of warnings that people from next year will be waiting an extra 12 months to claim their state pension as the age it starts changing to 66. The petition, which is on more than 16,000 signatures, says: “We want the Government to make the State Pension available from the age of 60 & increase this to equal 48hrs a week at the National Living Wage.
“Hence from April 2025 a Universal State Pension should be £586.08 per week or about £30,476.16 per year as a right to all including expatriates, age 60 and above.
“We think that Government policy seems intent on the State Pension being a benefit not paid to all, while ever increasing the age of entitlement. We want reforms to the State Pension, so that it is available to all including expatriates, from age 60, and linked to the National Living Wage, for security.”
The decision to raise the age people get the pension, which was started by Tory Chancellor George Osborne will cost people around £13,000 next year – if they were born on 6 April 1960 or later. BBC expert Paul Lewis said: “Anyone born 6 April 1960 or later will not get their state pension at 66. They will have to wait up to 12 months after that birthday to qualify, costing them up to £12,849 in lost state pension.
“The rise in state pension age will happen in stages linked only to date of birth. It will be identical for men and women and apply throughout the UK.”
In answer to the calls the Department for Work and Pensions yesterday issued an official response on if the call is feasible – and said currently there are no plans to make the change. It said: “The Government has no plans to make the State Pension available from the age of 60 or for it to equal 48 hours a week at the National Living Wage.
“The Government is committed to supporting current and future generations of pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.
“Our commitment to the Triple Lock through this Parliament will benefit over 12 million pensioners. From the end of this Parliament, spending on the State Pension as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock is forecast to be around £31 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25.”
In fact it highlighted that the state pension age is in fact being increased: “There are no plans to bring State Pension age back down to 60. Increases to State Pension age have been in legislation since the Pensions Act 1995 and there have since been a number of legislated increases to State Pension age introduced under successive Governments. As longevity has increased and our society aged, State Pension age rises have maintained fairness between generations and protected the public finances.”
It highlighted a number of schemes which are aimed at helping pensioners including disability benefits, the Winter Fuel Payment, and Pensions Credit for the poorest. To reach their full response and to back the petition, which could force a parliamentary debate if it gets to more than 100,000 signatures click here.
