DWP has been urged by a new petition on the Parliamentary website to increase the state pension to £28,500.DWP has been urged by a new petition on the Parliamentary website to increase the state pension to £28,500.DWP has been urged by a new petition on the Parliamentary website to increase the state pension to £28,500.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been told to make the state pension “universal” for ALL people over age 60. The DWP has been urged by a new petition on the Parliamentary website to increase the state pension to £28,500.

A petition begs: ” Offer the State Pension to all at 60, increase to equal 48hrs at the Living Wage.” It urges: ” We want the Government to make the State Pension available from the age of 60, and increase this to equal 48 hours at the National Living Wage.

“Hence from April 2024 a universal State Pension should be £549.12 per week or £28,554.24 per year as a right to all, age 60 and above. Government policy seems intent on the State Pension being a benefit, while increasing the age of entitlement.

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“We want reforms so the State Pension is available from age 60, and linked to the National Living Wage. If we can’t pay a fair Pension, then how can we afford foreign adventurism, nuclear weapons, armies, royals, pageantry, MP’s salaries, etc?”

The petition has racked up 65,000 names in support – causing the DWP to reply. It said: “We have also reformed the State Pension system, introducing the new State Pension in 2016 as a simpler, clearer system to be a sustainable foundation for private saving.

“The new State Pension is set above the means-test level of Pension Credit to encourage private saving. Automatic enrolment into workplace pensions was introduced in 2012 to help more people to save for their retirement – over 11 million employees have already been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension.

“Together, the new State Pension and Automatic Enrolment to workplace pensions provide a robust system for retirement provision for decades to come.

“We have no plans to reverse changes to State Pension age. Changes to State Pension age were made over a series of Acts by successive governments from 1995 onwards, following public consultations and extensive debates in both Houses of Parliament.

“Reforms have focused on maintaining the right balance between the affordability, sustainability of the State Pension, and fairness between generations. The current state pension age is 66.

“The second Government Review of State Pension age was published on 30 March 2023. It reconfirmed that the planned increase in State Pension age from 66 to 67 will take place between 2026-2028.

“It also concluded that there will be a further review within two years of the next Parliament to consider age 68. This further review will be supported by the latest evidence including life expectancy projections, updated with the 2021 Census data, and the economic position.

“Finally, this Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through our benefit system to those who are unable to work or are on a low income but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age.”