A petition is calling on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to make major changes to the state pension system
Two state pensions could be merged into ‘universal’ rate paying £586
The state pension could be merged into a “universal” rate paying over £500 a week – if the Labour Party government bows to pressure from campaigners.
A petition is calling on the Department for Work and Pensions to make major changes to the state pension system. The ‘Give State Pension to all at 60 and increase it to equal 48 hours at Living Wage’ petition has been posted on the petitions-parliament website.
It states: “We want the Government to make the State Pension available from the age of 60 and increase this to equal 48 hours a week at the National Living Wage.”
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It urges the government to consider increasing the weekly state pension payments to £586. The petition says: “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.”
If the petition racks up over 100,000 signatures, the petition would be entitled to a debate in Parliament.
The government introduced changes in 2016 that simplified the State Pension. This means there are two systems in place – the new State Pension and the basic State Pension. The one you’ll claim depends on when you reach your State Pension age.
You can claim the new State Pension if you’re:
- a woman born on or after 6 April 1953
- a man born on or after 6 April 1951.
You can claim the basic State Pension if you’re:
- a woman born before 6 April 1953
- a man born before 6 April 1951.
You can choose to delay (defer) your State Pension. When you do claim it, you’ll still get it under the system you qualify for based on your age.