£549 Weekly State Pension for All Over 60s: A new petition demanding a significant rise in the UK State Pension has gained widespread attention. With over 22,649 signatures, this campaign calls for the State Pension to be increased to £549 per week for everyone aged 60 and above, including British expats. Spearheaded by Denver Johnson, the petition has crossed the 10,000-signature mark, prompting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to issue an official response.
What Does the Petition Propose?
The petition advocates for a substantial increase in weekly payments, aligning the State Pension with the equivalent of 48 hours of work per week at the current National Living Wage of £11.44 per hour. This would equate to an annual income of £28,554.24, benefitting the 12.9 million individuals currently receiving the State Pension, along with those aged 60 and over.
Notably, the proposal also addresses the plight of approximately 453,000 retirees living abroad, who currently receive a frozen State Pension due to the absence of reciprocal agreements between their countries and the UK.
According to the petition, beginning in April 2024, the universal State Pension should:
- Be available to everyone aged 60 and above.
- Equal £549.12 per week or £28,554.24 annually.
The petition argues that the Government treats the State Pension as a benefit and is unfairly increasing the entitlement age, disadvantaging retirees.
Eligibility Requirements for Debate in Parliament
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Signatures So Far | 18,710 (till 14 January 2025 |
| Minimum Signatures Required | 100,000 |
| Deadline to Meet Requirement | 26 May 2025 |
This petition must reach the minimum threshold of 100,000 signatures by 26 May 2025 to qualify for consideration for a debate in Parliament. Keep encouraging participation to meet the goal!
Current State Pension Rates and Planned Increases
The New and Basic State Pensions are set to increase in April 2025, following the Triple Lock mechanism:
- Full New State Pension: Payments will rise by £9.05 per week, from £221.20 to £230.25, amounting to £921 every four weeks.
- Annual total: Increased from £11,502 to £11,973, reflecting a £473.60 rise.
- Note: Not all 4.1 million recipients receive the full amount, as it depends on their National Insurance Contributions.
- Full Basic State Pension: Weekly payments will increase by £6.95, from £169.50 to £176.45, equating to £705.80 every four weeks.
- Annual total: Increased from £8,814 to £9,175.40, reflecting a £361.40 rise.
While these increases offer some relief, they fall far short of the petition’s proposed amount, which seeks a significant reform to the current pension structure.
Why This Proposal Matters
The campaign highlights concerns that Government policies treat the State Pension as a mere benefit while steadily increasing the retirement age. It argues that the pension should be linked to the National Living Wage and made universally accessible from the age of 60.
Supporters believe this reform would provide retirees with a fair income, ensuring financial security during retirement. If implemented, this could also benefit British expats, many of whom face frozen pensions that fail to reflect inflation and rising living costs.
What’s Next?
Although the petition has garnered considerable support, the DWP has yet to commit to the proposed changes. A formal response will be issued due to the petition crossing the 10,000-signature threshold. However, no immediate changes are guaranteed, as significant financial implications would need to be assessed.
For now, retirees and campaign supporters are urged to keep advocating for reforms, while the Government is likely to address the matter in upcoming fiscal discussions.
The proposed State Pension increase to £549 per week has sparked a national conversation about retirement security and fairness. While the petition underscores the need for pension reforms, the Government’s response and subsequent actions will determine whether this ambitious proposal becomes a reality. For millions of pensioners, it represents a potential lifeline in managing the rising costs of living and ensuring a dignified retirement.
FAQ
What is the proposed increase in the State Pension?
The petition calls for increasing the weekly State Pension to £549 for everyone aged 60 and above, equivalent to 48 hours of work at the National Living Wage.
Who started the petition to increase the State Pension?
The petition was initiated by Denver Johnson and has gathered over 14,900 signatures, crossing the threshold for a formal Government response.
What would be the annual income from the proposed State Pension increase?
If implemented, the proposed weekly pension of £549 would provide an annual income of £28,554.24.
How would the increase affect British expats?
The proposal includes approximately 453,000 British retirees abroad, many of whom currently receive a frozen State Pension due to a lack of reciprocal agreements.
When will the current State Pension rates increase?
The current State Pension rates are set to rise in April 2025, with the full New State Pension increasing to £230.25 per week.
Pensioners should get more money to live on
No wear near enough like to see prime minister live on the pension amount
About time. Pensioners should do as the French do and protest in order to achieve our needs.
Right David jones
,, FINE BUT THAT PUTS EVERYONE OVER TAX THRESHOLD AMD HMRC CLASS PENSION AS EARNINGS AND PENSION IS THEN RETAXED AGAUN.
COULD STARMER AND HIS LABOUR IDIOTS LIVE ON PEANUTS….
Why not, they’re monkeys with no brains 😏!!.
That would be brilliant.
Having never been out of work “ever” and now at my age of 69, and never being able to really load up a private pension, I find myself still working part time to make ends meet.
I work as a school bus driver along with other much older men who possibly should not be even driving a car let alone a school bus and being responsible for young lives.
Guess why there still working, yes!! because they can’t afford not work. Many have had heart attack etc, it appalling that these people are still working.
If this level of pension would alter the lives of pensioners to be able to live and not be beholden and a burden on there families and charities.
Good luck with the campaign.
It seems to me that the first thing done by this so called government. Was give their selves a pay rise also leaving those of us I e pensioners out of pocket so yes it’s about time we all got a better deal as we know the cost of living keeps on going up due to strikes etc so why shouldn’t we get a good deal too so bring it on ASAP
I am an 80 year old
I am an 80 year old expat planning on returning to the UK next year. Please tell me more.
It would be a nice lift in pension but you are still only aloud about £12570.00 before tax so by by to 20%over the above also if you have private pensions and the total goes over the %20 into next tax band not sure what this is would look it up you might end up paying even a higher % of it in taxes government should lift what people are aloud to earn before tax but that looks like a no no
It’s all too late the damage has been done, pensioners have been ripped off left, right,and centre, now the government feels the noose tightening so endless will be offered to win at the next election, they lied to the population to get in power,we have a chancellor who’s an unqualified egotistical idiot who’s gradually sinking the country to no return.
Ththis must go ahead we worked for it and deserve it
This pension rise must go ahead.
Exactly Stanley gossip
I totally agree I’m 67 and we are struggling
I do feel this would not only benefit pensioners but also the Government figures.
It would reduce the unemployed numbers to pensioners
Zero chance this happens. Also why would we pay pensioners more than someone who works full time at minimum wage.
We should be able to retire at 65 not 67 we have paid our national insurance all of our lives and the goverment are increasing it so they dont have to pay it some people unfortunately dont get to retire and enjoy money they have earned so give in reduced retirement age stop making excuses
It’s about time this government got in line with the people and pay us a decent pension instead of treading all over us, stop paying out for immigrants who have done nothing for this country, oh! I really feel sorry for them, like hell do I and their are plenty of other places to get the money from and as that pathetic moron reeves, she is just a liar.
You may get something like this sum if reform get in the government will still be getting a lot of tax from that figure from everyone it may work but this government will not change this at all
Good luck
I I am 83 and worked until I was 78 so that I could get a better living in my retirement, this year since labour as been in power and the money grabbing witch as left me with less pension from my old company. As I should have had a pay rise but got less because of the taxation that she made us pay.they keep saying about putting the retirement age up why don’t they let us work as long as we want and get a better pension still pay national insurance then they would be getting some money back but if anyone should not get enough in savings they would not get any benefits from the government. I am sure that any leadership wouldn’t be able to live on my pension
Yours truly Reg
I’m 76 suffering with copd and told its a disability I can’t walk far without being out of breath the stairs are a no no so any small amount of increase in the pension would be a huge benefit to all pensioners
My DOB was 3-4-51 Too early by a few days. While I very reluctantly accept that I receive lower pension. What I DO NOT ACCEPT OR AGREE WITH Is % Increase rise. The GAP GETS WIDER every year, but cost of living is SAME for all.
Pensions should all be equal, and any increase should be a FIXED amount.
Who on earth dreamed this up? No chance…. The UK Gov state pension is funded by National Insurance contributions…. which are nowhere near the level required to generate something like 540 quid a week 🤣
Different countries pay far more into their pension pots and do indeed get much higher pensions as a result…. but the “sit on yer butt” whinging Brits can’t see this. If you didn’t invest in a company pension to look after yourself when you retired and piddled your wages up the wall throughout your working life then go to a mirror and point your finger….Lifes like that… get with the program. Don’t expect the Gov to bail you out
I’m going to be 60 this year and have paid National Insurance whilst being in employment from the age of 17. As things stand, with the constant increase in the retirement age (ie. moving the goal posts), I calculate never being able to draw my Gvmt pension!
Currently I am in good health, but given the dire state of the NHS I am doubtful of living from anything other than a common cold!
My eulogy will read “what a waste of a life and what a lifetime’s waste of paying towards a Gvmt pension that never materialised”!!
RIP Me, My Pension, the NHS and this Country!😔
I could even be tempted to vote Labour! What does Nigel Farage think?🤔
Iam 64 can I claim my pension now
I can’t understand why the young people who won’t work or have never worked since leaving school get the cost of living allowance yet the older people can’t get it.its not fair.we paid our taxes for working years and get nothing
Totally agree ,pensioners deserve a living wage and not struggle from week to week most of us have worked all our lives paid our taxes so let’s have this debate ASAP
It’s time this government helped the pensioners instead of the immigrants they come here with no money yet the government give them a place to live money in there pocket but won’t raise the tax threshold. I’d like to see these mps trying to live on our small pension but with there fat pay cheques there will always be heating in there homes and food in there bellies.
I am a disabled person who is 60 years old would I be able to claim my state pension am I am biedetic and have had a heart attack and am asmate a d have arthritis
Yes you can claim but you have to wait