UK Government Rejects Petition to Raise State Pension

The Department for Work and Pensions rejected a petition calling for the minimum State Pension to be increased to at least £14,500 per year. The campaign, launched by Richard Sobey MBE, argues that the current full New State Pension of £12,547.60 is unfair to those who paid National Insurance throughout their working lives and lags behind European standards. Sobey contends the pension should align with the National Minimum Wage for workers under 18, which equates to £14,560 annually based on a 35-hour work week, to ensure a minimum standard of living for retirees.

Government officials stated that the State Pension and the National Minimum Wage serve different purposes, making a direct comparison impossible. To justify current levels, the government highlighted the Triple Lock mechanism, which increased the full new State Pension to £241.30 per week for 2026/27. Officials also pointed to additional supports, including Winter Fuel Payments and Pension Credit, and noted the launch of a Pensions Commission to evaluate the future of the system.

The petition has gathered 23,355 signatures and remains open until January 28, 2027. It requires 100,000 signatures to be considered for a parliamentary debate.