Pay pensioners the equivalent of the living wage of a 35 hour week.

The full rate of the new state pension is currently £11,502.40 a year, while the annual income derived from the living wage for a 35-hour week will from April be above £22,000. We think there is a distressing discrepancy between these two figures.

We must not allow our senior citizens, who have contributed so much to our society, to struggle through their sunset years. We consider that it is a matter of fairness and respect. We all deserve a decent life when we get old. We believe that all pensioners must receive the equivalent of the living wage at 35 hours a week as a minimum. This could ensure a better quality of life for our country's senior citizens and help ensure that no elder person in our society has to face financial hardship.

We are committed to ensuring economic security for people at every stage of their life, including when they reach retirement.

This petition suggests increasing the State Pension to equal 35 hours a week at the National Living Wage (NLW). The two have different purposes and a direct comparison cannot be drawn. The NLW aims to protect low-income workers and provide an incentive to work by ensuring that workers benefit from being employed. Comparisons made in this petition between headline State Pension payments and the NLW do not consider the full package of measures available to support people in retirement.

This year, the Government will spend over £174 billion directly on the State Pension and benefits for pensioners in Great Britain in 2025/26. The full rate of the new State Pension has risen to £230.25 per week, which is over £12,000 per year, following an increase in line with average earnings

The basic State Pension has also increased to £176.45 per week, which is over £9,200 per year. These increases reflect our commitment to the Triple Lock and to protecting pensioners from the rising cost of living. Maintaining the Triple Lock throughout this Parliament will mean the annual spending on people’s State Pensions is forecast to rise by around £31 billion, this will see pensioners’ yearly incomes being up to £1900 higher.

Supplementary benefits provide additional support, including Pension Credit (which guarantees a minimum level of income for low-income pensioners). Pension Credit passports pensioners to receive other benefits (help with council tax, fuel bills and a free TV licence for those over 75).