Petition calling for £380 a week state pension and retirement age at 60 rejected by DWP | Personal Finance | Finance

The campaign called for the basic state pension to be increased to £380, and that this minimum payment should be available to all Britons aged 60 or over. The current full basic state pension is £141.85 a week, for men born before April 6, 1951 and women born before April 6, 1953, while the new full state pension is £185.15 a week.

Campaigners said in the petition that increasing the minimum amount would “lift thousands out of poverty” while giving older people “more spending power and help grow the economy”.

The current state pension age for men and women is 66, with plans for this to gradually increase to 67 and 68 over the coming years.

A response from the Government said ministers have “no plans” to implement the proposals in the petition.

The DWP said: “This proposal would add significant costs and make the system unsustainable, creating additional burdens on the working age population.

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“Since 2010, the full yearly amount of the basic state pension has risen by over £2,300, in cash terms.

“That’s £720 more than if it had been uprated by prices, and £570 more than if it had been uprated by earnings.

“The Government has committed to implementing the triple lock in the usual way for the remainder of the Parliament.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Autumn Statement the triple lock policy will return next year.

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The policy guarantees the state pension increases each year in line with the highest of 2.5 percent, the increase in average earnings or the rate of inflation.

The average earnings element was suspended last year after a spike in earnings after the easing of the coronavirus restrictions, with the state pension increasing by just 3.1 percent this year.

The return of the policy means payments will increase next April in line with the September figure for inflation, at 10.1 percent.

This means the full basic state pension will increase to £156.20 a week while the new full state pension will go up to £203.85.

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The response to the petition from the DWP also said: “The state pension is funded through the National Insurance and tax contributions of the current working age population.

“Reducing the state pension age to 60 would therefore increase the tax burden of the current working-age population.

“This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it, including when they near or reach retirement.

“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.”

The response also mentioned the other Government support available to pensioners, such as Pension Credit.

The benefit tops up a claimant’s weekly income to £182.60 for single claimants, or to £287.70 for couples.

Pension Credit will also increase by 10.1 percent next April, along with many other benefits, potentially providing an extra £960 for a single pensioner, or £1,470 a year for a couple.

The scheme also has a Savings Credit element, providing extra support for people who have savings or other pensions for their retirement.

Claimants can get a top up of £14.48 a week for single people or £16.20 a week for couples.

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