New petition calls for Basic State Pension increase of £40 per week for nearly 10m older people
06.03.2023 - 13:31
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A new online petition is calling for an increase to the Basic State Pension weekly payment rate so that it matches the New State Pension. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 12.6 million people across Great Britain receiving State Pension payments, including more than 992,000 living in Scotland.
Of that overall total, there are 9.7 million older people receiving Basic State Pension payments of up to £141.85 per week (rising to £156.20 in April), compared to 2.9 million getting the New State Pension, which is worth up to £185.15 each week (rising to £203.85 in April).
However, despite a record-breaking rise in payments of the contributory benefit, it is estimated that over 1.8 million pensioners are receiving less than £100 per week in State Pension payments.
The new petition, ‘Increase the basic State Pension to match the new State Pension’, was created by George Woods and posted on the official petitions-parliament website. If it reaches the 10,000 signature threshold, the UK Government will respond to the proposal.
Mr Woods’ petition reads: “I get the old State Pension which is substantially lower than the new State Pension.
“I want the Government to increase the Basic State Pension to match the new State Pension, so everyone receives the same State Pension. It is not fair that some pensioners are treated like second class citizens.”
He added: “Only men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953 are eligible for the new State Pension, which is paid at a higher rate.”
The petition is open until August 23, 2023 and can be found online here.
An estimated 800,000 older people on State Pension payments of less than £200 per week could be missing out