New update on future of State Pension pay and retirement age under plans to end NI deductions

New research from retirement specialist Just Group suggests that more than a third of retirees did not check their State Pension forecast before they retired despite 1.2 million households relying on the State Pension as their primary source of income in retirement.

Sir Stephen Timms, chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee, has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, following an oral evidence session last week with the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) Campaign and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) on the findings in its final report into changes made to the State Pension age for millions of women born in the 1950s.

More than 59,500 people have signed an online petition calling for a ‘universal’ weekly State Pension payment of nearly £550 to bring into line with the National Living Wage. Petition creator Michael Thompson also suggests making the option to claim State Pension available to everyone from the age of 60 - six years lower than the current official age of retirement of 66.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of August 2023, more than 1.5 million older people were receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance, including over 136,200 living in Scotland. This is a significant increase of 36,061 on the number of people claiming the non-means tested benefit in the previous quarter, ending in May 2023.

The Scottish Government will replace Winter Fuel Payments with a new devolved lump sum later this year. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) is set to be provided on a like-for-like basis to its Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) counterpart and paid to everyone over the State Pension age every year.

A new online petition is calling for all people over the official age of retirement (66) to be paid the New State Pension weekly rate of £221.20, some £884.80 every four-week pay period. At present, those who reached retirement age before April 6, 2016 are only eligible for the Basic State Pension, which is worth up to £169.50 each week, some £678 every pay period.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that new rule changes for around 180,000 people in part-time work claiming Universal Credit will start on May 13. Those working less than half of a full-time week will have to meet their work coach more often to boost their earnings.

More than 8,500 people have signed an online petition calling for a public inquiry to be held into changes made to the State Pension age for women. Petition creator Kay Clarke argues that increases to the State Pension age have left many women in “financial and mental despair” and believes that an inquiry “is necessary to expose the truth”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told MPs that he “understands the strong feelings” across Parliament over the lack of response to the recently published Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) final report into the impact of changes to the State Pension age for women born in the 1950s. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, he acknowledged the “desire for urgency in addressing them” but added that an update “will be given to the House once those findings have been fully considered”.

Good Morning Britain has been hit with Ofcom complaints after a tense exchange between hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley and their guest - MP George Galloway.The presenters interviewed the politician following his success at the Rochdale elections. The ITV show received 66 Ofcom complaints after the episode that aired on April 30.The show saw the controversial MP state that Susanna and Richard hadn't done their research before having him on the show.The interview came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered a speech on the steps of 10 Downing Street calling George Galloway's victory with a 5,697 majority "beyond alarming." The Prime Minister said in March: "It's beyond alarming that last night, the Rochdale by-election returned a candidate that dismisses the horror of what happened on October 7, who glorifies Hezbollah and is endorsed by Nick Griffin, the racist former leader of the BNP." Appearing on the ITV breakfast show last month, Susanna asked Mr Galloway which of the statements made by Mr Sunak about him were wrong, prompting a heated clash.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show the State Pension is providing essential financial support for nearly 12.7 million people across Great Britain, including more than one million living in Scotland. This regular payment is now worth up to £221.20 per week for those on the New State Pension (claimed after April 6, 2016), or £169.50 each week for the Basic State Pension (Category A or B).

returned to London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.Later that day, the exiled royal’s reps confirmed to The Post that Harry will not be meeting up with his estranged father in London this week due to the King’s “full” schedule.But according to royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths, the monarch’s decision may have been swayed by “certain demands” from Harry. “There is some talk that behind the scenes, a lot of negotiating went on,” Griffiths told GB News.“I think the reason was because Harry made certain demands about who could be in the room and who couldn’t.

Older people providing care during term-time or school holidays for children under the age of 12 may be able to boost State Pension payments by more than £6,000 over a typical 20-year retirement period. A single extra National Insurance credit currently adds around £303-a-year on to the full, New State Pension.

returned to London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.The trip marks the first time since his visit to see his estranged father following the king’s cancer diagnosis in February, as well as his first trip since learning of his sister-in-law Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis in March.“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program,” a spokesperson for Harry told The Post on Tuesday.

First Minister-elect John Swinney praised a former Tory Chancellor who pushed through deep benefit cuts as a “believer” in devolution.

The latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures indicate that fraud and error in the benefit system is falling after the UK Government restated its determination to drive levels down further and protect taxpayers’ money. The most-recent national statistics show that in the 2022/23 financial year, fraud and error rates fell to 3.6 per cent (£8.3 billion) from 4.0 per cent (£8.7 billion) - figures for 2023/24 are due to be published next month.

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures highly-anticipated adaptation of the best-seller Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow is gaining some serious momentum as Oscar winner Siân Heder has been tapped to direct the adaptation which is based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name by Gabrielle Zevin. Mark Bomback wrote the script based off a draft penned by Zevin. Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey and Isaac Klausner will produce. Zevin will executive Produce.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been in the spotlight since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak first shone a light on proposed welfare reforms for benefits delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) last month.

MSPs have backed the Scottish Government’s call for “compensation in full” to be paid to women impacted by changes to their State Pension age. In a Holyrood debate on Wednesday, the Scottish Parliament voted by 75 votes to zero, with 52 abstentions, which included Scottish Labour.

The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show the State Pension currently provides regular financial support for nearly 12.7 million older people across the country, including over one million retirees living in Scotland. This payment is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which is currently 66 for men and women, and have paid at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance Contributions.