The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has responded to an online petition calling for State Pension payments to be increased to £380 per week to match the new National Living Wage rate, saying that the UK Government “disagrees” with its proposed approach.
The ‘Increase the State Pension to £19,760 a year (£380 a week)’ petition was created last month by Stephen Edward Wyatt. It has already received more than 42,115 signatures of support (at time of writing) from people living in every council area in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland - which you can view on the interactive map here.
However, the DWP response outlines how this option is not plausible, explaining how State Pension and the National Living Wage have “different purposes and a direct comparison cannot be drawn”.The DWP said: “The [UK] Government disagrees with the proposed approach of this petition.
This petition suggests linking the State Pension and the National Living Wage (NLW). The two have different purposes, and a direct comparison cannot be drawn.
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