New calls for ‘living’ State Pension payments of £364 every week to match National Minimum Wage

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to create a ‘living’ State Pension paid to people in retirement at the same rate as the National Living Wage for those aged over 23.

The proposal would see some 12.6 million pensioners receive £343 each week, or just under £19,000 each year. Joseph Coyle has created and posted the petition on the official petitions-parliament website and states: “The majority of pensioners have worked and contributed to society for decades, but the State Pension falls well below the income of someone working full-time at the National Living Wage.

We want the Government to increase the State Pension to equal 35 hours a week at the living wage for 23 and over.”He goes on to say: “Surely, a 'living' pension should, at the very least, be equal to full-time work on the minimum wage.

Please respect those in society who have contributed, and treat them equitably for what they have contributed to our society.”Following a bumper annual uprating of 10.1 per cent in April, the full New State Pension is worth £203.85 each week, or £815.40 every four-week pay period, and £10,600 over the 2023/24 financial year.The full Basic State Pension is worth £156.20 each week, some £624.80 every four-week period and over £8,122 over the coming year.