A new state pension petition is calling for a major change (Image: Getty Images)
The government is under pressure to make a major change to the UK’s pension rules.Calls are being made to scrap the Basic given out to four million people – and replace it with the New .MPs may even be forced to debate the issue – and now people are being urged to sign a document to make that happen.Michael Thompson has initiated a bold online crusade demanding the UK Government abolish the Basic in favour of transitioning all existing beneficiaries to the enhanced New , alongside calls for an uprating to a “good percentage of average earnings”. Newly issued figures from the Department for Work and Pensions () show that an astounding 12.9 million people are currently in receipt of the , with a fraction of 4.1 million on the post-April 2016 New and a majority of 8.8 million on the pre-April 2016 Basic .
Starting April 7, pensioners are set to receive a 4.1 percent uplift in payments, pursuant to the ‘s earnings growth stipulation. This increment translates to an extra £9.05 weekly for those entitled to the full amount of the recently modified New —leaping from £221.20 to £230.25.
Considering these payments normally roll out every four weeks, beneficiaries are poised to get a yearly raise of £921. As the 2025/26 financial year beckons, annual totals are slated to rise by £473.60, shifting from £11,502 to an impressive £11,975.
However, not all of the 4.1 million individuals on the New scheme are set for the full amount, as the entitlement is intimately tied to one’s history of National Insurance Contributions, .
Those receiving the full Basic will see a weekly rise of £6.95, from £169.50 to £176.45, resulting in an extra £705.80 over each four-week payment period. This equates to an annual increase of £361.40, taking the total from £8,814 to £9,175.40 for the 2025/26 financial year.
A petition, titled ‘Abolish the basic , increase the new and pay to all’, argues: “We believe those on the basic Pension should be paid the difference accrued between the Basic and New since the new ‘s introduction.”
If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, it will trigger a written response from the UK Government, likely from the Department for Work and Pensions (), while 100,000 signatures could lead to a debate in Parliament. The petition can be viewed
Labour MP Jessica Toale recently asked Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds if the had considered “assessment of the potential merits of equalising the Basic and New “. In her written response, Ms Reynolds said: “We are absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.”
She said: “We have made no such assessment. It is not possible to make direct, like for like comparisons between amounts received under the pre 2016 system and the new .”
Ms Reynolds added: “Under both systems, the amount people are entitled to varies according to their National Insurance record. It is not the case that everyone in the new system receives more than everyone in the pre 2016 system.”
The Department for Work and Pensions () has published the full rundown of updated and benefit rates at , incorporating extra details such as increased deferred rates, which are due to rise by 1.7 per cent reflecting the Consumer Price Index inflation figure from September. Insights from Royal London indicate that only half of those who were on the New last year got the full weekly sum, with around 150,000 receiving less than £100 a week.
In March, the will distribute letters to all individuals at the age to advise them of their new rates and to prompt senior citizens to verify if they qualify for Pension Credit.