Calls to Raise State Pension Payments to £1,700 per Month

A growing movement of more than 4,300 people has signed an online petition urging the UK Government to bring the New State Pension in line with the National Living Wage. The petition, spearheaded by campaigner Ken Marshall, calls for the annual pension amount to rise from its current level of £11,502 to £22,000 – a figure that reflects the wage of someone working 35 hours a week on the National Living Wage.

Under this proposal, pensioners would receive £427.35 per week or roughly £1,709 each month, based on the National Living Wage rate of £12.21 per hour for 2025/26. Marshall argues that this discrepancy between the State Pension and the National Living Wage is distressing, particularly as many pensioners find themselves struggling financially in their later years. He stresses that these individuals, who have contributed significantly to society, deserve better financial support during their retirement.

A Call for Fairness and Respect for Pensioners

Ken Marshall’s petition emphasizes that pensioners should not have to live in poverty, especially after contributing throughout their working lives. He believes that raising the pension to the equivalent of a National Living Wage for a 35-hour week is not just a financial necessity, but a matter of dignity and fairness. The proposal seeks to ensure a better quality of life for the UK’s 13 million pensioners and to protect them from facing financial hardship in their sunset years.

In the petition, Marshall explains: “We must not allow our senior citizens, who have contributed so much to our society, to struggle through their sunset years. It is a matter of fairness and respect. We all deserve a decent life when we get old.”

The Petition and Its Momentum

The petition has gathered support rapidly, with over 4,300 signatures so far. At 10,000 signatures, the petition will receive a written response from the UK Government, and if it reaches 100,000, it will be considered for debate in Parliament. The petition specifically points out the disparity between the current rate of the New State Pension (£11,502 annually) and the projected earnings of someone working a full-time, 35-hour week at the National Living Wage, which will exceed £22,000 annually from April 2025.

This stark difference has led many to call for the State Pension to be raised, believing it will ensure a more comfortable retirement for pensioners, shielding them from financial strain.

What the State Pension and National Living Wage Payments Look Like

As of April 2025, the National Living Wage for workers over 21 will be set at £12.21 per hour, equating to £427.35 for a typical 35-hour workweek. This brings an annual wage of £22,222.20. In comparison, the full New State Pension for the 2025/26 financial year will rise by 4.1%, making the weekly payment £230.25, which amounts to £11,973 annually. Although there is an increase, the gap between the National Living Wage and the State Pension still remains significant.

Government Response to Similar Proposals

This isn’t the first time the topic of pension increases has come under scrutiny. In January 2025, a similar petition calling for the State Pension to be increased to £549 per week for everyone over the age of 60 was rejected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP’s response reiterated that the State Pension and National Living Wage serve different purposes, with the former being a benefit tied to a person’s National Insurance record, while the latter is aimed at protecting low-income workers.

Additionally, the DWP explained that the State Pension system was restructured in 2016 to provide a “simpler, clearer, and sustainable foundation for private saving,” including workplace pensions through Automatic Enrolment. Although the DWP acknowledged that pensioners on low incomes may be eligible for Pension Credit, which acts as a safety net, it reiterated that the State Pension is a pay-as-you-go system funded by current taxpayers.

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The Road Ahead: What Needs to Happen

The petition is gaining traction, but many remain skeptical about the possibility of a significant increase to the State Pension. Although the DWP has firmly rejected similar calls in the past, pensioners, advocates, and supporters of the petition continue to push for change, emphasizing the need for financial security in old age.

Whether the government will heed the growing call for a pension increase to match the National Living Wage remains uncertain. However, this movement has highlighted a growing concern for the well-being of elderly citizens in the UK, signaling that the conversation about pensions and retirement security is far from over.