A campaign calling for a £14,500 UK State Pension has been rejected by the government after more than 23,000 people signed a petition arguing that current payments do not provide an adequate retirement income.
Campaigners Compare State Pension With Minimum Wage Levels
According to East Anglian Daily Times, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rejected a petition that called for the full New State Pension to rise to £14,500, a figure campaigners say represents a minimum standard of living for retirees.
The campaign was led by Mike Sobey, who argued that the current annual pension amount does not reflect the earnings available to younger workers under updated wage rules.
Sobey says: “The National Living Wage age for 21+ is now £23,132 (35 hour week; 52 week year). Even the National Minimum Wage for under 18’s is £14,560 (same basis). My full New State Pension is only £12,564 after working for a lifetime.”
He says: “I believe for 65+ a minimum UK standard of living is £14,500 and the State Pension should match this.”
Government Says Pension And Wage Systems Serve Different Roles
The government responded to the petition by stating that the State Pension and the National Minimum Wage are designed for different purposes.
The Government said: “The State Pension and the National Minimum Wage have different purposes, and a direct comparison cannot be drawn.”
The response reflects the government’s position that pension payments and employment wages operate under separate systems with different objectives.
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Petition Highlights Wider Debate Over Retirement Income
Sobey also compared the UK State Pension with pension levels in other European countries, arguing that British retirees receive less support than some international counterparts.
Sobey says: “The full New State Pension lags well behind those in Europe (UK only 13th of 28). Even an apprentice, or under 18 worker, is now legislated to earn a salary of at least £14,560. For 18 to 20 year old workers this National Minimum Wage equates to £19,747 per annum.”
He adds: “For those who have worked and paid NI and taxes all their lives, we believe a full State Pension of £12,564 is just not fair and equitable and the State Pension should be at least the £14,500 necessary for a minimum standard of living for retirees.”
The petition has added to ongoing discussions about retirement finances, inflation pressures, and the level of income older people need to meet everyday costs.
The campaign’s petition attracted more than 23,000 signatures before receiving the government response rejecting the request for a £14,500 State Pension.
