The Government has issued a response after more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for a major change to the state pension. The petition, which is now closed, demanded that the personal allowance for pensioners be doubled.
Petition Details
The petition, titled 'Introduce new tax code for state pensioners with double the personal allowance', was launched on October 1, 2025. It garnered 119,000 signatures. The petition argued that pensioners with small private or workplace pensions are being taxed unfairly and called for a higher tax-exempt limit for state pensioners, while ensuring wealthier pensioners still pay tax.
Government Response
After reaching 10,000 signatures, the Government responded on December 19, 2025, stating it had no plans to change the personal allowance for pensioners. A statement read: "The State Pension is the foundation of support for pensioners. The Government is committed to a fair tax system but doubling the Personal Allowance for pensioners would be untargeted and costly."
The Government highlighted its commitment to the Triple Lock, which will increase the basic and new State Pension by 4.8% next April, boosting pensioner incomes by up to £575 a year. It also noted that the Personal Allowance is already the highest among G7 countries and that doubling it would disproportionately benefit higher-income pensioners.
Parliamentary Debate
After the petition reached 100,000 signatures, the Government debated the topic in Parliament. During the debate, the Government again ruled out the specific proposal. The Minister responding said that while the triple lock remains a priority, the government faces significant fiscal pressures and competing needs, such as rescuing the NHS.
However, the Government confirmed administrative reforms to simplify the tax process for pensioners from 2027-28. The debate concluded with the House acknowledging the petition and public concerns, though no formal vote was held.
