A petition calling for the state pension to be paid from age 60 has gained over 5,000 signatures. The petition, created by Denver Johnson, calls on the Government to make the change. It also proposes linking payments to the National Living Wage, with a pension equivalent to 48 hours of work at that wage.
Petition closed but still open for signatures
The petition closed this week, but it can still be signed. According to the petition, this would mean a universal state pension of £610.08 a week, or around £31,724 a year. The campaign says the state pension should provide greater financial security for older people.
Government response and parliamentary debate thresholds
Once a petition is published, it is open for six months to gather signatures. If an e-petition receives 10,000 signatures, it will receive a response from the Government. If it receives 100,000 signatures, it may be debated in Parliament.
The petition says the Government is making the state pension age difficult to access by raising the age. It states: “We want reforms to the state pension, so that it is available to all including expatriates, from age 60, and linked to the National Living Wage, for security.”
Current state pension age changes
The state pension age is currently rising in the UK, with more rises expected in the next few years. The age at which millions of people can claim their state pension rose to 67 in April. The current state pension age is 66, but this will increase in stages over the next two years until it reaches 67 for everyone.
The first people to feel the impact are those born between 6 April and 5 May 1960, who will have to wait an extra month before they are paid a pension. The move is designed to reflect longer life expectancy, with many younger people anticipating working into their 70s, although the government is still reviewing any further pension age rises.
