DWP to break silence over 'means-testing' state pension
The Department for Work and Pensions is set to offer a written statement amid calls to uplift the state pension. After over 10,000 backed a petition on the Parliamentary website, the DWP is set to offer a response amid the growing calls.
"We demand the government stop means testing pensioners, that we think is a degrading and humiliating practice. We also think the state pension should be increased," the petition has advised. "We believe that for too long, our elderly have been portrayed by media as merely burdens on the NHS and the modern welfare state."
The petition went on, adding: "We think that the elderly should be entitled to a decent pension and a comfortable lifestyle as many will have already paid into the system for longer than the rest of the population by now. We believe any Government should have a responsibility toward our nation's elderly people.
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"In the Victorian era, retirement was often only an option for those who had accrued wealth. Are we regressing back to those Dickensian times?" The petition continued, adding: "We believe means testing is an abhorrent practice that is demeaning and intrusive."
The government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures and at 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. Under the earnings growth element of the Triple Lock (4.1%), people on the full New State Pension will see payments rise by £9.05 per week from £221.20 to £230.25 and as the payment is typically made every four weeks this amounts to £921.
This will see annual payments rise by £473.60 from £11,502 to £11,973 over the 2025/26 financial year. And someone on the full Basic State Pension will see weekly payments rise by £6.95 per week from £169.50 to £176.45, or £705.80 every four-week payment period.