The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has responded to calls for an increase to the Basic State Pension weekly payment rate so that it matches the New State Pension.
It came after an online petition received more than 14,000 signatures. In its response, DWP said it is “not possible to make direct, like-for-like comparisons” between payment amounts under the pre-2016 State pension system and the New State Pension.
The latest UK Government figures show there are now 12.6 million people across Great Britain receiving State Pension payments. Of that overall total, there are 9.7million older people set to receive Basic State Pension payments of up to £156.20 per week, following the annual uprating on April 10, compared to 2.9 million getting the New State Pension, which is now worth up to £203.85 each week.
