DWP £427.35 Each Week: Millions of pensioners in the UK are struggling to make ends meet. Campaigner Ken Marshall has recently proposed that the New State Pension should be increased from £11,502 a year to £22,000 a year, aligning it with what a person working 35 hours a week on the National Living Wage (NLW) would earn.
His proposal has sparked a major debate on fairness and dignity for the elderly. In this article, let’s break down what this proposal means, how it compares to current pension rates, and what the Government says about it.
What Is Ken Marshall Proposing?
Ken Marshall suggests that all pensioners should receive at least £427.35 per week, which equals £22,000 a year, similar to someone earning the National Living Wage (NLW) for a 35-hour working week. His argument is simple — pensioners have contributed to society for decades, and it is unfair that many are now forced to live on much less than a working person earns.
He calls the gap between the current State Pension and NLW “distressing”, saying that senior citizens deserve respect and a decent quality of life in their retirement.
The Current State Pension Rates for 2025/26
From April 7, 2025, the New State Pension is set to rise by 4.1%, but still falls far short of Ken Marshall’s proposed amount. Here’s how the numbers stack up:
- Weekly Payment: £230.25 (up from £221.20)
- Four-weekly Payment: £921 (up from £884.80)
- Annual Payment: £11,973 (up from £11,502)
For those on the Basic State Pension:
- Weekly Payment: £176.45 (up from £169.50)
- Annual Payment: £9,175 (up from £8,814)
Even after the increase, State Pension recipients will receive nearly half of what a person on the National Living Wage would earn annually.
National Living Wage (NLW) for 2025/26: The Comparison
From April 2025, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over will be:
- £12.21 per hour
- £427.35 for a 35-hour working week
- £1,851.85 per month
- £22,222.20 per year
When you compare this to the State Pension, pensioners are left with about £10,000 less annually than working individuals earning minimum wage. Ken Marshall and his supporters argue that this is a serious inequality that must be addressed to prevent elderly poverty.
What the Government Says About the Proposal
Although the petition calling for the State Pension to match the National Living Wage is gaining attention, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already rejected similar proposals. Here’s why:
- Different Purposes: The Government says State Pension and National Living Wage serve different purposes. While NLW supports low-paid workers, the State Pension is a benefit, not a wage.
- Legal Status: Since the 1946 National Insurance Act, the State Pension has been classified as a benefit, meaning it’s funded by current taxpayers in a pay-as-you-go system.
- Automatic Enrolment: DWP points out that many people also have private pensions through Automatic Enrolment, which together with the State Pension forms the retirement income.
- Fiscal Concerns: The State Pension is a huge part of government spending, costing £138 billion in 2024/25, around 5.2% of GDP.
Future Increases in State Pension: What to Expect?
Though the Labour Government has promised to uphold the Triple Lock — ensuring pensions rise by inflation, wages, or 2.5% (whichever is higher) — projected increases remain modest:
- 2026/27: 2.5%
- 2027/28: 2.5%
- 2028/29: 2.5%
- 2029/30: 2.5%
These increases will not bridge the gap between the State Pension and National Living Wage, leaving pensioners with less than what working individuals receive.
What Happens If the Petition Gains Support?
The petition, titled “Pay pensioners the equivalent of the living wage of a 35-hour week”, is gathering signatures on the UK Parliament website. If it reaches:
- 10,000 signatures: The Government must issue a formal response.
- 100,000 signatures: It will be considered for debate in Parliament.
If enough people back this cause, it could force a discussion about pensioner poverty and fairness in Parliament.
The debate about increasing the State Pension to match the National Living Wage is about more than just numbers — it’s about how a society treats its elders. Ken Marshall’s proposal highlights an important issue: should pensioners who built the country be left struggling?
While the Government says the pension system is designed differently from wages, many argue that basic dignity in old age should not be up for debate. Whether or not this proposal becomes law, it has already started an essential conversation about fairness, respect, and support for the elderly.
FAQ
What is Ken Marshall’s pension proposal?
Ken Marshall is proposing that the UK State Pension should be increased to £22,000 per year, which equals £427.35 per week. This would match the earnings of a person working 35 hours a week on the National Living Wage.
How much will the UK State Pension be in 2025/26?
From April 2025, the New State Pension will be £230.25 per week, totaling about £11,973 per year. The Basic State Pension will rise to £176.45 per week, or about £9,175 per year.
Why is the Government against increasing the State Pension to match the National Living Wage?
The Government argues that the State Pension and National Living Wage serve different purposes. The pension is a benefit, not a wage, funded by taxpayers. Raising it to match the National Living Wage would be too costly and require higher taxes.
What is the Triple Lock and how does it affect pensions?
The Triple Lock ensures that the State Pension increases every year by the highest of inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5%. This system is designed to protect pensioners’ income from falling behind the cost of living.
How can I support Ken Marshall’s pension campaign?
You can support the campaign by signing the petition titled ‘Pay pensioners the equivalent of the living wage of a 35-hour week’ on the UK Parliament website. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
Why do the older pensioners need less to live on than the pensioners who are on the new pension system, it’s not the fault of them that they were born earlier they still put their money into the system and have the same bills and food to pay for. Because of the government it is now a two tier system and the old ones don’t need as much as the younger ones it seems.
Please give us what we are due a fair benefit to survive is all we ask don’t be the same as they Tory bastards
A single pension is only £230 per week the £427 is for a couple. Just shows how we value the elderly
What happened to the contributions I made to my pension during my working life which were meant to go to a pot that would never be touched and used to pay for my pension in my retirement .The government robbed that pot years ago and are now saying that the working people are paying for my pension and it’s now called a benefit ! If all my contributions had been saved for my retirement then we should not be in this state now and the payment should be a lot higher than we are recieving.
If all money we pensioners have paid into the system for our PENSION had been banked for us we’d be millionaires now. STOP GREEDY M.P.s,AND COUNCILLORS GETTING EXHORBITANT WAGES AND ALLOWANCES WAY OUT OF LINE WITH CURRENT PENSIONS AND LIVING WAGES.
I emailed my MP when they added the word “ benefit” to the pension as I maintain that the state pension was an agreement between the governments of the day the same as a private pension. I was told it didn’t mean it was a state “ benefit” it was just a name. That was a Tory minister btw! I think if it is to become a state benefit then it has to have new people starting their working life and NI contributions to be advised as such and they can make other arrangements so they have a decent pension in retirement.
They can’t just state it now for those of us that were legally bound by another set of regs. that stated the terms back when we started, much as they’d like to. I’d go to court on it personally.
I may still have the email in my files as I was very angry at the sneaky change in terminology so thought I’d get clarification.
Well apparently what you’ve paid into the system isn’t for you it’s for others . What people befor you had paid is relevant to you getting paid . I think it’s nuts you can google it and it will explain to you better . I would of rather kept my money I’d paid in . And I’m on the low rate pension which is nuts I’ve paid the same as everyone else into the pot.
why are pensioners always targeted we worked and payed into our pension pots to give us a good life when we retire ! A lot of people don’t even get to pension age ! Why are we getting less than immigrants! The government conservatives or Labour are not interested in the people just line their own pockets ! Rant over !
I agree with Ken Pensioners should get Payments equal to what working people get. I am a 68 year old Lady with No savings. I cannot get Pension Credit because my state Pension is £2.50 over the Limit for PC this is also affecting alot of other State Pensioners. My Rent is rising £25.89 in April meaning I will be paying £155 per week Rent from the £230.25 I will get in April which will leave me £75 to Pay my Electric which has also gone up £3.50 To £33.50 and my water is also going up and Food constantly rising. Despite having two disabilities as well as Artherititis. I cannot get any other Benefits as I do Not need a carer. But I am a single lady of 38 years which I enjoy. But should Not be made to struggle. I am also Waspi women.
What has happened to our pension that we should of had if we retired at 60 instead of of 66 ,in my reckoning 6 years at £800 a month works out you owe us £57000 , and the government can’t even sort that out they want to give us £3000 when I have paid £57000 ,maths is wrong somewhere
Send all the people that comes over on there little boats and send them all back to were the came they everything on a plate .and the young generation should go to work or give them natural service it might do them some good but I doubt it .and the MP’s don’t need a pay rise as they do nowt but play on there phones they should give them a good example as the young ones are not allowed them phones at school or
Is that every two weeks
What about the old state pensioners
I worked for 54 years very little time out if I couldn’t do my own job i did something else anything to get money in the more i earned the more i paid into the system now because I paid more in i can’t get anything but my pension as I am a few pounds over the limit to claim any other so-called benefits typically UK lunacy illegals get everything pensioners get siit on
I worked all my life I believe if they got rid of the house of lords made people if they work in this country you should pay taxes. I bet all of the mps have their wages payed into off shore bank accounts that is why none of them are complaing about the tax people are going to have pay. As the government work for the people we pay their wages so as their bosses we should be able to see there p. 60 see what they earn and how much tax they pay and how much ni they pay won’t happen they should be done for money laundering rant over could go on for hours but what is the point.