(Image: Aaron Chown)
A new campaign is calling for the State Pension to be increased to £14,500 a year, arguing that older people should receive at least as much as the minimum wage paid to the youngest workers.
The petition, created by Richard Sobey MBE, says the current full New State Pension of £12,564 is not enough to provide what it describes as a minimum standard of living for people aged 66 and over.
It calls for the minimum State Pension to be set at £14,500 – an increase of £1,936 a year.
The campaign compares the current pension with the wages available to younger workers.
According to the petition, even the National Minimum Wage for under-18s works out at £14,560 a year, based on a 35-hour week and 52 weeks of work.
It states: “My full New State Pension is only £12,564 after working for a lifetime.”
The petition adds: “I believe for 65+ a minimum UK standard of living is £14,500 and the State Pension should match this.”
It also argues that the UK compares poorly with other European countries when it comes to State Pension provision.
The petition states: “The full New State Pension lags well behind those in Europe (UK only 13th of 28).”
It goes on to highlight the difference between pension payments and minimum wage rates for younger workers.
“Even an apprentice, or under 18 worker, is now legislated to earn a salary of at least £14,560.”
The campaign argues that people who have spent decades paying National Insurance and taxes should receive a higher retirement income.
“For those who have worked and paid NI and taxes all their lives, we believe a full State Pension of £12,564 is just not fair and equitable and the State Pension should be at least the £14,500 necessary for a minimum standard of living for retirees.”
Thousands back call for DWP State Pension from age 60 and increase to £610.08 a week https://t.co/6nymUfSMI0
— The Northern Echo (@TheNorthernEcho) August 10, 2026
How many people need to sign the petition?
The petition was published on 28 July 2026. It needs 10,000 signatures to receive a Government response and 100,000 signatures for it to be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition will remain open until 28 January 2027 and it can be signed here.
The campaign's comparison also highlights the different minimum wage rates for younger workers, with the petition stating that the National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds works out at £19,747 a year on the same 35-hour-week basis.
The petition does not itself change State Pension rates, and reaching 100,000 signatures would mean the issue is considered for debate rather than guaranteeing a change in policy.
For those receiving the full New State Pension, the campaign is effectively calling for an annual increase of almost £2,000.
The petition's creator argues that this would bring retirement income closer to the level needed for what he considers a minimum standard of living.
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What does the petition want?
The proposal is straightforward: the full State Pension should be increased to £14,500 a year.
That would put it above the petition's cited £14,560 annual equivalent for under-18 minimum wage, although the campaign describes £14,500 as the minimum standard of living it believes should apply to retirees.
The petition will remain open for signatures until 28 January 2027.