Imagine a future where every pensioner in the UK receives the same, fair state pension, no matter when they retired. Sounds ideal, right? But here's where it gets controversial: a new petition is calling for the UK Government to scrap the Basic State Pension entirely and move all retirees to the New State Pension, with a significant increase in weekly payments. Could this be the solution to pension inequality, or is it a financial pipe dream? Let’s dive in.
As of November 2025, an online petition (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/728562) is gaining traction, urging the government to abolish the Basic State Pension and transition all 8.1 million pensioners currently on this system to the New State Pension. The Basic State Pension applies to those who retired before April 6, 2016, while the New State Pension covers everyone else. Petition creator Michael Thompson isn’t stopping there—he’s also advocating for the New State Pension to be pegged to a substantial percentage of average earnings. Why? Because, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Britain’s average weekly earnings (AWE) stood at £722 in March 2025. That’s a stark contrast to the current New State Pension of £230.25 per week (£921 every four weeks).
And this is the part most people miss: under the petition’s proposal, approximately 13 million pensioners (https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/new-state-pension-payment-rates-36111131) would see their weekly payments skyrocket to £722, or £2,888 monthly. Yes, you read that right. But how realistic is this, and what would it mean for the UK’s finances? That’s the million-pound question.
The petition, titled ‘Increase New State Pension and pay to all, abolish the old Basic State Pension’ (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/728562), needs 10,000 signatures to secure a written response from the government. It argues that all elderly citizens should be on the New State Pension, with payments reflecting a fair share of average earnings. It also calls for those on the Basic State Pension to receive back payments for the difference between the two systems since the New State Pension’s introduction. For context, the Basic State Pension currently pays £176.45 per week, while the New State Pension offers £230.25.
Here’s where it gets even more intriguing: the State Pension is set for a significant boost in April 2026, thanks to the Triple Lock mechanism. This ensures pensions rise annually by the highest of three measures: average earnings growth (4.8%), CPI inflation (3.8%), or 2.5%. As a result, the full New State Pension will increase to £241.30 per week (£12,547 annually), while the Basic State Pension will rise to £184.90 per week (£9,614 annually). But there’s a catch: this increase pushes pensioners closer to the Personal Allowance income threshold of £12,570, meaning more retirees could face taxes in retirement.
It’s worth noting that the amount of State Pension you receive depends on your National Insurance contributions—typically around 35 years for the full New State Pension, though this can vary if you were ‘contracted out’ (https://www.gov.uk/contracted-out). The upcoming changes will add £574 annually to the New State Pension, leaving just £36 before the tax threshold is breached. With the Personal Allowance frozen until April 2028, this could spell trouble for many pensioners.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to confirm these changes in the Autumn Budget on November 26. But the bigger question remains: is the petition’s proposal feasible, or is it a well-intentioned but impractical idea? What do you think? Should the UK Government equalize pension payments, or is the current system fair enough? Let’s spark a debate—share your thoughts in the comments below!
