Overview

• The Department for Work and Pensions formally ruled out lowering the State Pension age to 60 or pegging payments to 48 hours at the National Living Wage, rejecting the £586-a-week proposal.
• The petition, created by Denver Johnson, proposes a 'Universal State Pension' worth about £30,476 a year, linked to £12.21-per-hour National Living Wage calculations.
• Government messaging highlights the triple lock protection, with media forecasts pointing to a roughly 4.7% rise from April that would take the full New State Pension to about £241.05 a week, subject to confirmation at the Autumn Budget on 26 November.
• Ministers point to the newly launched Pensions Commission to review the system and to targeted support such as Pension Credit for low-income retirees.
• Officials also reference wider help for pensioners, including Winter Fuel Payments for those over 66 with qualifying incomes and other support like the Warm Home Discount and Housing Benefit.