"DWP could scrap Basic State Pension and hand nine million people extra £636 a year instead"

There are 9 million state pensioners on the Basic State Pension. An e-petition has called for the DWP to "abolish the Basic State Pension" in favour of the enhanced New State Pension



There's a rallying cry initiated by a Parliament website petition, urging the new Labour government to "abolish the Basic State Pension" and transfer all current recipients to the more generous New State Pension. Advocates also demand an increase in line with a "good percentage of average earnings".

On April 7, millions of state pensioners are poised for a cash boost due to the Triple Lock's earnings growth condition – a 4.1 per cent increase.

For those on the full New State Pension, this means an extra £9.05 per week, bringing their sum from £221.20 up to £230.25, which totals an annual hike of £921 (£11,900 yearly).

Meanwhile, recipients of the full Basic State Pension will see a lesser weekly bump of £6.95 - from £169.50 to £176.45. This adjustment translates to £361.40 more annually, raising their total yearly income from £8,814 to £9,175.40 by the 2025/26 fiscal period.

If the Basic rate were phased out in favour of the New State Pension, seniors would benefit from an additional £636 per year, or £53.80 more each month, reports Birmingham Live.

To amass qualifying National Insurance (NI) years, individuals either work and pay NI contributions or receive NI credits. While employed, earning over a certain threshold within a tax year is typically necessary to secure these qualifying years.

If you're employed full-time, even on the minimum wage or just a few days a week throughout the year, you're likely to earn a qualifying year. And these qualifying years don't have to be consecutive, as advised by Money Saving Expert - the site from Martin Lewis.

They'd actually be worse-off since they could no longer claim Pension Credit and all of its associated benefits, including the winter heating allowance!