The \u2018review, reform and means-test the State Pension and scrap tuition fees\u2019 petition has been posted on the Petitions Parliament website<\/a>. It proposes the ending of the State Pension Triple Lock – which determines the annual uprating and reducing entitlements for pensioners on existing private defined benefit schemes with an income of \u00a320,000 or more.<\/p>\n More controversially, Mr Matthews proposes ending the State Pension for those with an annual income of over \u00a350,000. It\u2019s worthwhile remembering that the State Pension is a contributory benefit which is funded by National Insurance<\/a> (NI) Contributions made by people throughout their working life.<\/p>\n READ MORE: New calls for \u2018apology and compensation\u2019 for all Women affected by State Pension age changes<\/a>READ MORE: State Pension age set to rise in April for people born in specific years<\/a><\/p>\n How much State Pension someone receives is calculated by their NI contributions. These deductions are continuous throughout someone\u2019s working life, and only stop when they reach State Pension age.<\/p>\n The petition states: \u201cWe urge the Government to use additional money from these reforms to fund scrapping tuition fees for students.<\/p>\n \u201cCurrent State Pension benefits cost nearly \u00a3150 billion a year – we believe this is unsustainable. We believe those with the broadest shoulders should support an approach which keeps the Chancellor within her borrowing limits and protects priority departments, like the NHS & Defence.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe young people need more help. We believe \u00a350,000 in debt for students is too much.\u201d<\/p>\n At 10,000 signatures of support the petition is entitled to a written response from the UK Government. At 100,000 the Petitions Committee would consider it for debate in Parliament – you can view it in full here.<\/a><\/p>\n Means-testing State Pension<\/p>\n In December, the Department for Work and Pensions<\/a> (DWP) confirmed the Labour Government has no plans to means-test the State Pension.<\/p>\n Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden made the comments in response to a question from Labour backbencher Catherine Fookes during DWP questions in Parliament.<\/p>\n The Monmouthshire MP said: \u201cAt the Conservative party conference, the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury called for the State Pension to be means-tested. This has caused deep concern to pensioners in Monmouthshire who have worked hard all their lives and built up modest savings.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder the Conservative party\u2019s plans, they would risk losing their state pension. Will the Secretary of State confirm that, under this Labour Government, the State Pension will remain available to all?\u201d<\/p>\n Mr McFadden responded: \u201cI am happy to say that what (Ms Fookes) says about means-testing is not the Government\u2019s policy.\u201d<\/p>\n Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group<\/a> for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.<\/p>\n Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_<\/a> for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_DR-MOney.png\")
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