Quintin Jardine's blog

Someone I know very well has received a letter from DWP, advising that as he is about to hit 80, his State Pension will be increased by 25p a week. No kidding, 25 whole p. I bought a bottle of water on a flight last night. My friend would have needed to save his increase for a year to pay for it.

Given that the average UK life expectancy is 80, statistically it doesn’t actually cost anything. Nevertheless within DWP there is a branch, with a manager, (he signed the letter) employed to advise the lucky winners of their good fortune. Seems to me it would be cheaper just to give the over-80s an extra fiver week without bothering to tell them.