'Pension would need 63% rise to match minimum wage'

Matching the social security pension to a full-time minimum wage would represent a 63% increase, according to deputy Lyndsay Feltham

States pensions would need to rise by 63% in order to match a full-time minimum wage, the social security minister has said.

Responding to a written question, deputy Lyndsay Feltham said the full rate of the social security pension would need to increase to £466 per week - up £179 - to be equivalent to the income of someone working 40 hours per week at £11.64 per hour.

She said that would be an increase of 63% in the value of the social security pension.

Feltham said that in order to meet the increase, working age people would have to contribute more than £156m more to the pension fund each year.