The Old Age Pension Act (OAP), 1908, was an altruistic reward for good paupers. It was intended to give dignity to their final years but it wasn’t an entitlement. There were eligibility rules to be met before receiving the OAP. The age eligibility was set at 70 years old when life expectancy was about 50.1 The OAP has transitioned into bribery. Successive governments have endorsed the Triple Lock, 2012, which escalates regardless of the economic situation of the country. OAPs are bribed because they are the only reliable group of voters left in Britain.
OAP as altruism
The 1908 OAP Act endorsed the concept of the deserving poor. Qualifying paupers were paupers because of circumstances not through moral failings.
…..for example, if they had avoided working when able, made themselves poor in order to qualify, had been imprisoned or convicted under the Inebriates Act.2
Failing any of these clauses debarred you from an OAP.
Women lived longer than men in 1908 and were the majority of pensioners. The OAP was set at a low level to placate parliamentary opposition.3 In 1908 workhouses were an ever-present in Britain and the less-eligibility4 criteria was ferociously enforced. Paupers entered workhouses to avoid starving to death. Lloyd-George pivoted the concept of pauperism to such an extent that parliament voted to provide an enhanced standard of living for the very old. This was political altruism. None of those receiving the 1908 OAP were voters and everybody who paid for it were voters. They were voting for the redistribution of wealth because it was the right thing to do.
Since 1908 the OAP has gone through many iterations and is now generous.
OAP as an electoral bribe
Politicians favour those who vote. Convincing voters of their undying love is very important. David Cameron audaciously harnessed the OAP vote. He guaranteed large and continuous increases in the OAP. He captured their vote with the Triple Lock. It was irresponsible, uncosted and reckless. This was entirely irrelevant to him. He wanted to make sure he was in power, permanently.
The Triple Lock This guarantees that the state pension goes up each year in line with either inflation, wage increases or 2.5% – whichever is the highest.5 (my emphasis)
For OAPs, the ‘Triple Lock’ is a quasi-gold mine and a nightmare for governments. Every OAP budget increase isn’t negotiable. Alterations to increases are political suicide because it has ceased to be a benefit and is now an entitlement.
The OAP increased from £107.45 in 2012 to £227.10 in 2025. This is a 111.3% increase.6 General inflation was 45.1% in the same period,7 which underpins the notion that OAPs in Britain are privileged.8 If Child Benefit had increased in line with the OAP their 2025 figure would be £42.9 pw. Or, £16.85 pw more than the current figure. OAPs vote and are richly rewarded.
Conclusion
If you want the benefit system to work for you, make sure you build a visible political constituency.
Notes
1 How has life expectancy changed over time? – Office for National Statistics In 2025 this implies an OAP at 100 years old given that life expectancy is about 80.
3 The 1908 Old-Age Pension Act | Odeboyz’s Blog
4 Workhouses and the Poor from 1834 | Odeboyz’s Blog
5 What is the triple lock and how much is the state pension worth? – BBC News The Chancellor, George Osborne was, of course, aware of the recklessness of the Triple Lock but was trapped by the politics. See Unpicking the triple lock: Why George Osborne’s pensions promise is facing the chop | Money News | Sky News
6 Benefit rates 2012 – including biggest ever cash increase to the basic State Pension as it rises to £107.45 in 2012/13 – GOV.UK see also Benefit and pension rates 2025 to 2026 – GOV.UK
7 Inflation calculator | Bank of England
8 Child benefit in 2012 was £20.30. In 2025 it is £26.05 (for eldest child). This is an increase of 28.3% over 12 years and below general inflation. Is Child Benefit Going Up in 2025? | Weekly Rates Rise to £26.05 and £17.25 from April
Odeboyz's Blog 