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Written question asked by Rachael Maskell (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 March 2022. It was answered by Simon Clarke (Conservative) on Tuesday, 15 March 2022 on behalf of the Treasury.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that people in receipt of universal credit or legacy benefits will receive an additional uplift in the Spring Statement 2022 as a result of the recent increase in the cost of living.

Answer

As part of the Government’s statutory annual review of benefits, Universal Credit and a number of other benefits will be uprated in line with September’s CPI of 3.1% in April.

We are additionally providing support worth over £20 billion across this financial year and next that will help families with the cost of living. This includes cutting the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and increasing Universal Credit work allowances by £500 p.a. to make work pay. This change means that 1.9m households will on average keep around an extra £1,000 on an annual basis. We have frozen alcohol and fuel duties to keep costs down, and provided a £9.1 billion package announced in February 2022 to help households with rising energy bills. On top of this, we are increasing the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50 an hour in April 2022 which will benefit more than 2 million workers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
136598
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Social security benefits Uprating Cost of living
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk