Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department is making a cost of living payment to people living in a residential care home settings.

We have kept the rules for the Cost-of-Living payments as simple as possible. This includes paying a flat rate to those in receipt of means-tested benefits regardless of household circumstance and paying the Disability Cost of Living Payment to those being paid the relevant benefit on the qualifying date. This was to ensure that we were able to develop the processes to deliver these payments quickly to those who most need the help with increased inflation. This includes those being paid a benefit where they were in a resident care home.