Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to increase the value in real terms of social security income.
The increase in benefits is linked to the rate of inflation in September 2021 which is published in October. This is the latest figure that the Secretary of State can use to allow sufficient time for the required legislative and operational changes before new rates can be introduced at the start of the new financial year. Benefits and pensions will rise by 3.1% in April.