Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason his Department set the assessment period for the first cost of living payment for 2023 from 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023.

The qualifying date is as close to the payment date as possible so that only those who have recently received an eligible means-tested benefit receive a Cost of Living Payment

This means that claimants who received a nil award during the qualifying period would not be entitled to a Cost of Living Payment. Most nil awards will be as a result of increased earnings.

Paying those with financial resources available, which would make them ineligible for means-tested benefits, is not the intention of the Cost of Living Payments which are aimed at those on the lowest incomes.