Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the cumulative impact of (a) benefits not increasing in line with the Consumer Price Index, (b) the reduction in Universal Credit in October 2021 and (c) the rise in living costs on the living standards of households in receipt of Universal Credit.

For the past 35 years benefits have been increased by the relevant price index for the 12 months to September and that convention was followed for 2022/23 and benefits were increased by 3.1%.

The Government has always been clear that the £20 increase to Universal Credit was a temporary measure to support those households most affected by the economic shock of Covid-19.

The Government understands the current cost of living pressures many are facing and has taken action to support and help families with a total package worth £37 billion in 2022-23. This includes the the £400 being paid to all domestic electricity customer millions of the lowest income households will get £1,200 of one-off support in total this year to help with the cost of living.

The Energy Bills Support Scheme has been doubled to a one-off £400 grant, and not recovered in future years. Energy suppliers will deliver this support to households with a domestic electricity meter over six months from October. This support is in addition to the £150 Council Tax rebate for households in England in Council Tax bands A-D, which was announced in February

Over 8 million households across the UK in receipt of eligible means tested benefits have started to receive a one-off Cost of Living Payment of £650, paid in two instalments from 14^th of July.