Working-age Social Security Benefits Four-year Freeze
2020-03-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The benefit freeze on working-age social security benefits will end next month.
What assessment has the Department made of the effect of the four-year freeze in working-age social security benefits on levels of poverty? A 1.7% increase in working age benefits does not make up for the damage caused by the four-year freeze; affected benefits and tax credits will be about 6% lower in 2020-21. If austerity was really over, the UK Government would be making up the shortfall.
As I have just said, the Government have already announced that working age benefits will rise in line with inflation next month. As the hon. Lady will know, the Secretary of State has a statutory obligation each autumn to conduct a review of pension and benefit rates for the following year. This review will begin in October for implementation in the following April.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy