Context
The MP raised concerns about the adequacy of disability benefits in light of rising living costs and a hidden £70 million cut to disability benefits.
Question
What recent assessment has her Department made of the adequacy of benefits for disabled people in the context of increases in the cost of living? The increasing cost of living is having a huge impact on so many people, and instead of doing the right thing, this Government buried a £70 million stealth cut to disability benefits in the autumn Budget. For the hundreds of thousands of people impacted, I ask the Minister: exactly how does she expect disabled people to manage their rising energy bills while this Government stand by with woefully inadequate proposals?
Answer from Chloe Smith
The hon. Lady will know that the personal independence payment is aimed at providing assistance to disabled people with extra costs. As the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), has just outlined, alongside the £9 billion energy bills rebate announced on 3 February the Government are providing £12 billion of support over this financial year and next to ease cost of living pressures, with help targeted at working families, low-income households, and the most vulnerable. I am afraid the hon. Lady has simply misread things. What she is referring to in the spending review is our intention to create extra support for the most severely disabled.
Not addressed: The MP asked about how disabled people will manage rising energy bills with recent budget cuts, but the response did not address this specifically.
How: Serial Misreading
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