Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Benefits Recipients: Effect of Inflation

Monday 6 June 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK Government announced a new 15 billion support package for households struggling with rising prices, bringing the total cost of living support to 37 billion.
  • The Government highlighted that increasing the national living wage and adjusting the taper rate to retain more earnings are key measures to improve people's prosperity.
  • The advance payment for universal credit is designed to spread entitlement over 13 monthly payments or, optionally, over 25 payments over two years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex Cunningham Lab
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Inflation has led to increased living costs for many, particularly those relying on social security. The questioner is concerned about the effects of inflation and seeks an assessment from the government.

Question

What assessment has she made of the effect of inflation on households in receipt of social security benefits? I am concerned that families struggling with rising prices need a thorough understanding of how their financial situation is being affected by recent changes.

Answer from Therese Coffey

The right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North will be aware that, in recognition of the cost of living challenge, we have announced a new £15 billion support package that is targeted at those who are most in need, bringing the total cost of living support to £37 billion. The extra support should cover every household, but is particularly targeted at helping more than 8 million households in receipt of means-tested benefits.

Answered
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Q2 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The £20 cut to universal credit has increased the reliance on food banks, with local organisations reporting soaring demand for food parcels due to financial struggles.

Question

I must say to the Secretary of State that the £20 cut to universal credit seems even meaner now. Even the package of measures that she mentioned is not stopping what the Trussell Trust has announced: an increasing number of people turning up to get food parcels. In my own constituency, Unity in Community and St John's church, Bransholme are seeing soaring demand for food packages while their stocks are diminishing. When will the Secretary of State set benefits at a level that means that people can pay for everyday essentials?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Government have always been clear that getting into work and getting on in work is an important way to lift people's prosperity. That is why we lifted the national living wage from April; why last December we quickly put in place a change in the taper rate so that people keep more of what they earn, while still getting support and benefits.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an increase to benefits was not addressed with concrete details.

How: Working On This, Under Review

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Q3 Alex Cunningham Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Many families in the Tees Valley are affected by deductions from universal credit, impacting their ability to afford basic necessities. The questioner seeks an end to this policy.

Question

As well as being impacted by the soaring cost of living, two thirds of the near 50,000 children in the Tees valley and families on universal credit are affected by the punitive impact of deductions. That is because most of them are paying back the Department for Work and Pensions advance that is needed to survive the five-week wait for their first universal credit payment. Will she change this cruel policy now?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The hon. Gentleman forgets that the advance is there to spread the payment that people are entitled to over a year into 13 payments. We have also enabled people in effect to have that payment spread over two years, with 25 payments.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an end to the policy was not addressed with concrete details.

How: Nothing Else

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Q4 Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport
NHS Social Care
Context

Unpaid carers are among those most affected by rising living costs and the questioner seeks to reflect their hard work through an increase in carers allowance.

Question

Among those worst impacted by the cost of living rising is the army of unpaid carers who do so much not only to support their friends and loved ones but to ease the pressure on the NHS. This is Carers Week; what thought has she given to increasing unpaid carers allowance to support them?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The whole House would unite with my hon. Friend in thanking carers, and I am sure we all have lived experiences as well. Carers allowance is not intended to be a replacement salary or anything like that; it is a contribution, and a modest contribution, I accept.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an increase in carers allowance was not addressed with concrete details.

How: Under Review

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