Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing benefits in line with (a) inflation and (b) the cost of living; and if he will review his Department's processes for recovering social security debt.

State pensions and benefits will increase by 10.1% in April 2023. This is in line with the increase in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2022.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the current exceptionally high cost of living, which is why, in addition to the £37 billion of support we have provided for cost of living pressures in 2022/23, we are acting now to ensure support continues throughout 2023/24. Subject to passage of the necessary legislation, this will include further Cost of Living Payments of up to £900 for households in receipt of qualifying means-tested benefits and £150 for people in receipt of qualifying disability benefits. In addition, eight million pensioner households will receive a further £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment as a top-up to their Winter Fuel Payment.

The Government will also continue to provide support to all households through the Energy Price Guarantee, which caps the price paid for each unit of energy. From April, the typical household will now pay on average £3,000 a year.

With respect to the Department’s processes for recovering social security debt, anyone who is repaying a benefit overpayment and feels they cannot afford the proposed rate of recovery is encouraged to contact the Department to discuss their situation. The Department has a well-established process for working with individuals to support them to manage their debts.