Social Security Benefits: Uprating

(asked on 21st April 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will increase (a) personal independence payment (b) disability living allowance and (c) universal credit in line with inflation.


Answered by
Chloe Smith Portrait
Chloe Smith
This question was answered on 25th April 2022

The Secretary of State is legally required to conduct an annual review of benefit rates to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices. We have used the same approach since April 1987 of up-rating benefits based on the relevant inflation index in the 12 months to the previous September and since 2011 the preferred index has been the Consumer Price index. We will spend over £64 billion this year on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions.

Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance are non means–tested andnon-contributory, thus they are paid regardless of any income or savings and were not subject to the benefits freeze. They are currently paid at between £24.45 and £156.90 a week, tax free.

In Universal Credit the limited capability for work and work-related activity amount is currently £354.28 a month.

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