Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of universal credit payment levels in the context of (a) food costs, (b) bills and (c) other essential costs.

No assessment has been made. Benefits increased by 6.7% in April 2024, in line with inflation. The Basic and New State Pensions were also uprated by 8.5% in line with earnings, as part of the ‘triple lock.’ We have recently announced a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions will be introduced from April 2025, helping approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year. Much more needs to be done, but this is the first step towards delivering on the manifesto commitment to review Universal Credit. Further details about the review will be set out in due course.