Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to reconsider the cessation of the temporary universal credit £20 uplift in response to the impact on household finances of rising energy prices.

The Government has always been clear that the £20 per week increase to Universal Credit was a temporary measure to support households whose incomes and earnings were affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Now that the economy has reopened, the Government is focusing on supporting people to move into and progress in work

The Government is committed to supporting low-income families with the cost of living including with their energy bills through the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments. The Energy Price Cap is also in place to protect millions of customers from the sudden increases in global gas prices this winter. Despite the rising costs of wholesale energy, the cap still saves 15 million households up to £100 a year.

The Government has also recently announced the £500 million Household Support Fund which will support vulnerable households with essentials over winter as we enter the final stages of recovery from the pandemic.