Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to increase the qualifying period for future cost of living payments to help fluctuating earners; and if he will make it his policy to backdate cost of living payments for fluctuating earners who did not qualify for these payments due to usually high income in the original qualifying period.

In determining eligibility for 2022/23 Cost of Living Payments, the qualifying periods have been chosen to reflect the nature of the passporting benefits and have remained simple to ensure these payments can be made to those who qualify and at scale to support millions of people on low incomes. We have no plans to consider making backdated payments for those who have fluctuating earnings and did not qualify for payments due to unusually high income in the original qualifying period.

Qualifying periods related to the 23/24 cost of living payments will be announced in due course.