Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the eligibility criteria for the cost of living payments provided as part of the Government's cost of living support package to ensure that Universal Credit recipients who are paid every four weeks are not penalised.

In determining eligibility for the 2022/23 Cost of Living Payments, the eligibility periods were chosen to reflect the nature of the qualifying benefits and have remained simple to ensure these payments can be made to those who qualify quickly and at scale to support millions of people on low incomes.

We recognise that some people will flow on and off benefits, and our policy reflects that. The 2022/23 Cost of Living Payment is being made in two payments to reduce the chance of someone missing out completely.

Eligibility criteria for the 2023/24 Cost of Living Payments will be published in due course.