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Written question asked by Ged Killen (Labour) on Thursday, 14 December 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 December 2017. It was answered by Caroline Dinenage (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 December 2017 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the change in the real terms value of the maximum amount of benefit entitlement as a result of inflation since the introduction of the benefit cap in November 2016.

Answer

The Work and Pensions Secretary of State has a duty to review the Lower Benefit Cap levels once in each Parliament with regard to the national economic situation and any other matters he considers relevant, as set out in the 2016 Welfare Reform and Work Act. New lower and tiered Benefit Cap rates were introduced from November 2016 prior to the election in June 2017. We intend to review the Lower Benefit Cap during this Parliament.

For context, outside of London, around 4 in 10 households have net earnings less than the £20,000 cap level. In London around 4 in 10 households have net earnings of less than the £23,000 cap level.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
119746
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Inflation Social security benefits Uprating
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk