The head of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has not ruled out several disability benefits becoming means-tested.
Mel Stride, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and boss of the DWP faced questions in the House of Commons regarding State Pension annual uprating, cost of living support payments, Pension Credit take-up and benefits.
He reiterated information already available to the public and expressed several times how a decision on the State Pension and benefits uprating will not be announced before the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivers his Autumn Statement to Parliament on November 17.
READ MORE: DWP urging a million households to claim extra £65 a week
However, one question struck a chord with those who claim disability benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance for Children, Attendance Allowance and even Carer’s Allowance which centres around these being means tested.
Shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, Jonathan Ashworth, said: "Can he give a categorical assurance that, in the Autumn Statement, he will rule out means-testing Personal Independence Payments, Carer’s Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance for Children?”
"The Prime Minister tells us that we do not need a general election because the 2019 manifesto gives him and the Conservative party a mandate. Given that that manifesto committed to the Triple Lock, why can he not give pensioners the reassurance that they deserve?”
Mr Stride didn't offer a direct response but did not rule out that the benefits could become means-tested, the Daily Star reported. Replying to Mr Ashworth, he said: "The right hon. Gentleman is inviting me, in a whole host of areas, to break with what has been a very long-standing and quite correct convention that Ministers simply do not provide a running commentary about what may or may not be in a major fiscal event.
"However, he has my personal assurance that when and as it is appropriate to pass him information of that kind, he will be the first to know."
The Autumn Budget is scheduled to take place on November 17.
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