The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has rejected a call from a Scottish Liberal Democrat MP to bring forward all cost of living payments to the start of April. Payments of £900, £150 and £300 for part of the UK Government’s £37 billion package of support aimed at helping households through the cost of living crisis during 2023/24.
During the Second Reading of the Social Security (Additional Payments) (No.2) Bill on Monday, Wendy Chamberlain proposed an amendment to the Bill, on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Party, which would see all eligible claimants receive their payments “no later than 1 April 2023”. The North East Fife MP told the House of Commons: “Additional support for struggling families is much welcomed, and I am pretty sure that no one in the Committee would oppose the provision of more help through the Bill.
“What my amendment seeks to do is ensure that those struggling families receive that support now, rather than having to wait. It has been a long cold winter, and we are expecting another cold snap this week, so it certainly is not over yet.”
