The decision on whether to raise benefits in line with inflation or earnings will be announced in November.
Work and pensions minister Victoria Prentis confirmed the date as Liz Truss faces mounting pressure to raise benefits in line with inflation. Ms Prentis said Work and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith will consider the latest figures, including average wage figures this week and inflation data next week, before making her decision.
Ms Prentis told Sky News: "She can't do anything until those figures have come and she will then consider how to, if at all, uprate benefits and what figure to choose. She has a very wide discretion to do that. We make a decision and we communicate it usually by the end of November.
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"It's obviously a really worrying time for people on benefits because they know that inflation is rising. And they want us to make this decision as soon as we possibly can so that they have the security of knowing how their benefits will be next year."
In a possible hint of her view on the matter, which has caused tensions in the Conservative Party, the North Oxfordshire MP added: "It's really important that we make sure that we target the government resources at the most vulnerable."
Following Ms Prentis' interview, Conservative former chancellor Sajid Javid warned that benefits "must" be raised in line with inflation rather than earnings, and urged Kwasi Kwarteng to publish economic forecasts as soon as possible.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "People are going through incredibly challenging times. We can all see that in our community. So, I personally believe that benefits must stay in line with inflation.
"I hope when - I think the Government is reviewing this decision, there's no decision - but I hope that decision is a clear one to upgrade with inflation."
Asked whether the Chancellor can afford to wait until November 23 to release data from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, Mr Javid said: "I would definitely encourage him to publish it as soon as he can. I think the sooner the better, as far as the markets are concerned."
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