The annual benefits uprating was approved in Parliament earlier this week, which means that most benefits and State Pension will rise by 10.1 per cent in April. During the debate before the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2023 was passed, the SNP’s David Linden pressed for change within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The SNP work and pensions spokesperson urged the DWP to bring back the weekly uplift that was given to Universal Credit claimants during the coronavirus pandemic to ease the financial pressure caused by lockdowns. He also called for it to be increased to £25 per week and extended to all claimants on legacy benefits along with increasing the benefit cap.
Mr Linden shared new figures from the Child Poverty Action Group which showed that, pre-covid, there were 700,000 more children in poverty than at the start of 2010. He told MPs: “Rising child poverty coupled with a cost of living crisis demands radical action from a British Government who must do more - so much more - to end the scourge of child poverty.
