The Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, Sir Stephen Timms MP, has said that more cost of living payments will be needed in 2024 to help millions of people on a low income cope with the ongoing economic crisis. The East Ham Labour MP pressed Employment Minister Guy Opperman on when the UK Government plans to reveal when it will make a decision about extending cost of living payments into next year.
Mr Opperman said it was “monumentally above my pay grade” to announce when a decision would be made to extend the support, but suggested it could be announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Autumn Statement, due to be made in November.
The former Pensions Minister raised the question during a recent debate in the House of Commons on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spending. He also warned MPs that unless there is another “full uprating” of State Pension and benefits next year, food bank usage will continue to rise.
