The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been reluctant to confirm whether State Pension and benefits will be uprated in line with the current inflation rate of 10.1% next April. New DWP boss, Mel Stride, told the House of Commons earlier this week that a decision will not be announced until the Autumn Statement on November 17 at the earliest.
However, when it comes to the £300 pensioner cost of living payment being extended to cover winter 2023/24, the DWP didn’t dismiss the notion outright when the SNP’s Amy Callaghan posed the question on Tuesday. The East Dunbartonshire MP asked if an assessment on the potential merits of extending the financial support for eight million pensioner households has been made.
In a written response, DWP Minister, Laura Trott MP, said that “no decisions have been taken regarding 2023/24”, which could indicate that it may be something the UK Government is considering.
