People claiming Universal Credit could see their payments rise by as much as £52 a month if expected plans are put in place next week.
Benefits, including Universal Credit, and pensions are expected to rise 10 per cent in line with inflation if Rishi Sunak bows to increasing pressure ahead of next week's Autumn Statement. The Prime Minister has made it clear that the Government faces “difficult decisions” to fix the economic turmoil triggered by Liz Truss's doomed spell in No10.
Fears had been mounting that benefits like Universal Credit and state pensions could be slashed in real terms after Tory flip flops on Boris Johnson's vow to hike them in line with inflation in April 2023, the Mirror reports.
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It is understood the Treasury sent initial plans for major measures to the Office for Budget Responsibility on the weekend, so the experts can start drawing up forecasts. These measures are thought to include raising the state pension and benefits by inflation.
For people claiming Universal Credit this would mean estimated rises of £52 per month for joint claimants, where one or both are aged 25 or over, with the amount rising from £525.72 to around £578.29.
Joint claimants who are both under 25 could expect their payments to jump from £416.45 to £480.09 per month, while people on a standard allowance aged 25 or over can expect a rise from £334.91 to £368.40.
Those who are aged under 25 and on a standard allowance could see their payments jump from £265.31 to £291.84.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will set out the Autumn Statement on November 17.
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