Thank you for contacting me about disabled people and the cost of living. I am aware of the campaign by Scope on this issue.
Both the Government and I are committed to ensuring the best possible quality of life for people with disabilities. The Government recognises the additional barriers faced by people with disabilities and has acted to protect the most vulnerable as the cost of living rises.
I strongly welcome the Chancellor’s announcement during the Autumn Statement 2022 that the Government will continue to protect the most vulnerable by increasing benefits by 10.1 per cent for 2023/24, in line with inflation. This means that more than ten million households in receipt of working-age and disability benefits will see an increase in their benefit payments. The average uplift for households receiving Universal Credit will be around £600.
Moreover, disabled people will receive a second Disability Cost-of-Living Payment of £150 in recognition of the extra challenges they face. There will also be additional one-off payments of £900 for the eight million households on means-tested benefits and a second £300 Pensioner Cost-of-Living Payment.
Both DLA and PIP are intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition, or disability, and have been non-means tested since they were introduced.
The Government is taking decisive and unprecedented action to support households as the cost of living increases.
Under the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG), the typical household will pay no more than £2,500 on their energy bill until April 2023. Thereafter, the price cap will rise so that the typical household will pay no more than £3,000 until April 2024. The EPG will save the average household a further £500 and mean they will not have to face energy bills of £6,000 this winter.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.