Select Committee · Work and Pensions Committee

The cost of living

Status: Closed Opened: 13 Jan 2022 Closed: 17 Apr 2023 9 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

The Committee has held oral evidence sessions on the cost of living in February and March 2022. It is now seeking written evidence on how the Government can support people on Universal Credit, legacy benefits and the state pension through the next year. Read the call for evidence to learn more about the inquiry.

Reports

1 report

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
Second Report - The Cost of Living	HC 129	27 Jul 2022	11	Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items

1 Conclusion Second Report - The Cost of Living Acknowledged

The Committee welcomes the Government’s swift action and range of measures introduced in response to...

The Committee welcomes the Government’s swift action and range of measures introduced in response to the cost of living crisis. It is clear that these will offset some of the increased costs for households living in poverty. However, we have heard very concerning evidence about the impact of the crisis …

Government response. The government acknowledges the impact of the cost of living crisis on specific vulnerable groups and describes its communication efforts to ensure people receive their full benefit entitlements, including the Help for Households campaign and a dedicated online hub.

Department for Work and Pensions

8 Recommendation Second Report - The Cost of Living Acknowledged

The reset of Local Housing Allowance to cover the 30th percentile of rents was a...

The reset of Local Housing Allowance to cover the 30th percentile of rents was a welcome intervention at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the increase has since been eroded by rising housing costs. Some parts of the country are experiencing acute shortages of affordable housing, and we have …

Government response. The government describes measures to improve access to home ownership and states that LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas and are forecast to continue at their current level through to 2025-26, but this will …

Department for Work and Pensions

9 Recommendation Second Report - The Cost of Living Acknowledged

We welcome the decision by the Government to exempt the cost of living payments from...

We welcome the decision by the Government to exempt the cost of living payments from the benefit cap so that those most in need of support can receive it. This decision suggests, however, that the Department knows that the cap is set too low to effectively cover households’ now spiralling …

Government response. The government acknowledges the recommendation for reviewing the benefit cap and states that the Secretary of State is reviewing further advice on this.

Department for Work and Pensions

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions

Date	Witnesses
9 Mar 2022	Aveek Bhattacharya · Social Market Foundation, Jack Monroe, James Heywood · Centre for Policy Studies, Julian Jessop, Mike Brewer · Resolution Foundation, Morgan Vine · Independent Age, Peter Smith · National Energy Action	View ↗
9 Feb 2022	Morgan Wild · Citizens Advice, Peter Matejic · Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Robert Joyce · Institute for Fiscal Studies, Rory Weal · Trussell Trust, Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	View ↗

Correspondence

3 letters

Date	Direction	Title
21 Sep 2022	—	Correspondence with the Secretary of State - 21.9.22
20 Jul 2022	—	Correspondence with Prime Minister and Minister for Welfare Delivery about the …
30 Mar 2022	—	Correspondence to the Pensions Minister about Pension Credit