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<p>The Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty
and supporting people on lower incomes. As seen in measures announced by the Chancellor
in the Autumn Statement, the Government have committed to a series of measures to
ensure support for UK citizens. Raising the Universal Credit award by 10.1% to bring
rates in-line with national inflation and ensure claimants are supported.</p><p> </p><p>The
current rates of income-related benefits such as Universal Credit do not represent
a minimum requirement, and are not described as such in legislation or Government
literature. The Government specifies the rates which are applicable to different benefits,
and these may vary according to claimants' circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>There is no
objective way of deciding what an adequate level of benefit should be as every person
has different requirements. Income-related benefit rates are not made up of separate
amounts for specific items of expenditure such as food or fuel charges, and beneficiaries
are free to spend their benefit as they see fit, in the light of their individual
commitments, needs and preferences.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government
understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, which is why,
in addition to the £37 billion of support we have provided for cost-of-living pressures
in 2022/23, we are acting now to ensure support continues throughout 2023/24.</p><p>
</p><p>We will be delivering further cost of living payments, worth up to £900 for
claimants on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households and £150 for those
on disability benefits.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require extra support, the Government
is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable
the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year.
This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total
funding to £2.5 billion. In England this will be delivered through an extension to
the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31
March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials.
It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional
Barnett funding.</p>
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