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<p>No such assessment has been carried out.</p><p> </p><p>There is no objective way
of deciding what an adequate level of benefit should be as everyone 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.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
is committed to helping people with the cost of living and providing a safety net
for those that need it. We have injected billions into the welfare system for those
most in need, including increases to the Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit standard
allowances of up to £1040 this financial year, and uplifts to the Local Housing Allowance
rates to cover the lowest 30% of market rents. The Covid Winter Grant Scheme builds
on that support with an additional £170m for local authorities in England, to support
families with children and other vulnerable people, with the cost of food and essential
utilities this winter.</p>
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