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Committees

Benefit levels in the UK

Inquiry

In our July 2022 report, The cost of living, we heard evidence which suggested that a root cause of the financial challenges households faced “lay in the fundamental inadequacy of social security support”. We therefore recommended that the Government should “review the adequacy of benefit levels and publish its findings”. The Government responded that it did not intend to review the adequacy of benefit levels, because “there was no objective way of deciding what an adequate level of benefits should be”.

Given the high costs facing households across the UK, we are launching an inquiry into the adequacy of benefit levels in the UK, to help inform current and future Government thinking. We will also look at the relationship between social security and the labour market.

- Watch the British Sign Language version of the report

- Listen to the audio summary of the report

- EasyRead version of the report

- Large print report

This inquiry focussed specifically on working-age benefits; however, other types of benefits might arise.

Read the call for evidence to learn more about the inquiry..

We understand that the issues raised in this work may be sensitive or upsetting and the following organisations may be able to offer support or further information:

Samaritans – General support for everyone. Call 116 123 - 24 hours a day, every day, or email jo@samaritans.org

Mind – for information, advice, and support for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Call 0300 123 3393.

Citizens Advice - For independent, free advice provided by a network of charities online, over the phone and in person on a wide variety of issues including benefits, work, debt, housing, family and immigration. Their Adviceline is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, by calling 0800 144 8848 (England) or 0800 702 2020 (Wales)