Thousands sign petition urging government to raise benefits with inflation

Almost 15,000 people have signed a petition submitted to the Treasury calling on the government to increase benefits in line with inflation, and to implement the increase ASAP. 

In May, then Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak insisted that benefits would be uprated in line with September’s consumer price index, which subsequently showed inflation at 10.1%. Some goods, such as dairy products and pasta, have, however, increased by more.

However, later statements, first from ministers in Liz Truss’s government, and more recently during Prime Minister’s Question Time from now Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, suggest the government is no longer committed to ensuring benefits rise in line with price increases on household essentials. 

If the government does not uprate benefits in line with inflation it will be responsible for the biggest permanent real-terms cut to the basic rate of benefits in a single year.

People have already experienced real terms cut to their benefits this year, as payments were only increased by 3% in April 2022, significantly lower than inflation.

Mental health charity Mind, which organised the petition, said it is already seeing the impact on the people it helps who claim benefits. Calls to the National Assocation for Mental Health charities Infoline about the cost-of-living have increased by 40% since last year.

Sophie Corlett, interim CEO of Mind, said: ‘Increasing benefits at least in line with inflation, so those who are on the lowest incomes can afford the absolute basics, is essential.

‘People are on the very edge with their finances right now, but none more so than those who have to rely on the benefits system to get by, many of whom are people with mental health problems.

‘It was only six months ago that Rishi Sunak himself – then Chancellor – reassured us that benefits would be raised in line with inflation.

‘Going back on that assurance should be unthinkable, and yet the UK government has still not committed to increasing benefit rates. The only consideration that should be taking place is how soon they can bring this increase forward.

‘Not increasing benefits in line with inflation will lead to more poverty, and more poverty will lead to increased levels of poor mental health. This increase must happen.

‘Thank you to every single person who agreed with this and signed our petition. The UK government must now listen to every single one of you, and not only increase benefits at least in line with inflation but bring forward that increase as soon as possible.’

Photo by Katt Yukawa