PIP rate rise

Wibbles

I believe that PIP rates are due to rise with CPI next April ?

It is supposed to be written in Government rules  (unlike "normal" benefits) and cannot be changed

Could someone please confirm this ?

poppy123456

The benefits increase for next year will not be announced until end of October.

Wibbles

poppy123456 said:

The benefits increase for next year will not be announced until end of October.

The rules are supposed to be hard written (unchangable) legislation - but where is it ?

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/september/government-announces-benefits-will-not-rise-inflation-until-april-2023 appears to query whether the government WILL follow the rules

poppy123456

PIP will increase by the rate of inflation. For other benefits, the announcement won't be made until tomorrow. There's another thread regarding this here. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/96953/annual-benefit-increase#latest

racyguy

Wibbles said:

poppy123456 said:

The benefits increase for next year will not be announced until end of October.

The rules are supposed to be hard written (unchangable) legislation - but where is it ?

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/september/government-announces-benefits-will-not-rise-inflation-until-april-2023 appears to query whether the government WILL follow the rules

Nothing is certain anymore. You could well find that at best benefits rise by 5% (increase in wages) including the State Pension. 
It is now 'open season' for the government to cull benefit increases which also includes the State pension.
Instead of cuts I now envisage freezing all benefits for at least a year and increasing the State pension by 5%.
Hope that I am wrong but that is what is being suggested in Parliament at the moment as told to me by my MP who popped round to see me last night. (I am a long time staunch Conservative Party member).

Wibbles

racyguy said:

Wibbles said:

poppy123456 said:

The benefits increase for next year will not be announced until end of October.

The rules are supposed to be hard written (unchangable) legislation - but where is it ?

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/september/government-announces-benefits-will-not-rise-inflation-until-april-2023 appears to query whether the government WILL follow the rules

It is now 'open season' for the government to cull benefit increases which also includes the State pension.
Instead of cuts I now envisage freezing all benefits for at least a year and increasing the State pension by 5%.

Except for PIP

calcotti

woodbine said:

poppy123456 said:

PIP will increase by the rate of inflation. For other benefits, the announcement won't be made until tomorrow. There's another thread regarding this here. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/96953/annual-benefit-increase#latest

As I understand it no announcements will be made until 31/10

..at the earliest. Rates are not usually confirmed until some time in November.

bg844

Announcements with significance like this one should already be planned and announced on the day. They’ve had a long time to prepare and it’s quite poor to not have a decision out in the open yet, another reason why Truss is a fool.

calcotti

bg844 said:

Announcements with significance like this one should already be planned and announced on the day. They’ve had a long time to prepare and it’s quite poor to not have a decision out in the open yet, another reason why Truss is a fool.

As already commented, annual changes in benefits rates are usually announced in November. I think it unlikely that they have yet decided on what changes to make.

bg844

As already commented, annual changes in benefits rates are usually announced in November. I think it unlikely that they have yet decided on what changes to make.

Noted although in a CoL ‘crisis’ I do think certainty is needed. I’m one of the lucky ones who can afford things others can not and it’s very sad indeed.

poppy123456

woodbine said:

poppy123456 said:

PIP will increase by the rate of inflation. For other benefits, the announcement won't be made until tomorrow. There's another thread regarding this here. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/96953/annual-benefit-increase#latest

As I understand it no announcements will be made until 31/10

Thanks. That's what i originally thought until i read that other thread.

calcotti

The legislative basis is here
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/5/section/150
The Secretary of State must review benefit rates in “order to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices obtaining in Great Britain estimated in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks fit”. 

‘Such manner’ gives the SoS considerable discretionary power. You will recall that benefits were frozen for a number of years under Cameron/Osborne.

Certain benefits must be increased at least in line with inflation - these are disability benefits and carers allowance. Haven’t managed to identify the bit of legislation that prescribes that.

commentary by IFS today observes that even if benefits were increased by 10% they would still be below the real terms levels of 2010 as a result of government policy over the last 12 years
https://ifs.org.uk/articles/even-inflation-uprating-benefits-next-year-are-on-course-to-be-6-below-their-pre-pandemic
IFS also reminds us that lower income households experience inflation that is generally higher than the headline rates

Wibbles

calcotti said:

The legislative basis is here
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/5/section/150
The Secretary of State must review benefit rates in “order to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices obtaining in Great Britain estimated in such manner as the Secretary of State thinks fit”. 

‘Such manner’ gives the SoS considerable discretionary power. You will recall that benefits were frozen for a number of years under Cameron/Osborne.

Certain benefits must be increased at least in line with inflation - these are disability benefits and carers allowance. Haven’t managed to identify the bit of legislation that prescribes that.

commentary by IFS today observes that even if benefits were increased by 10% they would still be below the real terms levels of 2010 as a result of government policy over the last 12 years
https://ifs.org.uk/articles/even-inflation-uprating-benefits-next-year-are-on-course-to-be-6-below-their-pre-pandemic
IFS also reminds us that lower income households experience inflation that is generally higher than the headline rates

There is legal protection for disability benefits such as disability living allowance, personal independence payment, and attendance allowance being increased annually by inflation.

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2022/october/benefits-must-rise-inflation-says-dr-uk
No mention of CA !!

Wibbles

You are correct - it appears to increase some disabilty benefits

Makes you think - 2 years ago, we were looking at 0.5% increase - 20 times that today ??