27 February 2023 , 00:01
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Struggling households will miss out on more frequent cost-of-living payments because of "clunky" government systems, the government has admitted.
MPs had called for people entitled to means tested cost-of-living support to be given monthly payments next winter to help prevent them facing "cliff edges".
But the Treasury today admits it is unable to do this. - because its systems aren't up to the job - meaning many may not get any payments at all.
The response has been branded "disappointing", and the Treasury has been urged to address the issue.
The government has previously said it would be providing cost-of-living support payments totalling £900 this spring and autumn, as well as spring next year.
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Tory MP Harriett Baldwin voiced her disappointmentBut in December the cross-party Treasury Committee said these payments would be more effective if they were paid each month for six months.
This, they said, would help those who earn just one pound too much, or who becomes eligible a day too late.
A response published today said making the change would impact "core benefits". It said "specialist teams" would be required to make the payments.
Tory MP Harriett Baldwin, chair of the Treasury Committee, said it is "disappointing to hear that clunky systems will prevent the delivery of six regular support payments next winter".
She said: "The lack of analysis on the effectiveness of the household support fund is surprising, and I strongly encourage the Treasury to step up its data collection, particularly looking at whether these billions of pounds of extra help have supported those struggling the most."
"The Chancellor rightly aspires to support the most vulnerable while making work pay.
"Outdated systems and a lack of statistics on how these important schemes are working make his job harder. We thank the Government for such a considered response and look forward to further work in this area in the near future."
A Government spokesperson said: "We are protecting the most vulnerable households with up to £1,350 of direct support in 2023-24, on top of £1,200 delivered to millions of people last year.
"It would be impossible to choose eligibility windows for the cost-of-living payments that work for every single person, which is why the next payments are being made in three instalments to reduce the chance of someone missing out completely.
"In addition, many of our payments including cost-of-living payments, those made through the energy bills support scheme and winter fuel payments have been staggered throughout the year, while the household support fund is available all year round."
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