Benefits rise to match inflation

More than 2,000 benefits claimants in Bath and the surrounding area have been boosted by an increase just below the current rate of inflation.

That means a total of 2,085 people in our area will see their state pensions, housing benefits, Universal Credit, and other benefit payments rise by 10.1% - which was the consumer prices index (CPI) measure of inflation in September.

But while that figure has been used to calculate inflation, the CPI hit 11.1% in October, higher than analysts were expecting and the highest rate in 40 years.

In Bath and North East Somerset, 2.2% of adults between the age of 16 and 64 are in receipt of benefits.

And extra payments are coming - £900 for those on means-tested benefits, £300 for pensioner households, and £150 for those on disability benefits.