The UK government said it is “committed to ending poverty” and said it is putting more money into workers’ pockets.

The Glasgow Times, as part of our Beat the Squeeze series challenged the government to do more to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis.

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We asked a series of questions from pay to benefits and pensions. We also asked the Scottish Government to act using its powers.

We directed our questions to the Treasury who passed it on to the Department for Work and Pensions who responded.

We asked if pensioners can be guaranteed the triple lock will be restored in 2023?

If workers can be assured the National Insurance rise will only be for one year?

Also, if people on benefits will see an uplift of more than 3.1% when inflation is around double that and if the government will lift the benefits cap, as requested by a group of charities led by Poverty Alliance.

It said the benefit cap will remain, and it is committed to restoring the triple lock on pensions next year.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, which is why we’re providing support worth £22 billion across the next financial year.

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“This includes putting an average of £1,000 more per year into the pockets of working families via changes to Universal Credit, cutting fuel duty and helping households with their energy bills.

“We’re also boosting the minimum wage by more than £1,000 a year for full-time workers and raising National Insurance thresholds so people keep more of what they earn, while our £1 billion household support fund is helping the most vulnerable with essential costs.

“Meanwhile, the Scottish Parliament has significant welfare powers and can top up existing benefits, pay discretionary payments and create entirely new benefits in areas of devolved responsibility.”

It listed other actions and what it saw as current policies existing help.

In additional information included with the response the government said: “We are committed to ending poverty and are putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families, which is why this year we provided a pay rise to two million of the UK’s lowest-paid through a higher minimum wage.”

It claimed Universal Credit was making people better off.

Adding: “Our changes to Universal Credit will see nearly two million working claimants better off by around £1,000 a year, whilst our Plan for Jobs is supporting more people into employment.

“The changes to the UC taper rate and work allowance should see 1.9 million working families on Universal Credit gain an average of approximately £1000 per annum.”

A £1bn household support fund it added “is helping the most vulnerable with essential costs” including £35 million is supporting schools in disadvantaged areas to provide breakfasts to those who need it, and it said “our Holiday Activities and Food programme is providing healthy food and enriching activities to disadvantaged children.

The government, which was urged by a number of charities to lift the benefits cap, said: “The benefit cap, up to the equivalent salary of £24k, balances fairness for taxpayers with providing a vital safety net.”