Parliamentary approval for the Department for Work and Pensions' spending plans is sought through supply estimates presented to the House of Commons. Consequently the Department for Work and Pensions revenue is obtained from HM Treasury via the parliamentary vote system.
Sections 150 and 150A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 prescribe the benefits that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions must review on an annual basis and those that must be up-rated. The prices related indexes that are used in those benefits up-rated in line with prices are the retail prices index, and the rossi index (which is the retail prices index with the housing elements removed).
The following table shows the basis on which benefits have generally been uprated in recent years, some, but not all, of which are prescribed by legislation.
Benefit Basis on which benefits have been uprated Attendance allowance; disability living allowance RPI Carer's allowance RPI Incapacity benefit; severe disablement allowance RPI Industrial death benefit Rate of widows pension Industrial injuries disablement benefit RPI Income support; jobseeker's allowance; council tax benefit; housing benefit personal allowances; disability premium; enhanced disability premium; carer premium Rossi Amounts for dependent children/family premiums Provided by HMRC Pensioner premiums By reference to pension credit standard minimum guarantee Pensioner aged 60-64 (housing benefit and council tax benefit only) Rate of pension credit standard minimum guarantee Pensioner aged 65 and over (housing benefit and council tax benefit only) Rate of pension credit standard minimum guarantee plus maximum savings credit Severe disability premium RPI Non-dependant deductions Earnings limits increased in line with average earnings Service charges for fuel deduction (housing benefit only) RPI fuel and light Maternity allowance Rate of statutory maternity pay Pension Credit Standard minimum guarantee Earnings Additional amount for severe disability RPI Additional amount for carers Rossi Maximum savings credit Earnings1 Pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and miscellaneous diseases scheme and the workmen's compensation (supplementation) RPI State pension RPI Statutory maternity pay; statutory adoption pay2; statutory paternity pay2 RPI Statutory sick pay RPI Widow's benefit Rate of state pension Bereavement benefits Widowed parent's allowance Rate of state pension Bereavement allowance Rate of state pension 1 From April 2008. 2 These payments are the responsibility of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform however they are up-rated by the Department for Work and Pensions.