Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes, has welcomed the income-boosting announcements made by the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in the Autumn Statement.
The measures announced include a continued commitment to the pensions triple lock, meaning that the full new state pension will increase by 8.5%, worth up to an additional £900 per year.
Those who claim benefits will see their payments increase by 6.7% and the Local Housing Allowance is being increased by up to £800 a year.
The incomes of the lowest-paid will be boosted by an increase to the National Living Wage to £11.44 per hour, worth up to an extra £1,800 a year.
Taxes for the self-employed people will also be cut, with Class 2 National Insurance contributions being abolished and Class 4 National Insurance contributions being lowered to 8% - worth an average of £350 a year for the self-employed.
Employees will also benefit from a National Insurance contribution cut, with it being lowered from 12% to 10% - the is will help 27 million people and means someone on the average salary of £35,000 will save over £450 a year.
These are some of the 110 measures announced by the Chancellor to grow the economy and lower debt.
Maria Caulfield MP said:
“The measures announced by the Chancellor are very much welcome, many local residents have contacted me over the past few weeks and I am glad that the government has listened and is delivering on increased pensions, benefits, wages and tax cuts. These measures will help with the cost of living for residents across the Lewes constituency”