Labour has failed to block government plans to cap working age benefit increases at 1 per cent.
The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill, which caps the rises until 2016, was cleared by the Commons on Monday night by 305 votes to 246, a majority of 59.
Opposition MPs condemned the Bill as "shameless" and "Dickensian" but failed to halt its progress as it finished scrutiny in the Commons.
Labour said it opposed the plan but did not commit to repealing it if it wins the next election.
The Bill will now be scrutinised further in the House of Lords.
A government guided by common sense would respond to news that publicly owned Royal Mail has increased profits to £403 million by scrapping plans to flog off the service.