Benefits

The amount of child maintenance a family can receive without an impact on their family benefits will rise from £10 to £20 per week in 2008, and to £40 per week in 2010.

In Budget 2007 an increase in child tax credit of £150 a year in addition to the indexation increase was announced, effective April 2008. The Chancellor announced that the increase in 2008 will in fact be £175 a year over indexation, with a further increase in 2010.

The pension credit will be increased by £5 per week from April 2008, for single pensioners, and by £7.65 per week for couples.