The 2009 Pre-Budget report was released on 9th December. The main points in the report were:

Benefit rates

• The basic state pension will rise by 2.5% in April 2010. The value of the full basic pension for a single person will rise by £2.40 to £97.65 a week. The level of the Pension Credit guarantee for a single person will rise by £2.60 to £132.60.
• Benefits uprated by the 'ROSSI' index such as Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance and other incapacity benefits will rise by 1.8% from April next year.
• Other benefits and tax credits normally uprated by RPI (including Child Benefit and most disability benefits) will increase by 1.5% in April 2010, but this increase will be clawed-back in April 2011.

Other changes

• From April 2011 Working Tax Credit eligibility will be extended to all people aged 65 or over working at least 16 hours a week.
• Free school meals will be extended to low income households receiving Working Tax Credit. This extended eligibility applies to primary school pupils in families with a household income below £16,190. The extension will be staged, with all eligible primary school pupils included from September 2011.
• The proposed reform of Local Housing Allowance to remove the ability of private tenants to keep £15 a week has been delayed until April 2011. Instead there will be an immediate consultation on Housing Benefit reform.
• The standard interest rate used to calculate support for mortgage interest through means-tested benefits will be maintained at 6.08 per cent for a further six months.
• The ‘Better Off in Work’ credit will be rolled out nationally. This will ensure that all claimants who have been receiving benefits for six months will be entitled to a top up payment so that their in work income is greater than their benefit income.

The benefit rate changes from the 2009 Pre-Budget report will be implemented by Entitledto early in the New Year. You will be able to access the new rates using a year selector. Other reforms coming into effect in April 2010, such as the full disregard of income from maintenance payments, will be made available at this time.