Call for £20 rise in child benefit

Parents should be given a £20 a month increase in child benefit (children's allowance) in the Budget, the Society of St Vincent de Paul said in a pre-Budget submission. People on social welfare needed an extra £10 a week to maintain the real value of their income after inflation and should get an extra £4 a week on top of that, it says. It also says it should be easier for low-paid families to qualify for medical cards.