The chancellor insisted families would be better off even as further welfare cuts were announced
Experts question Rachel Reeves' claim that families will be £500 better off, suggesting the figure refers to the total increase over the course of parliament, not annually. The £500 improvement is based on OBR data but represents a modest economic improvement with a small weekly increase per household, unlikely to significantly impact families given persistent inflation and slow economic growth. The source of the increased income is also uncertain, with analysts noting a lower real income rise compared to previous periods.