working-age social security payments such as universal credit, child benefit, child tax credit and working tax credit, housing benefit and jobseeker's allowance have had their rate of increase reduced by austerity. from 2013 onwards, these payments were limited to a maximum annual increase of 1% instead of being increased annually according to the rate of inflation, while child benefit, previously available to all uk households with minor children was means-tested for the first time, with households where at least one parent earning over £50,000 a year having their amount reduced. the policy of suspending the social security payments of unemployed claimants who were judged not to be adequately seeking work was continued, and the frequency and severity of the sanctions were increased. from 2016 a four-year freeze on all working-age social security payments was introduced. it was anticipated that it would affect 11 million uk families and reduce expenditure by £9 billion, a figure later increased to £13 billion. the welfare reform and work act 2016 abolished the work-related activity component of employment and support allowance for new claimants from april 2017. this reduced the weekly social security payments for the disabled people affected by £29.05 a week (at 2017/18 rates). the reduction in government expenditure was initially forecast to be £640 million per annum by 2020/21, though this was later revised to £450 million.