Parents

A major overhaul of a system called ParentPay that allows parents to pay for school dinners and other pupil expenses has caused confusion among some of its two million users, with MoneySavingExpert.com aware of claims children have even gone hungry at lunchtime as a result.

Thousands of single parents have been sent letters that some say are "threatening" telling them their benefit payments will stop unless they prove they're not living with a partner - then when they try to call, they're faced with long waits.

Over 50,000 separated parents in England, Scotland and Wales have been sent letters by the Government warning that they will face a charge for administering child maintenance payments unless they can reach an amicable agreement.

Lone parents have seen big changes to their benefits this year and more is still to come.

The average pocket money rate for some families has finally hit the £1,000 a year level, according to a poll of 11,000 parents. This puts it only just below gas and electricity bills in a family's expenditure.