What does DB being 'frozen' mean?

[sevenkeystomysoul]

That it's not going to be paid at all for the next three years, or that it won't be increased for the next three years?

I meant CB, not DB!

No increases AFAIK.

Not increased.

I asked that earlier too, I'm glad it wasn't just me who got a bit befuddled over this.

Ah, thanks. I am actually too poor to be affected by anything else in the budget. But why didn't they stop CB for high-earning families?

Tidey, 'frozen' can mean both things!

How do they know which families are high earning and if they get CB?

The CB is in most cases paid to the mother and may be her only income regardless of what her partner earns.

"But why didn't they stop CB for high-earning families?"

He explained that in the speech. Means-testing is an expensive activity and if they had taxed CB you could have the prospect of a non-working wife of a wealthy man getting 100% and a working single woman receving less.

My prediction is that by freezing CB it will gradually become worthless over time. CTCs (or whatever replaces them) which are means-tested will continue to increase in line with the CPI and one day CB will be dispensed with all together.... and because it's worth next to nothing, no-one will miss it.