In the past, significant structural changes have been made to the social welfare system. Many of these changes, while costing little in financial terms, have been of enormous benefit to those who are awaiting services. The majority of benefits and allowances are now increased in the January following the budget. Family income supplement customers will receive their increases in full from the beginning of January. Customers on short-term weekly payments, such as carers benefit and supplementary welfare allowance, will receive their increases in full from the first pay day in January and customers on long-term weekly payments, such as old age pensioners, widows and widowers, will also receive their increases from the same date.