A £4.9 billion annual upgrade to benefits is the "biggest ever" ministers claimed on Monday.

But the Tories have accused Labour of pre-election bribes and of driving millions onto means-tested benefits.

Social security secretary, Alistair Darling, said on Monday: "We are delivering welfare reform. By making work pay and making work possible we have cut the costs of a legacy of economic and social failure. We are now spending - last year and this year - £4 billion less on unemployment. That is money available to spend on our key priorities of tackling pensioner and child poverty as well as giving more cash support to carers and people with disabilities."

Pensioners, carers and disabled people have all received benefit rises above inflation.In a move towards the Pension Credit the state pension for single pensioners rises by £5 to £72.50 a week and by £8 to £115.90 a week for couples.

Pensioners getting the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) receive a new rate of £92.15 for single pensioner and £140.55 for couples - up from £78.45 and £121.95 respectively.

Savings limits within MIG have risen allowing an additional 140,000 to claim the benefit.

For carers the weekly premium has been raised by £10 to £24.40 - an increase of over 70 per cent for some 200,000 carers. Other benefit rises for carers and the disabled will provide extra support for over 350,000 families.

But the Conservatives have slammed Labour's record on benefits, claiming the benefit boost amounted to nothing more than a re-announcement, and social security shadow, David Willets accused the government of "air-brushing out of the picture the millions of people hit by their changes".

"Widows, people with disabilities, families and pensioners are victims as Labour drives more and more people onto means-tested benefits. They will not be taken in by Labour's spin and by Gordon Brown's pre-election bribes. And they know Labour does not stand up for them," he said.

The benefit rises have been welcomed by disability camaigners. RNID chief executive, James Strachan, said: "These are significant benefit increases and will make a real difference to the lives of disabled people... The government promised 'work for those who can; security for those who cannot'. It is good that they are finally delivering on the last part of their commitment."