HMRC confirms 5 reasons tax refunds are being sent out
HMRC has paid back over £50 million to 12,500 pension savers in three months. Here are five reasons you might be owed a tax refund, including wrong tax codes and work expenses.
Category : Health
DWP confirms £300 Winter Fuel Payment for over-80s (16.08.2026)
State pensioners over 80 will receive an automatic £300 Winter Fuel Payment. After policy changes, most pensioners are eligible again from winter 2025/26, with higher earners taxed.
Student loans could cost graduates £185k in retirement
Graduates in England face lifetime loan repayments of £56,240, potentially losing £185,000 in retirement savings, according to the Intergenerational Foundation.
Walsall worst in UK for food hygiene ratings, study finds
Walsall has the lowest average food hygiene rating in the UK at 4.03 out of 5, tied with Bolton, according to a High Speed Training report. Four of the six worst areas are in the West Midlands.
Dolly Parton message after cancelling Dollywood appearance
Dolly Parton, 80, cancelled her Dollywood appearance due to health issues, appearing virtually instead. She cited dizziness and dehydration, following a kidney stone infection.
Chāmpo Pitta Growth Serum: Bottle Sold Every 30 Seconds
Chāmpo Pitta Growth Serum, with a bottle sold every 30 seconds, is clinically proven to reduce hair loss and improve thickness, according to the brand and customer reviews.
State Pension Delay for September Birthdays Announced
People born between 6 September and 5 October 1960 will claim State Pension at 66 years and 6 months, as the age rise to 67 begins in 2026.
Omega Charity Gets £3,000 to Expand Loneliness Support
Omega, a Shrewsbury charity, has received £3,000 from Persimmon Homes to expand its Chatterbox telephone befriending service, enabling over 550 weekly calls to lonely people across the West Midlands.
Automatic £100 rise for pensioners born before 1946
State pensioners born before 28 September 1946 will automatically get £300 Winter Fuel Payment for 2026-27, a £100 increase, while those born later get £200.
730,000 urged to claim £855 HMRC tax refunds
Around 730,000 PAYE workers missed out on average £855 tax refunds last year, totalling £624m unclaimed. Experts urge checking P800 forms and claiming via HMRC app or online.
State pensioners can get tax-free £728 from DWP
State pensioners can get a tax-free £728 per year by deferring DWP payments, with the triple lock kept under PM Andy Burnham. Deferring for a year adds 5.8% to your pension.
Over-60s can get £7,060 handout with DWP state pension still to come
Annuity rates hit 7.75% in July 2026, the highest since 2008. A 60-year-old with £100,000 can now get £7,060 yearly income, with state pension extra.
British Gas PeakSave: Half-Price Electricity Sundays
British Gas confirms PeakSave Sundays: over 1 million customers get half-price electricity from 11am to 4pm every Sunday, saving £36m collectively.
DWP Over 80 Pension: Eligibility and Amounts for 2026-27
The DWP offers the Over 80 Pension to state pensioners aged 80+, providing up to £110.75 a week in 2026-27 if basic State Pension is less. Check eligibility and how to claim.
Protect Roses from Black Spot and Mildew in Heat
Roses stressed by hot, dry weather are prone to black spot and mildew. Catch problems early with expert tips from Alan Titchmarsh to keep blooms going into autumn.
DWP confirms 56 health conditions for Attendance Allowance
DWP Attendance Allowance now covers 56 health conditions. Eligibility requires being over state pension age (66) and needing help with personal care or supervision. Learn the full list.
Care home manager stole £5k from disabled resident
Gillian Harper, 60, stole £5,452.70 from a disabled care home resident, spending on hair appointments, QVC, and mortgage. She was jailed for 40 weeks, suspended, and ordered to pay compensation.
Pension scam costs victims £47,000, warns Standard Life
Standard Life warns a 'sophisticated' pension scam is costing victims an average of £47,000, as 62% of UK adults claim confidence in spotting scams.
AI Tool at Stepping Hill Aims to Speed Up Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Hospitals across Greater Manchester, including Stepping Hill, are rolling out an AI tool to analyze prostate MRI scans, prioritizing high-risk patients for faster diagnosis and treatment.
2m pensioners face savings tax as HMRC allowance frozen
HMRC projects 2.1 million over-65s will pay tax on savings interest by 2026-27, up from 517,000 in 2022-23, as frozen thresholds and higher rates pull more into the net.
Pension pots of £50k see annuity income rise by £106
Average annual annuity income for a £50,000 pot has risen by £106 to £3,653 since March, driven by rising gilt yields amid market uncertainty, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.
Stockport NHS First to Use Voice-Care Surgical Safety Tech
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is the first in the UK to pilot Voice-Care, a hands-free voice recognition system for surgical safety checklists, aiming to eliminate manual paperwork and ensure 100% WHO compliance.
Edge Hill Graduate Plans South Pole Trek for Men's Mental Health
Dafydd Helps-Fursse, an Edge Hill University alumnus, will lead an expedition across the South Pole by 2030 to raise awareness of men's mental health, following his 2024 World's Toughest Row success.
Mastercard £70 payout update: 47m can claim by end of year
Around 47 million people could claim £45-£70 Mastercard compensation by end of 2026 after legal challenges dropped, says Walter Merricks.
New Attempt to Turn Olton Home into Children's Care Home
New Focus Child Care Limited has applied for planning permission to convert a seven-bed house in Grange Road, Olton, into a care home for four children, after earlier applications were refused.
Dogs Trust urges owners to learn dog body language on walks
Dogs Trust and RSPCA launch Dog Ownership Guide, urging owners to recognize subtle body language signs like head turning and lip licking to prevent stress on summer walks.
Morrisons first UK supermarket to roll out AI self-checkouts
Morrisons becomes the first UK supermarket to deploy AI-powered self-checkouts across 200 stores, letting customers correct missed scans themselves after a successful trial.
Sandwell fifth poorest in England fuel poverty study
Sandwell ranks fifth in England for fuel poverty, with 13.5% of households affected, according to new analysis by Felons Support.
Dudley Council's £500k weekly care costs revealed
Dudley Council spends over £500,000 weekly on external residential care for 76 children, averaging £6,900 each, amid rising demand and workforce pressures.
Birmingham Pizza Shop Fined £4k Over Allergen Training
A Birmingham pizza shop has been fined £4,000 after workers failed to describe allergen ingredients in menu items, prompting a council investigation and enforcement action.
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