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.
Category : Health Campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remus Horse Sanctuary appeals for hay funds as prices soar
Remus Horse Sanctuary faces a £5,400 monthly hay bill after dry weather hikes prices. Founder Sue Burton appeals for public donations to feed over 100 rescued animals.
DWP confirms £150 Warm Home Discount for claimants
Around six million households on Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, or ESA will get a one-off £150 energy bill discount this winter via the Warm Home Discount scheme.
DWP promises Timms Review changes grounded in disabled experiences
The DWP vows PIP changes from the Timms Review will be grounded in disabled people's experiences, with workshops in September and recommendations due by end of 2026.
£200 cost-of-living payments for households earning £40,000
Households earning up to £40,000 may be eligible for cost-of-living payments through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, even if they don't claim benefits. Apply via local councils.
Police called to solar eclipse chaos as crowds rush for glasses
Police were called to manage crowds in Bristol as hundreds rushed for free eclipse glasses. The partial eclipse, with 90% coverage, begins just after 6pm, with maximum at 7pm. Next similar event in nearly 70 years.
Partial solar eclipse today: Safe viewing tips
Millions will witness a partial solar eclipse today, but with glasses sold out, experts warn of eye damage risks. Here are safe viewing methods, including DIY pinhole cameras.
DWP confirms PIP claimants will have two expenses reimbursed
PIP claimants invited to Timms Review workshops in September will have reasonable travel costs and other necessary expenses reimbursed, the DWP has confirmed.
DWP confirms one-off bonus payments for PIP claimants
DWP confirms one-off bonus payments for PIP claimants attending Timms Review workshops from September 15, with registration opening August 12.
PIP claimants urged to act before August 21 for Timms Review workshops
DWP calls on disabled and long-term health condition PIP claimants to register by August 21 for Timms Review workshops, testing recommendations for benefit changes.
Attendance Allowance: Payments Could Rise by £151.60
State pensioners on Attendance Allowance could increase DWP payments by £151.60 every four weeks if their health worsens, moving from lower to higher rate.
Nurse walks 10km in memory of father lost to brain cancer
Sophie Phillips, a mental health nurse, will walk 10km for Cancer Research UK's Shine Night Walk in Cambridge on October 17, in memory of her father Austen, who died of brain cancer in May 2022.
NatWest heatwave support: loan holidays and rate cuts
NatWest announces heatwave support for farmers: loan repayment holidays, interest rate reductions, emergency lending with no fees, and overdraft support amid UK drought.
Birmingham to sizzle at 35C before weekend cooldown
Birmingham braces for 35C heat on Thursday, a sharp rise from today's 28C, before a fresher, overcast weekend arrives.
Burnham urged to adopt £220, £175, £85 energy bill support plan
Resolution Foundation urges PM Burnham to adopt tiered energy bill support: £220 for low incomes, £175 average, £85 for others, targeting 40% of households.
Octopus Energy Urges Power Cuts During Solar Eclipse
Octopus Energy asks UK households to avoid using washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday as solar eclipse cuts solar generation, risking power shortages.
Burnham urged to give £175 energy help to low-income households
Resolution Foundation urges Andy Burnham to introduce £175 energy bill discount for households earning £24,000 or less, costing £2bn and aiding 40% of homes this winter.
Burnham Urged to Protect Pension Lump Sum Rule in Budget
Andy Burnham faces calls to guarantee the 25% tax-free pension lump sum in the Autumn Budget, amid fears of a raid and withdrawals.
HMRC confirms £20,070 tax-free allowance after PM decision
HMRC confirms Rent a Room scheme can lift tax-free income to £20,070, combining personal allowance and rent-a-room relief, as PM Burnham rules out raising threshold.
DWP refunds £5,000 after wrongful benefit penalties
DWP refunds up to £5,000 to claimants after 200 administrative penalties wrongly issued due to insufficient evidence; over a fifth of fines reviewed were rescinded.
£200 Cost-of-Living Payments for Non-Benefit Households
Households not on benefits can apply for £200 cost-of-living grants via the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Check eligibility with your local council now.
Burnham urged to cut £175 from energy bills for low-income homes
The Resolution Foundation proposes a £2bn scheme to cut energy bills by £175 for households earning under £24,000, urging Andy Burnham to act now.
Octopus Energy Free Electricity Solar Eclipse Offer
Octopus Energy rewards households with free electricity and a £12,000 prize during the August 12 solar eclipse. Customers must sign up to Octoplus and Savings Sessions before 6pm Wednesday.
DWP Benefit Rules for Claimants Going Abroad
Universal Credit and PIP claimants must inform DWP before holidays abroad. Benefits may continue for up to one month (UC) or 13 weeks (PIP), with conditions.
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