Ofwat proposes allowing water companies to factor water scarcity into bills, potentially raising prices during droughts. Government says no nationwide surge pricing planned, but trials aim to encourage efficiency and fairness.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Low-income pensioners could miss out on the £150 Warm Home Discount if not named on electricity bill by August 23. Check eligibility now.
State Pension, Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and other DWP benefits will be paid early on Friday 28 August due to the bank holiday, confirmed by minister Sir Stephen Timms.
Hot weather reduces appetite due to brain signals, blood flow changes, and gut hormones. Dr Lucy Hooper explains how to manage eating and hydration during heatwaves.
DWP confirms in-person PIP workshops from September 15 in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, and more, to shape benefit reform following Timms Review.
DWP urges PIP claimants to disclose one-off workshop payments to HMRC. Payments are for voluntary participation in workshops testing PIP recommendations, starting mid-September across the UK.
Mental health conditions now account for 39% of all PIP claims, with total claims surpassing 4 million for the first time. Andy Burnham faces review.
The Andy Burnham government is consulting on new safety measures for drivers with trailers, including voluntary training incentives and enforcement changes, as part of the Road Safety Strategy.
Six million households can get £150 off energy bills via Warm Home Discount, but must be named on electricity account by August 23. Check eligibility now.
An amber heat alert is in place as temperatures reach 38C. The Met Office urges people to stay hydrated, avoid sun, and check travel updates.
If you looked directly at the solar eclipse, you may risk eye damage. Learn delayed symptoms to watch for and steps to take immediately.
A £500,000 investment in a Tipton estate has improved lives of residents with depression, according to a new report, with significant reductions in symptoms and increased wellbeing.
HMRC confirms 570,000 customers signed up for Making Tax Digital, with 436,000 sole traders and landlords avoiding penalties after sending first quarterly updates.
The DWP will collect personal background data from PIP claimants volunteering for workshops testing Timms Review changes, with sign-ups open now and workshops starting in September.
The DWP will test Timms Review recommendations on PIP claimants, with random selection for workshops across the UK in autumn 2026.
The DWP will contact selected PIP claimants by 4 September 2026 to invite them to workshops shaping the future of the benefit. Registration opens 12 August.
DWP launches 15 workshops for PIP claimants to test Timms Review recommendations, aiming for a fairer system. Registration opens 12 August 2026.
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat affecting Birmingham on Thursday, with temperatures possibly reaching 38C, impacting transport, infrastructure, and health.
An amber heat alert has been issued for the West Midlands as temperatures are set to reach 30C. Residents are urged to take extra care when travelling, especially the elderly and vulnerable.
Tonight's partial solar eclipse in the UK can be safely viewed using a kitchen colander, as experts warn against direct sun-gazing without certified glasses.
A major US study finds that avoiding high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking between ages 45-65 can add over a decade of dementia-free life, with those free of all three risk factors living nearly 13 years longer without dementia.
MHRA advises simple steps to protect medical devices from summer heat, moisture, and sweat, ensuring safe operation and accurate readings.
HMRC confirms you can earn up to £18,570 tax-free combining personal allowance, starting rate for savings, and PSA, after PM Burnham rules out threshold change.
The UK will see its fifth heatwave this week, with 33C forecast. Yellow heat alerts are in place, and wildfires could be exceptionally severe, especially in the east and south-east.
The UK's fifth heatwave of 2026 will bring 36C temperatures to 27 counties, with yellow health alerts issued across England.
New DWP figures reveal a sharp rise in defined contribution pensions accessed, signaling an accelerating shift away from guaranteed retirement income, with experts warning of 'pension inadequacy'.