Money expert Martin Lewis urges Brits to register to vote before the May 7 local elections deadline, highlighting how this simple action can significantly improve credit scores and ease credit applications.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms a £117 annual reduction in energy bills for typical households, though concerns remain about future price hikes due to global tensions.
The Department for Work and Pensions has detailed eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payments in 2026, with a £35,000 income threshold determining who receives the £200-£300 support.
Birmingham Labour leader John Cotton expresses confidence in retaining council control in May's local elections, dismissing predictions of catastrophic defeat and highlighting party's positive agenda.
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State pensioners have received a £575 annual increase due to the Triple Lock mechanism, but economists warn it's a 'ticking timebomb' that could cost billions and drive fiscal crisis.
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched the Crisis and Resilience Fund, offering two new payments to support low-income households with 12 essential needs from April 2026.
A rejected plan to convert an Elmdon house into a seven-bed HMO is now heading to appeal, with a government inspector set to make the final decision after Solihull Council refused the application.
Council leader John Cotton discusses the ongoing bins dispute, defends 20mph speed limits, and addresses unemployment figures as all 101 council seats face election in May.
Cumberland Council's planning committee will consider approval for two new industrial buildings at Leconfield Industrial Estate in Cleator Moor, focusing on nuclear and clean energy sectors.
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The Department for Work and Pensions is distributing £50 million in immediate cost of living payments to vulnerable households using heating oil, with funding available through local councils from April 1.
A new YouGov poll forecasts Reform UK gaining 23 constituencies in the West Midlands, including traditional Labour strongholds in Birmingham and the Black Country, with Greens also making significant gains.
HMRC will automatically recover Winter Fuel Allowances from state pensioners earning over £35,000, with deductions of up to £33 per month starting next tax year.
The Department for Work and Pensions confirms a £100 automatic increase in Winter Fuel Payments for older state pensioners for winter 2026/27, with enhanced amounts for those born before specific dates.
The Department for Work and Pensions is distributing automatic £200 Winter Fuel Payments to state pensioners born between 1946 and 1960, with payments starting mid-November 2025.
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The Department for Work and Pensions may implement a significant state pension increase next year, potentially raising weekly payments to £265 through the Triple Lock system introduced in 2011.
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed a 4.8% increase in the Basic State Pension, resulting in a monthly payment of £740 for eligible retirees born before specific dates, driven by the Triple Lock commitment.
The government has officially confirmed all bank holiday dates for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland through the end of 2028, including three substitute days to replace weekend holidays.
A former nursery in West Bromwich that closed following multiple 'inadequate' Ofsted ratings may be demolished to make way for six new flats, with planning permission now submitted to Sandwell Council.
The Black Country Party, formed in 2025, will contest five wards in Dudley's local elections, aiming to influence decisions rather than seek power, with leader Pete Lowe calling the party system 'dead'.
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Local campaigners in Solihull are preparing for another battle against Shell's revised plans to redevelop a Warwick Road petrol station, with a crucial council decision scheduled for next week.
The Department for Work and Pensions has sent letters to state pensioners detailing a 4.8% increase in payments for 2026/27, providing a £48 monthly boost for millions under age 75.
A new YouGov Nowcast poll projects Labour would retain just two of 25 West Midlands seats in a General Election, with Reform UK set to dominate Birmingham, the Black Country, and Worcestershire.
Vice President JD Vance confirms no agreement reached with Iran following marathon negotiations, identifying nuclear weapons as primary obstacle to peace.
Councillors in Walsall cost taxpayers more than £1.22 million in allowances last year, with leader Mike Bird as highest earner at £48,722.14. All councillors receive a basic £13,887 rate, with extra for special responsibilities.
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch proposes reinstating the two-child benefit cap to finance what she calls the biggest peacetime rearmament in UK history, criticizing government readiness.
The Department for Work and Pensions is enforcing a rise in the state pension age from 66 to 67, sparking outrage among retirees who fear they may never receive their pension.
The state pension age has started increasing from 66 to 67 in monthly increments for those born after April 1960, with further rises to 68 planned by 2046.
HMRC is issuing demand letters to approximately 1.3 million state pensioners born before 1960, requiring repayment of Winter Fuel Allowance payments from those with incomes over £35,000. The clawback follows a government policy change.
Peers have narrowly passed an amendment to ban pornography depicting step-incest, with the Labour government agreeing to criminalize production and possession of such content.
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Major regeneration plans for Birmingham's HS2 Curzon Street Station, featuring new public squares and gardens, have been recommended for approval ahead of a council planning committee decision next week.
