State Pensioners Face £33 Monthly DWP Deductions
Millions of retirees could see their state pension payments reduced by up to £33 monthly as the DWP implements a Winter Fuel Payment clawback scheme for higher-income pensioners.
Category : Council Meetings
Exeter Council Approves 2026/27 Member Allowances
Exeter City Council has approved its members' allowances for the 2026/27 financial year, based on recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel. The scheme, effective from April 1, 2026, includes basic and special responsibility allowances, with
HMRC Hires 1,000 Agents for Labour's Mansion Tax Rollout
HMRC is recruiting 1,000 valuation agents to implement Labour's new mansion tax, targeting up to 200,000 properties valued at £1.5 million or more with a council tax surcharge.
UK Passport Rule Change Discriminates Against Women
Campaigners argue new British border rules for dual nationals disproportionately affect women, especially in Spain and Greece, due to surname discrepancies.
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Rachel Reeves: Labour 'Backing Birmingham' Ahead of Elections
Chancellor Rachel Reeves asserts Labour's support for Birmingham, highlighting investments in transport and youth activities while addressing the bins strike and council financial crisis ahead of May's local elections.
DWP Announces Two New Cash Bonus Payments for UK Households
The Department for Work and Pensions has unveiled two new cash payments under the Crisis and Resilience Fund, providing £1 billion annually to councils for three years to support households in crisis and with housing costs.
Birmingham Labour Cabinet Member Steps Down Amid Health Issues
Councillor Jamie Tennant resigns from Birmingham City Council cabinet role citing ill-health, while denying wrongdoing over complaints about language and conduct.
Labour Urged to Scrap BBC TV Licence Fee for Modernization
The Labour government faces calls to abolish the BBC TV licence fee as it rises to £180 in April, with campaigners arguing for a voluntary funding model to bring the broadcaster into the 21st century.
Universal Credit Boost: Above-Inflation Increase Confirmed
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a significant above-inflation rise in Universal Credit payments, providing a major cost of living boost for millions of low-income households starting in April.
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DWP Gets New Powers to Search Homes in Benefits Crackdown
The Department for Work and Pensions will receive search warrant powers to combat fraud in Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and ESA benefits, with bank data access also expanded.
Council Criticized Over £5m Office Building Purchase
A new audit report reveals Wirral Council does not know the operating costs of The Hythe office building, purchased for £1.6m above market value, with criticism over risk assessment failures.
Government U-Turn: May Local Elections to Proceed as Planned
The Government has reversed its decision to postpone local elections in 30 English councils this May, following a legal challenge by Reform UK. Ministers cited legal advice and the need for certainty as key factors in the policy shift.
Tories Lose Majority at Walsall Council as Councillor Quits
Councillor Keith Sears resigns from the Conservative Party after being blocked from standing in local elections, reducing the Tories to 30 out of 60 seats and ending their overall control of Walsall Council.
DWP Urged to Replace Triple Lock with Australian Rule
Experts call for scrapping the unsustainable Triple Lock for state pensions, proposing an Australian-style smoothed earnings link to ensure long-term affordability.
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Reeves Takes Aim at Pensioners as Political Shield Fades
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confronts the shifting political landscape where pensioners, once untouchable, face fiscal pressures through frozen tax thresholds and benefit scrutiny amid economic strain.
DWP Urged to Means-Test State Pension Triple Lock
Experts warn the triple lock policy is unsustainable, with costs potentially surging by £40 billion annually, prompting calls for means-testing state pension increases.
£90 Cost of Living Vouchers for Kent Households
Kent County Council is distributing £90 vouchers to eligible households, including those not on DWP benefits, to help with rising living costs through the Household Support Fund.
Somerset Parish Merger Scrapped Due to Local Opposition
Plans to merge Castle Cary and Ansford parishes in Somerset have been scrapped after a governance review found insufficient local support, particularly from Ansford residents who voted 35.3% in favor.
Reeves Tax Rules Hit Pensioners with Private Pensions
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms controversial tax rules that will affect older people with small private pensions, as frozen tax bands push incomes above the personal allowance limit.
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Winter Fuel Payment: £100 Increase for Pre-1944 Pensioners
State pensioners born before 1944 will receive a £100 increase in their Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with payments ranging from £100 to £300 depending on age and circumstances.
State Pension Age Rise Impacts 820,000, Saves £10.2bn
The Department for Work and Pensions is increasing the state pension age gradually to 67 by 2028, affecting 820,000 people and saving £10.2 billion, with concerns raised about potential poverty impacts.
UK VPN Ban Update: New Internet Restrictions to Protect Children
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reveals plans to ban VPN access to pornography for minors, restrict AI chatbots, and consult on social media limits for under-18s in a sweeping online safety initiative.
Universal Credit £760 Cash Boost Announced by DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions has unveiled welfare reforms that will provide millions on Universal Credit with a significant cash increase, alongside a £3.5 billion investment in employment support programs.
Bar Keeps Licence After Owner Failed to Report Mass Brawl
The Garden Bar in Wolverhampton retains its licence despite the owner admitting he did not call 999 during a violent brawl involving up to 20 people, with the council imposing new conditions.
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BBC TV Licence Refunds Before £180 Fee Rise - Full List
The BBC is cancelling and refunding TV licences for eight specific groups ahead of the annual fee increase to £180 starting April 1, 2026. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the £5.50 rise to provide stable funding.
DWP Bank Checks May Affect Non-Benefit Households
The DWP's new bank account monitoring powers could impact individuals not on benefits, particularly those sharing joint accounts with claimants, raising privacy concerns.
DWP Can Now Withdraw Money Directly from Bank Accounts
New legislation grants the Department for Work and Pensions authority to access bank accounts of Universal Credit, ESA, and Pension Credit claimants to combat benefit fraud, sparking privacy concerns.
DWP Bank Account Checks to Affect 100,000 People
The DWP is advancing new powers to access bank accounts and seize cash, targeting welfare claimants. The measures, under consultation until February 27, 2026, could affect up to 100,000 individuals annually, raising concerns from charities about stigma an
PIP Claimants Get £364 More Annually from April 2026
Personal Independence Payment rates will increase by 3.8% from April 2026, with maximum weekly payments rising to £194.60. This change comes as the Timms Review examines the PIP system, while Universal Credit health payments face cuts for new applicants.
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Households Summoned to Court Over Tiny Council Tax Amounts
MPs and financial experts warn that councils are too quick to issue court summons for small council tax debts, adding £75 fees and worsening financial hardship for vulnerable residents.
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