DWP confirms £200 Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners
State pensioners born after 1946 will receive an automatic £200 Winter Fuel Payment from the DWP. Payments are made automatically, with £300 for those over 80.
Category : Council Services
DWP to pay state pensioners £965 early before bank holiday
DWP will bring forward benefit payments to Friday 28 August ahead of the bank holiday, giving new state pensioners up to £965 early. Sir Stephen Timms confirmed the move.
Severn Trent Defends No Hosepipe Ban Amid Supply Concerns
Severn Trent responds to Environment Agency comments on the lack of a hosepipe ban, defending its supply position despite drought concerns in the Midlands.
Sandwell Reform councillor Mona Khurana quits cabinet after 3 months
Mona Khurana has stepped down as Sandwell Council's cabinet member for children and families after three months, citing increased family responsibilities. Matt Lloyd takes over with immediate effect.
DWP confirms Friday state pension payment before bank holiday
DWP will bring forward state pension and benefit payments due on the August bank holiday to Friday, August 28, ensuring households receive cash early.
DWP State Pension Age Rise in September for 1960 Births
People born between 6 August and 5 October 1960 will see their State Pension age rise to 66 years and 5 or 6 months from September 2026, under DWP rules.
HMRC auto-enrols £50k earners in MTD from September
HMRC will start auto-signing up sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 for Making Tax Digital from September, after 436,000 already filed quarterly updates.
Nationwide warning: fake direct debit email scam
Nationwide customers are being warned about a convincing email scam claiming a direct debit was set up for a dental practice. Which? and Norfolk Trading Standards say the fake email contains a malicious link designed to steal personal details.
Birmingham City Council to close 25 of 36 recycling centres
Birmingham City Council plans to close 25 of its 36 household recycling centres, saving £3.5m annually, as part of broader budget cuts to address a £300m funding gap.
Check Your Energy Bill: Citizens Advice Warns of Overcharging Risks
Householders facing unexpected energy bill increases should check for estimated readings, meter mix-ups, or billing errors, says Citizens Advice, as simple checks can prevent overpaying.
Heartlands Hospital probes patient's 'dirty' A&E claims
Shafaq Ahmed described bloodied tissues, broken chairs, and a broken toilet during a seven-hour wait at Heartlands A&E. The hospital is investigating.
Nationwide launches free credit score widget for customers
Nationwide has launched a new free credit score widget to help millions of customers understand their financial health, following FCA research showing only 39% of people fully understand their credit report.
Walsall seizes 86 disposable BBQs after UK ban
Trading Standards officers in Walsall visited over 50 traders and seized 86 disposable BBQs following a temporary UK ban on sales due to extreme wildfire risk during drought and heatwave conditions.
Fly-tipping crackdown: 20 hours unpaid work for households
Households guilty of fly-tipping will face up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work and must pay costs under new government plans announced by DEFRA and Dame Angela Eagle.
HMRC writing to one million households about pension payments
HMRC is contacting around one million workers from August about potential Low Earner's Pension Payments, correcting a tax relief disparity for those earning around £12,570.
Parents face fines for term-time holidays from September
From September 1, headteachers will enforce fines of £80 for term-time holidays. Research shows parents save £567 on average by travelling during school time, but attendance targets are tightening.
PIP claimants must sign up by Friday for Timms Review workshops
PIP claimants with long-term conditions must register by 5pm Friday 21 August 2026 to join DWP workshops shaping Timms Review reforms, with 15 sessions across the UK in September and October.
PIP claimants must report bonus payments to HMRC, DWP confirms
PIP claimants who attend DWP Timms Review workshops this autumn will receive a one-off bonus payment, but must disclose it to HMRC. Registration closes tomorrow.
DWP confirms PIP bonus payments for Timms Review workshops are taxable
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that one-off bonus payments for PIP claimants taking part in Timms Review workshops will be subject to tax and National Insurance, with a Friday deadline to sign up.
Man charged with arson after Stafford skip and bin fire
Andrew Stephen Gillett, 31, of no fixed address, has been charged with arson after a fire involving a skip and several bins on Eastgate Street in Stafford on August 17.
DWP Confirms £200 Winter Fuel Payment Eligibility
The DWP has confirmed that all pensioners in the UK are eligible for a £200 Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with payments clawed back from those earning over £35,000 a year.
State Pension Could Rise by £514.80 Next April
State pensioners may receive an extra £514.80 annually from April 2025, as wage growth of 4.1% triggers the triple lock, raising the full new State Pension to £251.20 per week.
DWP confirms £300 Winter Fuel Payment eligibility for pensioners
The DWP has confirmed that state pensioners with an income of £35,000 or below will receive up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment automatically under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
DWP confirms Sunday deadline for £150 Warm Home Discount
Six million households on DWP benefits must be named on their energy bill by Sunday 23 August to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, the government has confirmed.
Dudley Council to Build Council Houses Again After £1.5m Flats Purchase
Dudley Council has approved a £1.5m purchase of eight flats in Halesowen and plans to restart building council houses, with new homes expected by winter 2027.
HMRC confirms extra charge for 1.3 million PAYE pensioners
HMRC will recover Winter Fuel Payments from 1.3 million PAYE state pensioners earning over £35,000, with deductions rising to £33 per month in 2027-28.
HMRC: 900,000 state pensioners face extra tax charges
HMRC will issue extra tax charges to 900,000 state pensioners in Self Assessment whose total income exceeds £35,000, clawing back Winter Fuel Payments of £200 or £300.
HMRC Confirms £300 Winter Fuel Allowance for Pensioners
HMRC has confirmed that state pensioners with an income of £22,000 will keep their £300 Winter Fuel Allowance, while those earning over £35,000 will have the payment clawed back.
DVLA digital service cuts 10 days from medical licence decisions
More than 60,000 drivers have used the expanded DVLA digital service to report health issues, receiving decisions up to 10 days faster than with paper postal forms.
Dylan Woodhead found dead in cell 10 days after transfer
A watchdog report reveals Dylan Woodhead, 22, obtained drugs with 'apparent ease' at HMP Hindley and was not properly monitored before his death in January 2021.
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