DWP Merges Three Benefits into Bereavement Payment Worth £6,300
Three DWP benefits have been scrapped and merged into a single non-means-tested Bereavement Support Payment worth up to £6,300. Find out if you qualify.
Category : Council Services
Tipton Bar and Grill Loses Licence Over Illegal Worker
Tiger Tavern in Tipton had its licence revoked after employing an illegal worker on £7 per hour, well below minimum wage. The owner was fined £45,000 last year.
Walsall Teen Jailed for £29m TfL Cyber Attack
Owen Flowers from Walsall and Thalha Jubair were jailed for five years and six months each for a sophisticated four-day cyber attack on Transport for London, costing £29 million.
West Midlands Police Chief Gets £57,800 Payout After Maccabi Ban
Craig Guildford, who resigned after recommending a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans based on AI-generated false intelligence, received a £57,800 payout.
Man's Body Found in Solihull Street, Not Suspicious
A man's body was discovered near Berry Maud Lane in Solihull on July 17. Police are not treating the death as suspicious and are preparing a file for the coroner.
Lloyds and Halifax Close Five West Midlands Branches
Lloyds Banking Group will close five branches in the West Midlands by 2027, with closures starting in September 2026, as customers shift to online banking.
Cockroach-Infested Restaurant Shut Down in Birmingham
A Birmingham restaurant has been shut down after inspectors found a severe cockroach infestation, with droppings and dead insects throughout the kitchen and food storage areas.
Erdington drug dealer jailed 11 years for helping killer brother flee
Elie Mey, 25, was jailed for 11 years for assisting his brother Israel Mey after a fatal drive-by shooting in Wolverhampton, and for drug and firearm offences.
UK Passport Rule Strands Teen in Rome for Six Weeks
A 15-year-old UK girl was stranded in Rome for six weeks due to new HM Passport Office rules requiring dual citizens to have a British passport or a £589 certificate to enter the UK.
DWP Crackdown After Staff Steal £600,000 in Benefits Fraud
DWP employees and contract staff stole over £600,000 in benefits meant for vulnerable people in 2025-26, prompting a crackdown using 'full force of law'.
Birmingham Bin Privatisation Considered in Leaked Report
A leaked report reveals Birmingham City Council is considering privatising bin collections to reduce strike risk, but warns it should not happen before 2028 due to the ongoing dispute.
Pensioners Wait a Year for £45,000 Civil Service Pensions
Civil service pensioners report waiting over a year for £45,000 lump sums and monthly payments after Capita took over the scheme, causing delays and frustration.
Birmingham garden waste return 'challenging'
Birmingham's garden and bulky waste collections remain suspended after the bins strike, with the garden service described as 'challenging' to restore. Bulky waste may return before strike ends.
Yorkshire Water pays £6,800 to customer by mistake
Yorkshire Water mistakenly paid £6,800 into a customer's account in two separate payments, telling them to enjoy the money. The error was due to a payroll update.
Officer Guilty of Assaulting Woman During Halesowen Arrest
PC Calum Brand has been found guilty of assaulting a woman by pulling her hair and elbowing her in the face during her boyfriend's arrest in Halesowen. The IOPC investigation led to the charge.
DWP £200 Winter Fuel Payments for Pensioners Under 80
DWP confirms automatic £200 Winter Fuel Payments for state pensioners under 80 this winter. Letters arriving October-November 2026. Amounts vary by age and household.
Facial Recognition Tech in UK Shops Sparks Alarm
Facewatch facial recognition system in Sainsbury's, B&M, and Spar stores will alert police instantly, raising privacy and civil liberties concerns.
New bin collection rules: food waste ban from Monday
From Monday July 20, households in Tamworth and Lichfield must stop putting food waste in general bins. New food waste caddies will be provided as part of a national shake-up.
M6 driver bizarre excuse failing to stop police no brakes
A van driver told police he didn't stop because his van had no brakes, but checks confirmed the brakes were working. He was arrested for dangerous driving and no insurance.
Pregnant shoplifter spared jail after 41 Birmingham raids
Lisa Harbun, 31, stole over £5,000 from Birmingham stores in 41 raids. Spared jail due to pregnancy and drug treatment, she received an 18-month suspended sentence.
Solihull Council Refuses to Reverse Fortnightly Bin Decision
Solihull Council's senior councillor Ken Hawkins confirms fortnightly bin collections from October 5 will not be reversed despite resident concerns, citing 72% recyclable waste and government's Simpler Recycling scheme.
Dudley Defends £1m Consultant Spend on Housing Safety
Dudley Council's housing chiefs defended spending nearly £1m on consultants to meet safety compliance, citing risks of not acting as greater than the cost.
Drug dealer jailed after cocaine found in his socks
Adrian Domi, 32, was jailed for three years after police found 41 bags of cocaine hidden in socks inside his car in Bromford, Birmingham.
HMRC Bills 920,000 Workers Over Company Car Tax
HMRC is sending tax bills to 920,000 employees as company car tax numbers rise 9.5% to 920,000 in 2024/25, with electric cars now accounting for 51% of recipients.
Asda Rolls Out Natasha's Law Labels in 142 Express Stores
Asda has extended Natasha's Law allergen and calorie information to 142 Express stores using electronic shelf labels for loose bakery items, enhancing food safety compliance.
Dudley Council Refuses Bin Collection Refund Amid 'Chaos'
Dudley Council's finance chief rules out council tax refunds for missed bin collections, citing the third-lowest council tax in England and ongoing efforts to improve the service.
Starmer Grants Councils Pavement Parking Powers
Keir Starmer's Government is giving local councils powers to ban pavement parking on selected streets, with Birmingham City Council set to apply, aiming to improve safety for pedestrians.
Martinez staying at Aston Villa, director confirms
Aston Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany confirms goalkeeper Emi Martinez will remain at the club this summer, ending Juventus speculation.
Willenhall Man Charged with Four Shop Thefts
Simon Crumpton, 40, from Willenhall, has been charged with four shop thefts in the Black Country and appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court today.
HMRC July 31 MFA Opt-Out Deadline Confirmed
HMRC sets July 31, 2026 deadline for agents to opt out of multi-factor authentication, with full rollout from September 28 to October 15, 2026.
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