Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane's ashes have been scattered at a few of his favourite spots in New York.
27.12.2022 - 11:03 / dailyrecord.co.uk
This festive period will be a different type of holiday for many households due to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Soaring energy bills and record-breaking inflation means that money matters are at the forefront of spending, prioritising practical needs and staying in the black rather than stretching household budgets to breaking point.
This week presents the perfect opportunity to make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to. The downtime away from work, or just taking advantage of the change in routine due to the seasonal shutdown, means everyone can take a few minutes to check they are maximising their income - whether they are in work or not.
Many people mistakenly believe there is a stigma attached to claiming benefits, but it’s worthwhile noting an estimated £15 billion state support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) went unclaimed over the last year.
The Scottish Government recently launched a new website, offering a 'one stop shop' to help households and individuals quickly check for additional support - find out more here.
The main one to check your eligibility for is Universal Credit which is designed to help households on a low income or out of work.
The UK Government states that a person may be able to get Universal Credit if:
You are on a low-income or out of work
You are 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
You are under State Pension age (or your partner is)
You and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
You live in the UK
If you live with your partner, their income and savings will be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit.
It is worth noting that you won't be able to get any of the means-tested benefits if your
Harry Potter star Robbie Coltrane's ashes have been scattered at a few of his favourite spots in New York.
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A community will gather to pay an emotional tribute to a “loved” scots dad who tragically died after falling off a bridge in New Zealand on Christmas Day. Duncan Gordon, 39, from Dunkeld, fell backwards from the bridge in Dunedin at around 8pm following a social gathering with friends.
A projected $22.5 billion deficit has Gov. Gavin Newsom proposing some belt tightening and program cuts for California, but the financial sun is still shining bright on the Golden State’s over $400 million film and television tax credits program.
A machete attack on a convicted drug dealer near his home has sparked fears of a renewed gang war in Edinburgh.
A Perth hotel that went up in flames on January 2, killing three people, was served with three health and safety warnings from the local council a fortnight before the fatal fire struck. The environmental health report claimed “guests do not feel safe within the hotel during the night”.
An Ayrshire rock band has won The Weekender Awards 2022 'Music Video of the Year'.
A charity has warned that council tax arrears could soar this year after new data showed its clients need help clearing debts almost three times higher than the average bill amid the cost-of-living crisis. Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) revealed that its clients owed a cumulative £12.7million to local authorities for unpaid tax bills between September 2021 and September 2022.
Starting off the new year strong! Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway and more stars rang in 2023 with a bang.
Thousands of revellers returned from all over the world to welcome in New Year at Scotland’s biggest street party. Over 40,000 people flooded into Edinburgh for the world-famous Hogmanay for the first time in three years.
Queen founding member and guitarist Brian May received a knighthood as part of the UK’s New Year Honours List, the annual compendium of awards handed out by at the end of each year by the reigning monarch.
A think-tank has warned that families are facing a "groundhog year" as further squeezes on living standards look set to continue into 2023. The Resolution Foundation said that while there are signs inflation will ease and interest rates peak lower than feared, family finances face a repeat of 2022's cost of living challenges.
The latest figures published by the Scottish Government show that 456,790 people were in receipt of a Council Tax Reduction in October 2022, meaning around one-in-five households were benefiting from the scheme. Scottish households have saved more than £3 billion in Council Tax since the Council Tax Reduction scheme was introduced almost 10 years ago.
The start of a new year is a good chance to review your finances and make some quick changes which could help improve your credit worthiness within just a few weeks. Having a strong credit rating can help bring you one step closer to securing finance as it is a way for lenders to check if you are financially reliable, whether you're trying to get a loan, credit card, mortgage or car finance.