DWP announces eight new PIP rates for millions of claimants

Nigerien rock group Mdou Moctar have shared details of their forthcoming album Funeral for Justice. Out on May 12 via Matador, the project is the sixth from the group, founded by the eponymous Tuareg rock guitarist. Today’s news comes with the release of the new album’s title track.

It’s official – Auli’i Cravalho is reprising her titular role in the upcoming Moana 2!

Candace Cameron Bure has announced her next major role.

Les Savy Fav have announced ‘Oui, LSF’, their first new album in 14 years.The US indie rockers – comprising Tim Harrington, Seth Jabour, Syd Butler, Harrison Haynes and Andrew Reuland – will release ‘Oui, LSF’ on May 10th via Frenchkiss/The Orchard, which is available to pre-order/ pre-save now from here.The announcement comes alongside the release of their boisterous new track ‘Guzzle Blood’, which follows this month’s comeback single ‘Legendary Tippers’.“As the first song on ‘OUI, LSF’, Guzzle Blood drops you into the bottom of a dark well,” said frontman Harrington in a statement. “In a lot of ways the rest of the record is about the things we do to climb back out.”Listten to ‘Guzzle Blood’ below.It’s been over a decade since the band’s last album, 2010’s ‘Root For Ruin’. “When we finished our last record, there was a sense that if we were going to do more, we wanted to do something more ambitious,” Harrington added.

Payments to help people with additional care needs, such as the Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance, are set to increase in size from April, the Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music As expected, Atlantic Music Group announced on Monday that it will be laying off around two dozen people, with the majority coming from the radio and video departments. In an internal memo to the company’s staff obtained by Variety, chairman-CEO Julie Greenwald said Atlantic will be “bringing on new and additional skill sets in social media, content creation, community building and audience insights” in an effort to “dial up our fan focus and help artists tell their stories in ways that resonate.” The move reflects similar ones at the major labels recently, as they recalibrate to meet the leveling-off of streaming growth.

Shakira and Bizzarrap released one of the most succesful songs of the year. “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” went on to break records, be performed on stages all over the world, and become an international hit that directly addressed the rupture of Shakira and her partner of over a decade, Gerard Pique.

AURORA is set to front the new season of Tearjerker podcast on BBC Sounds about the “healing power of emotional music”.The artist will be hosting the fourth season of the podcast, following in the footsteps of Jorja Smith, Jordan Rakei and Sigrid.Per a press release, AURORA’s music choices range from classical to electronica, pop and more and explore themes such as “the first tear”, and “songs of hope”. Each episode includes a special feature ‘The Song That Saves Me’, featuring listeners’ suggestions of tracks that helped them get through difficult times.The season is made up of 12 one-hour episodes, which are all available to listen to now.Meanwhile, the singer returned with a new single, titled ‘The Conflict Of The Mind’, last month.Discussing ‘The Conflict Of The Mind’, which deals with themes around mental health and opening up to those around you, AURORA said: “I tend to isolate myself when I’m in pain.

Gary Barlow is set to host a brand new travel series on ITV this autumn where the Take That icon will delve into the delicious world of food and wine in splendid South Africa. As a wine connoisseur with his own range available in shops, the singer, 53, will visit vineyards and sample local cuisine in South Africa, to further explore his passion of food and wine - and share it with viewers.

Angelique Jackson A new cohort of emerging content creators have been selected for the second edition of Hoorae and Walmart’s “Black and Unlimited” digital development program. The program aims to provide content creators from diverse backgrounds with the necessary resources, membership and exposure to “unlock their full potential and pave their way to success.” The new class will receive a $10,000 stipend to help them focus on limitless discovery and creation.

Bleachers have released their new single ‘Me Before You’.The New Jersey band are due to release their upcoming self-titled album, which is scheduled for March 8 via Dirty Hit. So far, they’ve shared the singles ‘Modern Girl‘, ‘Alma Mater‘ and ‘Tiny Moves‘.Now, Bleachers have shared their final teaser in the form of their new song, ‘Me Before You’.

The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is at an all-time high with the latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showing there are now more than 3.4 million people over the age of 16 in receipt of the disability benefit. Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has replaced PIP for all new claimants in Scotland, but an online ‘PIP test’ could also help people north of the border decide whether they should make a claim for support worth up to £691 each month.

The Voice UK will return to screens later this year with three new faces set to appear on the coaching panel. Bosses of the hit ITV singing contest have announced today (February 21) that two brand new coaches will replace Olly Murs in a show 'first', whilst another will take over Anne-Marie's chair.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that some 440,000 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award reviews for existing claimants were outstanding at the end of December, 2023. DWP also confirmed that anyone coming to the end of their PIP award, or those with an overdue review, will be kept updated by text message and payments will continue uninterrupted for up to 12 months.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has announced details of a US tour, following the new-found success of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’.The announcement that the British singer will be hitting the road for US tour dates comes following the resurgence of her 2001 hit, namely due to its feature in the infamous final scene of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn.Since the film’s release at the end of 2023, it has become a viral hit on TikTok and even entered the Billboard Hot 100 – her first-ever song to chart in the US. It also climbed the UK single charts, peaking at Number Two last month.Now, Ellis-Bextor will be playing the song, as well as other hit tracks from her discography live later this spring, with seven performances scheduled across the US.The tour will kick off on May 30, with an opening show at August Hall in San Francisco, and continues the following night (31) with a stop at The Observatory North Park in San Diego.From there, the remainder of the live shows will run across the first half of June, with the first being held at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC (June 3), followed by scheduled dates in Boston and Philadelphia.The singer’s previously announced New York City show at Webster Hall is also included in the tour dates, set for June 6, although tickets for the gig have already sold out.

Catfish & The Bottlemen have announced a 7-inch vinyl and new merch for their forthcoming single ‘Showtime’.The band took to their official Instagram account to share a carousel of photos which include a black tile that read: “Back to the graft again” – the first line of their forthcoming single – along with a photo of a black t-shirt with the quote on it as well as a white 7″ vinyl pressing of their new single ‘Showtime’ which is set for release on February 22.Vann McCann and co. teased their first new music in five years this past weekend (February 17) by posting a six-second snippet on their social media channels.A post shared by Catfish and the Bottlemen (@catfishandthebottlemen)The taster featured McCann singing the lines, “Back to the graft again, just sold my voice for a long weekend”, over a chugging guitar line.

Beatles biopic projects told from the perspective of each band member.Sam Mendes (1917, Skyfall) is set to direct all four feature films. The biopics will be told from each band member’s point-of-view and will intersect to “tell the story of the greatest band in history.”The project marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd.

New Look's 'gorgeous' snuggly jacket that 'looks great with jeans and skirts' is now better than half price in the sale. The Mink Faux Fur Funnel Neck Zip Coat, originally priced at £39.99, has been slashed down to just £19.

Josie Gibson has shared her thoughts on Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley being the new hosts This Morning.The duo have been unveiled as the permanent presenters of the ITV show, and will make their debut next month. Josie, 39, is one of the guest presenters on This Morning and regularly fills in for hosts.

Bosses behind Piccadilly Tap have unveiled plans for a new pub in the city centre. The new spot will be located at Oxford Road station, and follows the launch of Victoria Tap at Victoria Station last October.