DWP confirms New and Basic State Pension weekly payment rates due to start in April

Many Brits will be receiving their first paycheck of the new year in the coming days.

The latest statistics from the Stroke Association indicate that there are 1.3million stroke survivors across the UK. The charity’s research also suggests 100,000 people have a stroke each year and that someone will suffer a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) - often referred to as a ‘mini-stroke’ - every five minutes.

Pension experts at Spencer Churchill are urging older women, mostly in their 60s and 70s, to be on the lookout for letters from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regarding State Pension arrears payments worth around £5,000. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed that HMRC has issued thousands of letters to older people who may have Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) missing from their National Insurance (NI) record.

Millions of people claiming their State Pension can look forward to a bumper income boost this year when payments rise by 8.5 per cent from April 8, 2024. Under the wages growth measure of the Triple Lock policy, those on the full New Sate Pension can expect an annual increase of £902, while those on the full Basic (or Old) State Pension will see an uplift of £692).

The latest figures from the Scottish Government indicate there are around 850,000 people living in Scotland with some form of hearing loss and of those, 70 per cent are over 70 - some 595,000. Across Great Britain, there are believed to be 12 million adults living with a hearing condition or deafness, however, just 44,838 of them are receiving extra financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Attendance Allowance.

We’re learning more about what Christine Brown’s new husband has gone through in life before they met and got married last year. And the details that have come out are tragic, Perezcious readers!

Retirement may be a while off for some people or just around the corner for others, but pensions expert Helen Morrissey, is urging everyone to give some serious thought to deferring making a claim for State Pension, as it could boost their annual later-life income by more than £600.

The value of a footballer is subjective.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued thousands of letters to older people who may have been underpaid their State Pension due to missing information on their National Insurance (NI) record. The issue affects mostly women in their 60s and 70s who may have Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) missing from their NI record.

Millions of employees are set for a boost in their take-home pay from this month after the main rate of class 1 National Insurance (NI) deductions was cut from 12 per cent to 10 per cent on Saturday, January 6. The change will mean an average worker on a salary of £35,400 will get a tax cut of more than £450 in 2024/25, while an employee earning £50,000 will pay £3,743 in National Insurance after the change, saving about £749.

Carol Kirkwood has said her winter wedding last month was "blissful" and "romantic".

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published online guidance for next of kin, or an executor of someone’s estate, on requesting information about State Pension underpayments - worth up to an average of £112,383 - for someone who has died. DWP explained that changes have been made to “provide further clarity” on the situations when people should contact them, if they believe an underlayment may have occurred.

Following Monday night's 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the fourth round of the FA Cup, attention now switches to Sunday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur for Manchester United.

The Scottish Government recently announced a new devolved disability payment designed to provide additional financial support for people of State Pension age will not include a mobility component. However, it has also confirmed the new benefit will not include any face-to-face assessments as part of the application process.

A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to remove income tax on the State Pension to “reduce the tax burden on pensioners”. The personal tax allowance threshold will remain frozen at £12,570 during the 2024/25 financial year, which means that older people with an income of more than £242 per week may have to pay income tax.

Nearly 1.5 million older people with a long-term health condition claiming Attendance Allowance are set for a significant income boost in April following confirmation from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that benefits will rise in line with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure of 6.7 per cent. During the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor also announced that the State Pension will increase by 8.5 per cent - the earnings growth measure of the Triple Lock policy.

Emmerdale has confirmed its new boss months after producer Jane Hudson stepped down from the role after five years. Jane, who announced her departure in August, oversaw some of the show’s biggest storylines in recent times including Marlon Dingle’s stroke and Faith’s terminal breast cancer diagnosis.

Ariana Grande has announced that she will be releasing a new single, ‘yes, and?’ on Friday (January 12).The track is expected to be the lead single from her forthcoming seventh album, which she recently teased by sending notes and red lipsticks from her r.e.m. collection to fans.Fans had began suspecting ‘yes, and?’ would be the title of the lead single of Grande’s album after she was spotted wearing a jumper with the phrase on it.On top of that, last week, the singer shared a muted Instagram post featuring her mother Joan dancing to one of her unreleased songs.

Thousands of older people, mostly women, could be due backdated State Pension underpayments worth nearly £12,400 before the end of 2024 as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues to identify and rectify historical administration errors. However, it's important to be aware most people currently receiving the State Pension - some 12.6 million - are getting the right amount of money.

Cuts to national insurance will see millions of workers earn more money on their paycheck, according to the government.