New Council Tax scheme to help people struggling to keep up with regular payments

Millions of people claiming their State Pension can look forward to an inflation-busting boost next month 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 State Pension can expect an annual increase of £902, while those on the full Basic State Pension will see an uplift of £692.

SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison will hold showdown talks with the two local authorities that are snubbing her call for a council tax freeze.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Seriesmakers, a joint initiative of Series Mania, Europe’s biggest TV festival, and European film-TV powerhouse Beta Group, has revealed the 10 top-notch project lineup of the second edition of its novel and high-powered mentoring program for filmmakers making their TV creator debut. This year’s Seriesmakers features in development drama series from Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald (“George Blake”), behind “The Last King Of Scotland,” and from Finnish director Mikko Myllylahti, who burst onto the scene co-writing with Juho Kuosmanen the latter’s “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Makki,” a 2016 Cannes Un Certain Regard winner.

A Castle Douglas charity took centre stage at the opening of a new store on Thursday.

A West Lothian mum who is pregnant with quadruplets is pleading with her local council to be moved from her two bedroom home.

People making a new claim for devolved benefits, or those transferring from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) IT system to the Social Security Scotland platform, are being warned not to be caught out by cold-callers, pretending to be official local client support advisers.

Perth and Kinross Council has voted to freeze council tax in 2024/25.

A Glasgow City Council job has been advertised with a higher salary than the Prime Minister's for only 35 hours work.

A British student hopes to become the fist deafblind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest after reaching base camp last year - and deciding she must make as many memories as possible before she risks losing her sight for good.

SNP Ministers are delaying a key part of a new law designed to clamp down on the sale and use of fireworks.

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.

Scottish Ministers have coughed up extra funding as a sweetener for local authorities over a bitter council tax freeze row.

A bitter power struggle at Scotland’s biggest country and western club over the use of the “racist” Confederate flag has taken a new twist.

An MSP is demanding the rollout of reusable nappy schemes across Scotland which could save new parents up to £500.

Louise Thompson has told her fans she's going back to the hospital after she just got home. Last week the 33 year old revealed why she had to go to hospital in the first place after she was in agonising pain following her return to the UK from a holiday in Antigua. She then stayed in the hospital for more than two weeks getting help before being able to go home to fiancé Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo-Hunter, who is two years old.

People living in Scotland are in a unique position as there will be 15 benefits and payments only available for those living north of the border by the end of this year. A pilot rollout of Carer Support Payment began in November in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles and will gradually replace all new claims for Carer's Allowance, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Perth and Kinross councillors have questioned the wording of a government survey which seems to suggest people should drink less water.

A plan to demolish a house in Polmont and build three new ones in its place has been refused planning permission by Falkirk councillors.

Alex Ritman If there was one puzzle from the 2023 Venice Film Festival, it concerned Caleb Landry Jones and the actor’s curious decision to conduct all his press arrangements for the Luc Besson thriller “Dogman” with a Scottish accent. As was later revealed, the Australian had taken a quick break from shooting U.K.

New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that by the end of August 2023, there were more than 1.5 million older people receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance, including over 136,200 living in Scotland. The payment is worth either £68.10 or £101.75 each week and is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses.