Connect Music Festival is making its return to Edinburgh later this month, celebrating an array of musical talent, comedy, spoken word and wellness.
21.07.2023 - 04:23 / dailyrecord.co.uk
The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that State Pension currently provides regular financial support for 12.6million older people across the country, including nearly one million retirees living in Scotland. This payment is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which is currently 66 for both men and women, and have paid at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance Contributions.
However, many people approaching the official retirement age this year may not be aware that this contributory benefit is not paid automatically by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and needs to be claimed - or they could miss out on payments of up to £203.85 each week.
The money is not paid automatically when someone reaches State Pension age as some people choose to defer making a claim in order to keep working and generate more towards their pension pot, especially if they have not paid the full quota of 35 years' worth of National Insurance Contributions, or were 'contracted out'.
DWP guidance explains: “You do not get your State Pension automatically - you have to claim it. You should get a letter no later than two months before you reach State Pension age, telling you what to do.”
It then clarifies that you can either claim your State Pension or delay (defer) claiming it. It states: “If you want to defer, you do not have to do anything. Your pension will automatically be deferred until you claim it.”
Which means, unless you respond to the letter confirming that you want to start claiming State Pension, you will not receive any payments as the DWP will interpret no response as a wish to defer.
Deferring your State Pension could increase the payments
Connect Music Festival is making its return to Edinburgh later this month, celebrating an array of musical talent, comedy, spoken word and wellness.
Princess Beatrice will be celebrating her 35th birthday on 8 August, and astrologer Inbaal Honigman has revealed what the royal may have in store during her 35th year. Inbaal predicts that the royal will see her "love life take centre stage this year" with her marriage remaining as "passionate" as ever.The astrology has also taken a look at the Princess's 8/8/88 birth date, and this has meant she is "well suited to the British monarchy." Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Inbaal reveals that Beatrice's love life is set to take centre stage, explaining: "At the time of the Princess's birthday, the planet Venus, planet of love and beauty is in Leo, which is her personal sign.
Proposals in an online petition calling for State Pension to be paid to all people in retirement at the same rate as the National Living Wage is now due an official response from the UK Government after passing the 10,000 signature threshold. The proposal would see some 12.6 million pensioners receive £364.70 each week - equivalent to just under £19,000 a year.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update for people on disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and Attendance Allowance, who may still be waiting on the £150 cost of living lump sum. The money was made automatically to more than 6.4 million people during the two-week payment at the end of June, beginning of July.
State Pension provides essential financial support every four weeks for 12.6million people across Great Britain, including around one million living in Scotland. This regular payment of up to £203.85 per week for the full, New State Pension or £156.20 per week for the old Basic State Pension (Category A or B) is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which increased to 66 for both men and women in October 2020.
The cost of living crisis continues to squeeze millions of household budgets this year despite the lower energy price cap and inflation finally starting to drop. The UK Government’s cost of living payments have already provided lump sums of £301 for families on means-tested benefits and £150 for those claiming disability benefits.
The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show at the end of November 2022, there were 410,637 people across Great Britain receiving Attendance Allowance support for arthritis, making it the most-claimed for health condition by people over State Pension age. Nearly 37,000 older people in Scotland are receiving either £68.10 or £101.75 each week in extra financial support along with more than 1,100 living abroad.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) now estimates that 165,000 older people have been underpaid their State Pension by £1.2billion due to historical errors affecting mostly married women, widows and those aged over 80. It also estimates that 210,000 people may have been underpaid a further £1.3billion due to historical issues relating to Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP).
Pubs will be subjected to a major change in the coming months as temporary pandemic licensing rules are set to expire.
Roku executives spent some time today talking about M&E and the company’s Media & Entertainment advertising business that they expect to take a hit in the second half of the year as Hollywood strikes disrupt the television calendar.
State Pension is a contributions-based benefit that provides essential financial support for 12.6 million older people across Great Britain, including more than one million living in Scotland. Of that overall total, more than 1.4million people are also receiving additional support through Attendance Allowance.
UK State Pensions for people living overseas in retirement only increase in-line with the annual uprating - the Triple Lock guarantee - where there is a legal requirement to do so. An example of this is where there is a reciprocal agreement between the UK and the country of residence.
New analysis by Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, using the MoneyHelper annuity tool, has calculated the pension pot needed to secure a ‘minimum’, ‘moderate’ and ‘comfortable’ standard of living in retirement. Retirees who want to achieve a minimum living standard in retirement, which includes enough for the basics and one week’s holiday in the UK a year but no car, require an annual income of £12,800.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has introduced a new rule change this week that will see parents of children aged one and two on Universal Credit attend more face-to-face meetings with work coaches to help them prepare for employment. The appointments will include exploring steps to improve their skills, identifying support needs, learning about childcare provision, and boosting their confidence.
State Pension currently provides a regular income for 12.6 million older people across Great Britain, including more than one million living in Scotland. The payment is delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which is now 66 for both men and women, and have paid at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance contributions.
More than 1.4 million people over State Pension age are receiving regular financial support for a health condition through Attendance Allowance, including 127,399 living in Scotland. The benefit is worth either £68.10 or £101.75 each week and is designed to help older people with additional daily living expenses stay in their own home for longer.
In August 2022 there were more than 17,000 care homes registered across the UK, consisting of private care homes, voluntary care homes and public care homes run by local authorities and the NHS. The figures show that there are a total of 1,025 in Scotland, 14,535 in England, 1,024 in Wales and 405 in Northern Ireland.
A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to “permanently scrap green levies on all energy bills” which could see the average household pay an extra £170 from this month, despite the implementation of Ofgem's lower price cap on July 1. Petition creator Sophie Corcoran argues that the levies are “unnecessary” and “expensive” during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel warning to anyone heading to Greece this summer. The Government alert comes as temperatures have soared across southern Europe, with heatwaves in many popular British family holiday hotspots such as in Spain, Italy and Greece.
British travellers are being warned to be cautious while on holiday over a potentially deadly stomach bug that is spreading in European destinations.