State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit and other benefit payment dates over Christmas and New Year

The world's loneliest sheep is helping to encourage steps to prevent loneliness in the agricultural community after being rescued in the Highlands.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 12.6 million people across Great Britain receiving State Pension payments, including 1.1 million living abroad and 992,052 in Scotland. Of that overall total, some 9.7 million people are receiving Basic State Pension payments of up to £156.20 each week, while 2.9 million are on - or due to claim - the New State Pension, which is worth up to £203.85 each week.

Humza Yousaf has made a fresh offer to mediate talks between the UK Government and health unions to end the junior doctor strikes.

The cheapest and most expensive areas to live in Scotland have been named in a new report by the UK Government.

People are being urged to plan ahead as some State Pensions and benefit payments delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Social Security Scotland may arrive on Friday, December 22 instead of the scheduled day next week due to Christmas bank holidays.

Support staff at Ayrshire College are set to go back on strike in the new year in a long running dispute over pay and job security.

The Scottish Government has announced that people on a low income will start receiving a one-off payment for £55.05 this week to help with higher energy bills. Around 400,000 eligible households are due the Winter Heating Payment between now and the end of January, 2024.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared the proposed, new State Pension and benefits payment rates to come into effect from April 8, 2024. State Pensions will rise by 8.5 per cent, as per the Triple Lock policy, while most benefits will increase by the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure of 6.7 per cent.

New figures published by the UK Government show that at the end of March, the number of people making voluntary National Insurance (NI) contributions to top-up missing or incomplete years on their State Pension surged by 85 per cent over the 2022/23 financial year.

A new qualification offering young people an alternative route to university without debt will be launched in Greater Manchester in September next year, the Mayor has confirmed.

State Pension provides essential financial support every four weeks for 12.6 million 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 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.

Financial pressure can start to mount over the festive season and it’s important for every household to make sure they are not missing out on any additional support they are entitled to. This includes checking your eligibility for a Council Tax Reduction (CTR), a unique discount only available to people living in Scotland, that could reduce your annual bill by an average of £750.

Outlander star Sam Heughan will delight fans next weekend as he visits a Waterstones store in Glasgow city centre for signing of his new book 'Clanlands in New Zealand' which he wrote with co-star Graham McTavish.

EXCLUSIVE: After running his latest acclaimed solo show, Daniel Sloss: Can’t, off-Broadway and touring it worldwide to rave reviews, Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss has set the spring 2024 U.S. theater dates that will bring it to a close.

The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 12.6 million people across Great Britain receiving State Pension payments, including 1.1 million living abroad and 992,052 in Scotland. Of that overall total, some 9.7 million people are receiving Basic State Pension payments of up to £156.20 each week, while 2.9 million are on - or due to claim - the New State Pension, which is worth up to £203.85 each week.

Millions of people on disability benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance will see their payments rise by 6.7 per cent next April after the uprating was confirmed by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during the recent Autumn Statement.

Ja Rule has announced details of UK and Ireland for 2024. Check out dates and ticket information below.The last headline show the seminal ’00s star had in the UK was 10 years ago when he, Fat Joe and Twista performed at the Indigo At The O2 in 2014.

When Balamory was on CBBC screens from 2002 to 2005, it was a total hit with youngsters. But 18 years later, two of the show's well-known stars have now reunited for an upcoming project.

The Scottish Government will give another £2 million to address climate change loss and damage, the First Minister has announced.

Mark Shelmerdine, the veteran producer who revived London Films as an indie powerhouse and played a pivotal role in the development of the international TV distribution market, died October 26 in Santa Barbara surrounded by his family. He was 78.