State Pension back payments of around £5,000 most-likely due for women in their 60s and 70s

The Treasury have confirmed that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) started writing to older people whose National Insurance (NI) records may be affected by missing periods of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) in September 2023, inviting them to apply to fill potential gaps to ensure they receive the correct amount of State Pension.

We’ve teamed up with Iceland and The Food Warehouse with a fantastic offer! You can get one free Keelings product in-store in participating Iceland and Food Warehouse stores from Thursday February 15 until close of stores on Monday February 19, 2024.

Going out for food is an enjoyable experience for most people. But Mark Hatfield always needs to sit by a door, making note of every exit just in case he needs to run.

The final report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) into ‘injustice caused by the maladministration’ of changes to the State Pension age, is due to be published this year. More than 500 women boring in the 1950s who made a formal complaint to the Ombudsman - the PHSO stopped accepting new complaints - along with relevant parties including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and MPs representing constituents, were sent the draft findings of the final two stages (injustice and remedy) of the report at the end of November/early December.

The final report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) on its independent investigation into changes made to the State Pension age is expected to be published early this year. However, Labour MP Alistair Strathern, has asked the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if any recent assessment of the “potential merits of compensating women born in the 1950s affected by changes to State Pension age legislation” has been made.

State Pension payments are due to rise by 8.5 per cent and most benefits by 6.7 per cent in April, however, many people may not be aware that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will implement the annual uprating on two separate dates. New HMRC payment rates for 2024/25 will start from April 6 while DWP rates will begin on April 8.

Scotland captain Andy Robertson is in line to end his three-and-a-half month injury hell against Norwich this weekend. The Liverpool left-back is in contention to start Sunday’s FA Cup clash at Anfield - 15 weeks after after he was crocked against Spain.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures indicate that fraud and error in the benefit system is falling after the UK Government restated its determination to drive levels down further and protect taxpayers’ money. The latest national statistics show that in the 2022/23 financial year, fraud and error rates fell to 3.6 per cent (£8.3 billion) from 4.0 per cent (£8.7 billion).

Jaden Thompson David Beckwith, a longtime publicist known for representing Elvis Presley’s Graceland Museum, died Jan. 19 after experiencing sepsis following a hip replacement surgery. He was 67.

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.

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.

Teresa Giudice is looking back on her stint behind bars!

MGM Alternative is getting into the gaming world.

Playboi Carti and other major music artists, has been arrested for alleged wire fraud and identity theft.The 19-year-old – whose real name is Noah Michael Urban – was arrested last Tuesday (January 9), according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft.Urban – who is said to have gained notoriety online under his ‘King Bob’ moniker, an alias included the attorney office press release – is also reported to have leaked music by artists including Playboi Carti, Ariana Grande and Lil Uzi Vert.He does not currently face any charges related to song leaks.If convicted, Urban – who also went by ‘Sosa’, ‘Elijah’, and ‘Anthony Ramirez’ – faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud charge, alongside a minimum mandatory penalty of two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity offences which will run consecutive to any other prison sentence.He is alleged to have stolen more than $800,000 (£630,800) from five different people.According to jail logs (per HipHopDX), Urban was handed an additional charge of being a fugitive from justice when he was picked up by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Part of his charges relate to alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency use.Bitcoin was at the centre of an alleged leak of Playboi Carti’s music in 2020 when his producer, Jetsonmade, was accused of leaking the artist’s music for money.Playboi Carti’s last album came out on Christmas day 2020, described by NME in a three-star review as a “disappointing follow-up” that “boasts moments of brilliance”.

A man jailed for sending messages of a threatening nature to Nicola Sturgeon, and later helped abduct a sheriff, has died in prison.

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.

Annika Pham Paris-based The Party Film Sales has boarded renowned Icelandic auteur Rúnar Rúnarsson’s fourth pic, “When the Light Breaks,” which is selected for Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market’s works in progress session.Rúnarsson serves as producer together with Heather Millard of Iceland’s Compass Films, in co-production with local banner Halibut, Holland’s Revolver, France’s Eaux Vives/Jour2Fête and Croatia’s MP Film. Lauded for his coming-of age tales set against Iceland’s majestic scenery, Rúnarsson saw his international breakthrough in 2008 with his Oscar-nominated short “Two Birds.” Since then, he has delivered equally poetic fare in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight 2011 entry “Volcano,” San Sebastian 2015 winner “Sparrows “ and 2019 Valladolid and Lübeck fest winner “Echo.” As in his earlier works, Rúnarsson was inspired by a personal event for “When the Light Breaks”.

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.

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.