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Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
State pension mistake means nearly 200,000 owed up to £31,000
State pensioners could be missing out on THOUSANDS when they retire. BBC and ITV star Martin Lewis has issued a warning over a State Pension error - with some owed THOUSANDS. The issue saw parents and carers who took time off work between 1978 and 2010 to look after children due £100,000 or more when they retire, known as Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). Mr Lewis says: "If you cared for a child or someone with a long-term disability between 1978 and 2010, you could wrongly have National Insurance gaps that reduce your State Pension. 100,000s could be affected, and while the Govt was contacting people, it isn't any longer - as highlighted by former Pensions Minister Steve Webb. READ MORE: PIP claimant takes DWP to court and wins after 'worst two hours of my life' READ MORE: Millions of Premium Bonds holders set to be handed 'unexpected' payment from NS&I READ MORE Next UK heatwave 'will be hotter than expected' with exact date it starts announced "Thus the onus is on you to proactively check. The impact can be huge." Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was given for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16, you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed Child Benefit instead of you, you were getting Income Support because you were caring for someone who was sick or disabled OR you were caring for a sick or disabled person who was claiming certain benefits. National Insurance credits for parents and carers replaced HRP from 6 April 2010. Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb described the gaffe as "a hammer blow to over 100,000 mothers who are receiving reduced state pensions because of errors on their National Insurance record." He said: 'The Government's letter-writing campaign has been a dismal failure, and this was entirely predictable given its reliance on a complicated online claims process.' One woman emailed the team at Mr Lewis's Money Saving Expert to share that she received 15 years' worth of back pay from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), totalling a staggering £31,674. A Labour Party government spokesperson said: 'We are determined to help people who have been left out of pocket as a result of historical errors which are no fault of their own. That's why we wrote directly to over 370,000 of those who were potentially affected and launched an online tool to help people check if they needed to claim. 'We carried out an extensive campaign to raise awareness of the issue and will continue regular communications to get people to check their National Insurance record.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
It's time to shorten school holidays and end six weeks of childcare hell
My eldest son Rafferty finishes nursery this week. It feels funny writing that down because I've been in denial about it for a while. Not for any sentimental reason (though there is a touch of that) but because the arrival of the summer holidays fills me with so much panic that I've chosen, rather unwisely, to stick my fingers in my ears and pretend it's not happening. Surely a shorter school holiday would be far more manageable – for all families? In fact, 53 per cent of all parents – single, married or otherwise – surveyed by Parentkind last week would prefer that the summer break was cut to a month. Tempting, no? I've even had to mute the nursery WhatsApp group too, because it's become the holiday camp headquarters. Parents are trading secret codes, exchanging insider tips and demonstrating levels of forward planning that terrify me. For the uninitiated, these holiday camps are action-packed days of fun hosted by schools and sports clubs – and a way to enable parents to carry on working as normal-ish out of term time. Thank goodness they exist, frankly. But they do have their downsides. For starters, they are expensive, at about £250 a week. And most of them finish at 3pm – perfectly reasonable, unless you're trying not to get sacked. You usually have to pack a lunch, too, which sounds like nothing – but over half-term was somehow the straw that broke me. Add to that the co-ordination: trying to match up camps with your kid's friends, so they don't end up in a random scout hut with a bunch of strangers and a deflated parachute. Hence the WhatsApp group chatter. I really must unmute. A unique kind of pressure Dr Ally Tomlins, a consultant clinical psychologist, sees my brand of seasonal stress all the time in her clinic. 'The summer holidays are often painted as a time of joy and togetherness, but for many families they can bring a unique kind of pressure,' she says. 'The mental load on parents can become overwhelming. They're juggling logistics, childcare, work commitments, sibling squabbles and the invisible labour of trying to 'make memories' while everyone is a bit hot, tired and off-routine.' Tell me about it. Rafferty usually loves a holiday camp. His days are spent leaping on giant inflatables, playing football and larking about. On one occasion, I showed up early to surprise him and he made me promise never to do it again. But that doesn't stop the guilt. At the end of my working day, I know that I'll still be scrolling Instagram feeling bad that he isn't doing something 'immersive' with dinosaurs, petting llamas with me at the zoo or flying to Mauritius. To be fair, I haven't made things easy for myself. I'm a solo mother by choice, so I can't swap out with a co-parent, because there isn't one. The burden of six weeks without childcare falls squarely on my shoulders, and as I'm self-employed, taking time off is its own financial and logistical maze, although luckily my youngest Milo, 16 months, has year round care at his nursery. But at least I knew what I was letting myself in for; many single parents didn't. Should we make it a month? Should we actually make it a month-long break, instead of the dreaded six weeks? Although it sounds appealing to adults, it may not really be the right thing for our kids. Dr Tomlins offers her perspective. 'Children benefit hugely from unstructured time,' she says. 'Long holidays give space to decompress, play deeply and develop life skills that don't fit neatly into a school timetable. So rather than shortening the holiday outright, we might focus on how we scaffold it better, with accessible community activities, safe spaces to play, and support for parents to manage their own wellbeing.' Grandparents are increasingly part of that solution – with more than half helping out while their children are at work. SunLife Insurance estimates that they save UK parents up to £96 billion a year in childcare costs. However, mine are, ahem, cruising the Norwegian fjords as we speak for their 50th wedding anniversary. How can I begrudge them that? Plus, they are in – or approaching (before my mother disowns me) – their eighties, there's only so much I can reasonably expect them to do. Thankfully, I have an exceptional support network around me, which helps. There are neighbours and friends who'll help with drop-offs and pick-ups and who can take the kids for playdates on the days I haven't been able to shell out for 'extended hours'. That stuff is gold dust when you're working full-time, solo parenting – or both. For once, the Europeans want to be more like us Looking at our European counterparts – where 12-, 13- and even 14-week breaks (gah!) are the norm in many countries – maybe I should count my blessings. In Lombardy, where three-month summer holidays are standard, mental health appointments with parents rise by up to 40 per cent every summer compared with the rest of the year. A petition with more than 70,000 signatures was even delivered to the Italian senate demanding holidays more in line with the British system. So perhaps I'll pipe down – or at least try to chill out. 'Intentional parenting with a light touch' could also help. 'That means approaching the holidays not as something to survive or perfect, but as an opportunity to pause, reset and connect in small, meaningful ways,' says Dr Tomlins. 'Start by getting clear on your values. What do you really want your children to remember from these weeks? It's usually not the expensive outings, but the moments of playfulness, calm and feeling seen. And remember: 'Good enough is great'.' And – as every adult born pre the digital age knows, getting bored is an essential part of the summer holiday routine. Dr Tomlins adds, 'If the goal is joy and connection, you don't need to entertain your children every minute. In fact, boredom is a gateway to creativity. Give them time to be 'delightfully under-stimulated' – it supports emotional regulation and independence.' Music to my ears – now that I've removed my fingers from them. Small, spontaneous moments of playfulness feel achievable. I can feel my shoulders drop just thinking about the holidays in that way. A camp-free day here and there to spend intentional, quality time together feels like a revelation. Suddenly, I can look forward to a day off to get really involved in Rafferty's latest Lego creation or to play swingball with him in the garden. As Dr Tomlins puts it: 'Summer can bring both joy and tension. My advice is to lower the bar and raise the connection. Focus on small wins: a shared laugh; a moment of calm; a soft evening spent side by side. That's where the joy of childhood and family life really lives.' She's right, I think. Just last week, Rafferty and I did some 'gardening' together, which mostly involved him painstakingly spraying all the plants with his tiny water pistol and then sweeping up the odd leaf with a dustpan and brush. He's still talking about it now. I won't pretend I'm looking forward to every minute of the summer. I know there will be moments when I want to hide in a cupboard – and possibly will. But perhaps I'll go in with lower expectations – and that reminder from Dr Tomlins on the fridge: 'Good enough is great'. See you on the other side. Dominique Afacan's newsletter, Nesting, is on Substack Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Tower of London dig reveals Black Death-era skeletons below popular tourist site: 'Tip of the iceberg'
Archaeologists recently uncovered the ancient skeletons of possible Black Death victims – buried just beneath one of London's most popular tourist spots. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the organization that manages the Tower of London, shared the news with Fox News Digital. The discoveries were made during an excavation in the spring, marking the first dig at the Tower of London in three decades. It took place ahead of a scheduled renovation of the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula, a chapel that dates back to the 15th century. "As a final resting place for many who lived or were imprisoned within the Tower's walls – including three queens and two Catholic saints – [the church] undoubtedly has a few stories to tell," HRP said. "But much of its earlier history remains unknown." It added, "Now, finds from the most significant excavation at the Tower in a generation are beginning to shed light on both the development of its chapel and some of the people connected with it." One of the most eyebrow-raising finds was a mass grave of 14th-century skeletons, which officials said were "possibly linked to the Black Death." In a separate discovery, archaeologists found even older graves in coffins – likely belonging to high-status individuals. "Three skeletons from the late 12th or early 13th century were also uncovered," the statement read. "These individuals appeared to have been buried in coffins — an unusual practice at the time, possibly indicating high-status burials." In total, the remains of 20 individuals were found during the excavation. Officials also identified a fragment of a burial shroud at the site, which HRP described as "extremely rare" since it is made of fabric. "This is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis about the people, as well as the buildings." "One separate burial contained two 12th- to early 13th-century pots filled with charcoal – exceptionally rare examples of medieval grave goods previously recorded only once in England," the statement added. "These finds will now undergo further scientific analysis." Alfred Hawkins, a curator of historic buildings at HRP, described the excavation as a "generational opportunity." "These excavations were essential as part of our mission to provide greater access for people to visit this important place of worship, but they have also given us an amazing opportunity to explore the site in more depth than ever before," he said. In addition to the skeletal finds, archaeologists also uncovered "tantalizing hints of the chapel's earlier incarnations," HRP said. "This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower." Though the current chapel was built in 1520, officials found evidence of "a large-scale burning event," which points towards the destruction of an earlier structure — likely the one built by Edward I in 1287. "A compacted layer of Reigate stone unearthed during the dig may date even earlier – potentially to works by Henry III in 1240," HRP said. "Elsewhere, a large section of wall and what may be a floor surface could be remnants of Henry I's 12th-century chapel, about which very little is known." "This marks the first major archaeological dig in this part of the Tower, offering a rare opportunity to redraw the map of the medieval fortress and enhance our understanding of those who lived, worshiped, and died there." Jane Sidell, principal inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England, said the project helps gain insight into Tower residents "in a way we have never been able to do before." "But this is just the tip of the iceberg — there is so much more to learn through further analysis of the people, as well as the buildings, of one of England's most evocative historic monuments."
