Latest news with #Adult
7NEWS
7 days ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Daughter speaks out after teenage boy pleads guilty to Vyleen White murder in Queensland
The daughter of a woman who was stabbed to death has spoken out as the family wait to see if the teen responsible will be sentenced under Queensland 's new Adult Crime Adult Time laws. Vyleen White, 70, was killed by a 16-year-old boy outside Redbank Plains Town Square shopping centre, west of Brisbane, in February 2024. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Teen pleads guilty to murder. The teen, who is turning 18 later this year, was charged with murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle plus three counts of stealing. On Tuesday he pleaded guilty to all the charges in Brisbane Supreme Court. Queensland's Liberal National government introduced new Adult Crime Adult Time laws after winning the 2024 election. Under the new laws, juveniles can face adult sentences for more than 30 offences including attempted murder, rape, attempted rape, torture and aggravated attempted robbery. However, the law does not apply in this case because it only came into effect in December 2024 and does not apply retrospectively. The teenager faces a maximum of 10 years behind bars unless the court finds the offence to be particularly heinous. White's daughter, Cindy Micallef, said she hoped the judge would determine the crime to be serious enough to fall under the new law. 'This is open to interpretation by the judge so, let's just hope he finds this situation particularly heinous, because I know the rest of Queensland does,' she told Sunrise. 'Our family certainly do.' Micallef and her family have been vocal about reforming the state's youth crime system in the wake of their matriarch's death. She said a lot of young repeat offenders remain in the community and are continuing to 'raise hell'. 'You could be at the shops and there will be a group of them giving someone a hiding and they just keep doing this sort of stuff,' Micallef said. 'They get put away for a couple of weeks but then they're back out again.' Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said Micallef was inspiring and the new laws were driven by her family's tragedy. He said he would continue to strengthen youth justice laws and make changes as required. 'I spoke to (Micallef) last night, I spoke to her dad Victor this morning, they're two of the greatest Queenslanders you'll ever meet,' he told Sunrise. 'We're investing in early intervention for the first time in a long time and rehabilitation to try to turn kids around. 'Our mission is to make sure that we turn around that next cohort and make sure there are consequences for those who do continue to those kinds of crimes.' White's family members who were in court did not audibly react to the guilty pleas on Tuesday. 'Every aspect of our lives has changed, every aspect, and it's something you can't possibly imagine,' White's daughter Julie said. Prosecutor Chris Cook sought a pre-sentence report by November 3 and a November 12 sentencing. The teenager will remain in custody until his next court appearances.
South Wales Guardian
22-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Dementia patients in west Wales to benefit from new games
The items, funded by Hywel Dda Health Charities, have been distributed to Older Adult Community Mental Health Teams and inpatient wards across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire. The charity funded seven "All About Us" board games and seven "Aqua Paint Packs," both designed specifically for individuals living with dementia. Lara Schmidt, an occupational therapist, said: "We're incredibly pleased that charitable donations have allowed us to purchase these items for the OACMHTs and Older Adult Mental Health Inpatient Wards across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. "The 'All About Us' board game offers the opportunity to utilise as a one-to-one assessment tool as well as in group settings." She said the game supports users in reflecting on their experiences, identity, and values and can help strengthen their sense of purpose and independence. The Aqua Paint Packs, also designed for older adults with dementia, use water and gentle brush strokes to reveal calming images, encouraging creativity and conversation. Ms Schmidt said: "For our service users, aqua painting is a low-risk activity that still offers an enriching experience as aqua painting can exercise imagination, and enable people to experience joy and a sense of accomplishment." The items were made possible through donations to Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board. Nicola Llewelyn, head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: "The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive."
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
State Pension payment boost for people looking after grandchildren during summer holidays
Older people providing care during the school holidays this summer for children under the age of 12 may be able to boost State Pension payments by more than £6,000 over a typical 20-year retirement period by claiming a National Insurance perk from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). A single extra National Insurance credit it adds around £303-a-year on to the full, New State Pension. The State Pension top-up is known as Specified Adult Childcare and works by transferring the National Insurance credit attached to Child Benefit from the Child Benefit recipient to a family member who is providing care for a related child under 12, or 17 if they have a disability. You will receive a Class 3 National Insurance credit for each week or part week you provided care for the child, but there is only one credit available for each Child Benefit claim - no matter how many children are on the claim itself. For example, if two grandparents provided care for their daughter's two children, there is only one credit available for transfer and the Child Benefit recipient must decide who should have the credit. However, if the grandparent's also have a son and provide care for their daughter's child and their son's child, there are likely to be two Child Benefit recipients and therefore, two credits are available for transfer. If no one has claimed Child Benefit for the child there is no attached National Insurance credit to transfer and credits cannot be awarded. It might sound a bit complicated, but essentially the boost is only available for looking after children whose parents are working, so they don't need the National Insurance credits from claiming Child Benefit to go towards their own State Pension. It's also worth noting that you can put in a retrospective claim for Specified Adult Childcare going back to April 6, 2011. Claim for providing remote care during the Covid-19 pandemic Guidance on says that from March 2020, your normal caring arrangements may have been affected by Covid-19. This means that if you provided care, even if it was remotely over the phone, by text message or video call during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, you may also be able to plug any gaps in your National Insurance record by claiming Specified Adult Childcare. This applies to the tax years 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021. The full, New State Pension is worth £230.25 per week, equivalent to £11,973 each year, but to receive that maximum amount you need around 35 years' worth of National Insurance contributions. You need at least 10 years to receive any payment at all. Some people may have been 'contracted out' and will need more than 35 years - find out more here. Who can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits? You can apply as long as: you are an eligible family member who provided care for a child under 12 you were over 16 and under State Pension age when you provided care for the child you are ordinarily resident in the UK but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man the child's parent (or main carer) has claimed Child Benefit but does not need the credits themselves The child's parent (or main carer) agrees to your application by counter-signing the form to confirm that you: Who counts as an eligible family member You are classed as an eligible family member if you are the: mother or father who does not live with the child grandparent, great-grandparent or great-great-grandparent brother or sister - including a half-brother or half-sister, step-brother or step-sister, an adopted brother or an adopted sister, aunt or uncle You are also classed as an eligible family member if you are either the: current or previous husband, wife, partner or civil partner of anyone in the list above son or daughter of the current or previous husband, wife, partner or civil partner of anyone in the list above Who should not apply You should not apply for credits if for the same period you: already have a qualifying year of National Insurance - usually because you work or receive other National Insurance credits are receiving Child Benefit for any child and already get credits automatically If you are the spouse or partner living with the Child Benefit recipient and want to transfer the credits to yourself, you need to complete form CF411A - more details here. When to apply You must wait until October 31 after the end of the tax year you want to apply for. This means you can now claim for the financial years 2011/12 - 2023/24. This is because HMRC needs to check that the parent or main carer already has a qualifying year for National Insurance purposes. What you need to apply To complete an application form, you will need: your personal details as the eligible family member that provided care for the child the child's details and the periods you provided care for them the personal details of the child's parent or main carer - the Child Benefit recipient The HMRC guidance explains that both you and the Child Benefit recipient must sign a declaration on the application form. It also says that the child's parent or main carer should check their National Insurance record online before you apply, to check that they have credits to transfer. Full details on how to apply can be found on the website here.
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Expert provides five finance tips which could add £367,000 to your pension pot
Brits are losing money from their pension pots because of simple mistakes like failing to apply for government credits and low-performing pensions, however, essential tips from a finance expert explain how you can get your money in check. Recent data from the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) shows that £43,900 is needed annually for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement, yet more than a fifth of Brits feel unprepared for their later years. The PLSA sets three different retirement lifestyles - minimum (£13,400), moderate (£31,700), and comfortable (£43,000) - to give people a general indication of the kind of lifestyle they may be on track for in retirement. To help prepare yourself for retirement, finance expert Antonia Medlicott, Managing Director of Investing Insiders, has shared five things you should do to give yourself a more comfortable lifestyle in later life. Some 41 per cent of employees are not currently contributing to a private or workplace pension, but Antonia's guidance shows there are simple changes that can provide huge gains in retirement pots. Apply for Specified Adult Childcare Credits When a parent gets child benefit, they also get national insurance credits, but if they're working and someone else is doing the childcare, like a grandparent, then those credits can be transferred, which increases your retirement income if you don't have enough national insurance contributions. This little-known UK Government scheme is called Specified Adult Childcare and each year of credit can be worth up to £330 in extra pension income. Over a 20-year retirement, that equates to £6,600. Even better, you can backdate credits to 2011 in the application. The scheme leaves parents worried and asking questions such as 'will this negatively impact my own pension entitlement?', but the great news is that it doesn't, as they are working, which provides them with the national insurance credit anyway. Check your workplace pension A staggering 55 per cent of workplace pensions underperform against industry standards, which could leave workers with an income shortfall when they retire. It's vital to take an active interest in a workplace pension to make sure it's on track for a comfortable retirement. This issue is particularly acute for women, as only 28 per cent know where their pension is invested compared to over half of men (51%). And recent government estimates show that women have 35 per cent less private pension wealth than men. Simply checking a pension regularly (at least once a year) will help workers identify any disappointing returns and take action if they need to change their investment strategy. Open a Self-Invested Personal Pension A Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) allows you to have more control over how your money is invested and is popular due to its tax efficiency; all contributions are tax-deductible, and all growth is entirely tax-free. Making it an effective way to save for retirement. Around 10 per cent of the UK adult population currently hold a SIPP. Statistics over the last decade show that the average self-interest personal pension returns 5.2 per cent per year, compared to a standard default pension, which is between 3-4 per cent. There is a lot of flexibility when it comes to this pension; you can contribute as much or as little as you want. It is also very effective when it comes to estate planning. You can pass on your pension savings to nominated beneficiaries very easily, which gives good peace of mind to know that your money will end up with loved ones. Diversify income sources It's crucial that when you get to your retirement age, you diversify your income sources. Having this will help protect you from pension shortfalls and market volatility. This can be through state pensions, workplace pensions, investments, and personal savings. Each income source gives you an extra level of financial protection, as well as comfort during your retirement. If you combine this with being debt-free, then there's no reason you can't enjoy a stress-free and work-free later life. If you invest £200 a month from the age of 25, by 65 you could have a pot of over £459,000 at an average return rate of 7.5 per cent. But if you start at 35, that pot will be £223,000, and it will be just £98,600 if you start at 45. Debt-free living One of your main aims before retirement should be eradicating or minimising your debt. Particularly debt with high interest, as having to make regular payments on this could take a considerable amount out of your budget. It's also essential to think about your mortgage. If this is paid off before your retirement, then you won't have to worry about accommodation. On average, the UK population spends 35.7 per cent of its annual income on rent or mortgages alone. This will improve your financial flexibility, with that money instead going towards essentials like bills, food, and clothing. Whilst still having enough left over to treat yourself in your later years. Antonia said: 'We often don't want to think about ourselves reaching retirement age. However, assessing the situation now and making small changes, such as checking for childcare credits or how your workplace pension performs, will leave you better prepared when you approach the end of your working life. 'Deciding to start investing a small portion of your monthly income now could leave you with a lot more in your pension pot. That money will allow you to have a more comfortable retirement, or even let you retire earlier than planned.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Missing adult alert includes local counties
MASSILLON, Ohio (WKBN) – The Stark County Sheriff's Office has issued a Missing Adult Alert for surrounding counties to include Columbiana and Mahoning counties. Authorities are looking for 91-year-old Simon Curlutu Jr. Police say he suffers from dementia and walked away from his Massillon home Tuesday at about 11:24 a.m. and has not returned. They are concerned for his safety. Curluto is also hard of hearing and is blind in his left eye, according to police. He was last seen wearing a black/green/blue collard shirt, black jogging pants and black tennis shoes. Call 911 or the Stark County Sheriff's Office at 330-430-3800 if you see Curlutu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
