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The Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
DWP confirms Winter Fuel Payment dates and exact amount pensioners can get
THE DWP has confirmed key dates for the Winter Fuel Payment including the exact amounts pensioners can get. The website has been updated with eligibility criteria and how much people will receive based on their circumstances. 1 The up to £300 payment was axed for millions of pensioners last winter and only those on certain benefits qualified. But this winter it will be paid to individuals with a taxable income over £35,000 following pubic outcry. The U-turn means nine million pensioners will get a Winter Fuel Payment this year. But there is still eligibility criteria to meet including your age and where you live. Who is eligible? You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 22, 1959, and live in England and Wales. The amount you will receive is based on when you were born and your circumstances between September 15 and September 21 this year. This is known as the "qualifying week". If you live alone or no one you live with is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment you will get either: £200, if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 £300, if you were born before 22 September 1945 If you live with someone else who's eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment and are not on benefits you will get a payment of: Keir Starmer confirms huge winter fuel payment U-turn £100, if you and the person you live with were both born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 £100, if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 but the person you live with was born before 22 September 1945 £200, if you were born before 22 September 1945 but the person you live with was born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 £150, if you and the person you live with were born before 22 September 1945 If you and your partner jointly claim one of the following benefits, you will receive a different amount: Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support. If you are on one of these benefits, one of you will get a payment of either: £200 if both of you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 £300 if one or both of you were born before 22 September 1945 The payment will be made into the bank account your benefits are usually paid into. If you get any of the same above benefits, but not as part of a joint claim, you'll get a payment of either: £200 if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 £300 if you were born before 22 September 1945 However, in all the above cases, if your taxable income is more than £35,000, your Winter Fuel Payment will be taken back either through PAYE or through Self Assessment. If you are living in a care home will get either: £100, if you were born between 22 September 1945 and 21 September 1959 £150, if you were born before 22 September 1945 Do I need to claim? Most people eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment don't need to claim it and will receive it automatically. You do not need to claim if you get any of the following benefits: State Pension Pension Credit Universal Credit Attendance Allowance Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Carer's Allowance Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Income Support income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) awards from the War Pensions Scheme Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Incapacity Benefit Industrial Death Benefit If you do not get any of these, you need to claim if either of the following apply: you've not got the Winter Fuel Payment before you've deferred your State Pension since your last Winter Fuel Payment You can claim the payment by post from September 15, or by phone from October 13. The ultimate deadline to claim for this winter is March 31, 2026. More details on how to claim can be found via Most Winter Fuel Payments are made in November or December. If you are eligible, you should receive a letter in October or November telling you how much you're in line to get. If you don't receive one by January 28, 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
Emergency alert test returning in 2025 with nearly all UK mobiles affected
Nearly every mobile phone in the UK is set to receive an emergency alert message in 2025, which will trigger a loud 10-second siren-like sound. The message will come as part of a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts system by the government and mobile network operators. Emergency alerts is a UK government service that warns people when there's a danger to life nearby. says: "In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe." Alerts will only be sent by emergency services, government departments, agencies and public bodies. They will usually alert people to things like sever flooding, fires or extreme weather. Some people received emergency alerts from the UK and Scottish Governments back in January due to the red weather warning and strong winds associated with Storm Éowyn. While the last test of the service took place on April 23, 2023. An emergency alert was sent out to people across the UK and Northern Ireland in January due to Strom Eowyn. (Image: Rebecca Black/PA Wire) The last test alert read: "Severe Alert. This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. 'In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. "Visit for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.' Following the successful test of the UK Emergency Alerts system in 2023, the government said it would carry out "occasional operator tests" to assess improvements made. The next national test is set to take place later this year (an exact date is yet to be revealed). Every mobile phone in the UK is set to receive a new emergency alert test message in 2025. (Image: Lauren Hurley/PA Wire) The website says: "You may get this alert if you have a phone that has operator test alerts turned on. "These operator tests are not alerting you of real danger. These alerts will always have 'operator' in the title and will confirm that no action is needed." If you get an emergency alert, your mobile phone or tablet will: Make a loud siren-like sound for 10 seconds Vibrate Read out the alert The alert will also include a phone number or a link to the website for more information. What does the alert look and sound like? 🚨 Emergency Alerts will appear on the home screen of your device and you will hear a loud siren-like sound and feel a vibration for up to 10 seconds. Watch the video below 📽️👇 — Cabinet Office (@cabinetofficeuk) March 19, 2023 Emergency alerts, according to the Government website, will only work on the following devices: iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later Other phones that do not run iOS or Android may also receive alerts. You may also still be able to receive alerts if operating on an earlier version of Android. To check, search your device settings for 'emergency alerts'. You will not receive an emergency alert message if your device is: Turned off Connected to a 2G or 3G network Wifi only Not compatible In airplane mode If you do not wish to receive an emergency alert message as part of the national training, you can opt out. To stop receiving operator test alerts on Android devices, search your phone's settings for 'emergency alerts' and turn off 'test alerts', 'exercise alerts', 'operator defined' and 'operator alerts'. If you cannot see them in your settings, the government recommends: Opening your phone's calling app Using the keypad to enter *#*#2627#*#* Search your settings for 'emergency alerts' and turn off 'test alerts', 'exercise alerts', 'operator defined' and 'operator alerts' RECOMMENDED READING: Met Office emergency alerts gives Brits 'heart attacks' as they expect 'WW3' Virgin Media O2 to continue switch off next month leaving customers with no internet BBC iPlayer to stop working on select TV boxes from next month - is yours one? Depending on the manufacturer and software version of your phone, emergency alert settings may be called different names, according to The settings can usually be found in one of the following ways. The government website says to go to: 'Message', then 'message settings, then 'wireless emergency alerts', then 'alert' 'Settings', then 'sounds', then 'advanced', then 'emergency broadcasts' 'Settings', then 'general settings', then 'emergency alerts' "Then turn off 'test alerts', 'exercise alerts', 'operator defined' and 'operator alerts'," it adds.
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
In Pictures: People try to stay cool and enjoy the sun as temperatures soar
Staying cool can be a challenge during periods of hot weather, like the one the UK is currently experiencing. Staying indoors is advisable if you don't cope well in the heat. But if you have to go outside, the NHS website suggests staying in the shade and wearing sunscreen, a hat and light clothes. Avoiding exercise or other activity that makes you hotter is also advised but for activities that might be unavoidable, such as taking your dog for a walk, the RSPCA website advises owners to take their pet out in the early morning or late in the evening when it is cooler. People planning a day out with their dog are advised to check before leaving home whether dogs are allowed and to be mindful that pavements can get extremely hot during warm weather. If the ground is too hot to touch with your hand for five seconds, it is not suitable for paws. Hand fans can be a very useful accessory when out and about in the heat. These racegoers during Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot certainly made good use of them as they enjoyed the festivities. While outside, the website advises people to cover up with suitable clothing such as an appropriate hat and sunglasses, seek shade and apply sunscreen. Cooling yourself down is key to enjoying yourself during hot weather. 'Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes,' says the NHS website. Swimming pools, rivers, lakes, or the sea can be a fun way to cool down when the weather is hot, as these people in London's Hyde Park found. 'Wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket if you are doing an activity out on the water or at the water's edge such as boating or fishing,' the website advises. These sun worshippers took the chance to bask in the warm weather. The NHS website advises people to spend time in the shade when the sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm from March to October and use at least a factor 30 sunscreen.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Expert shares key red flags to look for in fake DVLA emails
An expert on scams has shared key red flags to look out for to indicate a fake Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) email. Nick Stapleton told BBC Morning Live on Monday (9 June) that scammers sending the phishing emails are 'trying to get you into an emotionally hot state' to 'make you act irrationally'. He advised people to look out for two key phrases which indicate a fraudulent email: 'The enforcement threshold is 72 hours from notice' and 'Do not delay, resolve this today.' Stapleton said this 'threatening' language reminds him of letters sent by the bailiffs, rather than the DVLA. He urged motorists to ignore the phishing emails and instead use the website to check if their vehicle is taxed.
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Parents warned to make immediate change to popular Bugaboo highchair as children are at ‘risk of injuries'
Plus, the Amazon toy which has been urgently recalled URGENT WARNING Parents warned to make immediate change to popular Bugaboo highchair as children are at 'risk of injuries' PARENTS have been issued a strong warning after a popular Bugaboo highchair has been found to put kids at 'risk of injuries'. The Bugaboo Giraffe Highchair - which retailed for around £200 - has been removed from the market after it did not meet safety regulations. 4 Parents have been urged to make an immediate change to the popular Bugaboo Giraffe Highchair Credit: Specifically this affects batches 200001001, 200001002, 200001005, 200001007, and 200001013. The hazard listed on the Gov UK website states that when an infant is seated in the baby chair, the legs of the wooden highchair can detach from the frame. This occurs if the screws attaching the legs to the frame are 'not tightly secured.' The warning states: 'Bugaboo UK Limited understands that this can occur due to the opposing forces an infant's thighs and feet can place on the upper baby set accessory seat and footrest. 'The product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.' While the product has been removed from the market, including from Boots, Bugaboo will provide a free repair kit containing revised screws if you wish to continue using it. The kit will include an updated Allen key and a user manual on the proper application of the screws. The Bugaboo website has a search for checking if your Bugaboo Giraffe needs a repair kit. The advice state: 'If you want to continue using your Bugaboo Giraffe highchair until you have replaced the screws using the Repair Set, you can only do so safely if you put the footrest in its lowest position. 'You can put the footrest in its lowest position by pressing the two buttons located on either side of the footrest while sliding the footrest down.' Is This Trend Safe? | Baby Pram Controversy 4 The warning states that as screws become loose, the legs of the high chair could detach from the frame Credit: 4 If you wish to use the high chair before the new screws arrive, Bugaboo says you can do so safely if the footrest is kept in its lowest position Credit: Getty Dutch brand Bugaboo has been designing and manufacturing luxury strollers, prams, and high chairs since 1999. This comes as a trendy children's dinosaur toy sold on Amazon was urgently recalled over a "serious" choking hazard. The blue and pink 3D printed toy was mislabelled and a small child could choke on a small part of it. Togetdream's 3D Printed Dinosaur Toy "presents a serious risk of choking as it is supplied with a small part, and is inappropriately labelled", the notice for its recall said. 4 A child aged under 36 months could put the bone in their mouth and choke Credit: Amazon
