Latest news with #JamieStone
North Wales Live
19-07-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Universal Credit transition clarified by DWP amid concerns over payment delays
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a clarification on the workings of Universal Credit payments amid concerns over delays faced by claimants. Jamie Stone MP brought attention to the five-week waiting period new claimants endure before receiving their initial payment. He was discussing the transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, which is set to replace six other benefits that are being gradually phased out. The DWP is proactively reaching out to those on these older benefits to encourage applications for Universal Credit. Failure to apply will result in halted payments. In Parliament, Mr Stone expressed concern: "The trouble is that they have to wait five weeks until they get their first cash. How will they make ends meet? What about the direct debits? I worry about that." He urged Labour ministers to rethink the policy, highlighting the difficult situation for many: "people are really caught in a trap", reports the Liverpool Echo. Official advice on the website regarding the switch to Universal Credit explains: "Your claim starts on the day you submit it in your account, however it usually takes around five weeks to get your first payment." The DWP has been approached for a statement on what help is available for those struggling during this five-week period. A spokesperson said: "We support millions of people through Universal Credit every year, and it remains a top priority for us to ensure they get the support they are entitled to. "Advances are available for new and existing customers that urgently need support. People moving on to Universal Credit also receive a two-week extension of their legacy benefits." This additional support is extended to people transitioning from Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, or Income Support. These measures are in addition to the Transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment, which provides a further two-week extension of Housing Benefit. The department also sought to explain the rationale behind the five-week wait for the initial payment of Universal Credit. Given that Universal Credit is assessed monthly in arrears, it's not feasible to issue a payment immediately when you put in your claim; instead, the assessment period must be completed before any payment calculation can be made. Should you opt for an advance payment, this sum must be repaid through deductions from your later Universal Credit payments. The DWP also admitted that there is room for improvement within the system. The spokesperson said: "We recognise Universal Credit could work better for people, which is why we're reviewing it, including how best to support people before they receive their first payment." How much is Universal Credit? These are the current monthly payment rates for the Universal Credit standard allowance: If you're single and under 25 - £316.98 If you're single and 25 or over - £400.14 If you live with your partner and you're both under 25 - £497.55 (for you both) If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over - £628.10 (for you both).
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP explains Universal Credit payment rule and admits system 'could work better'
An MP warned that some claimants are 'trapped' waiting for their payments to arrive The DWP has explained how Universal Credit payments work after concerns that some claimants have to wait weeks for their cash to arrive. MP Jamie Stone raised the issue of the five-week wait that claimants face until they get their first payment. He was talking about people on older legacy benefits who have to move over to Universal Credit. The benefit is replacing six benefits which are gradually being phased out. These six benefits are being replaced by Universal Credit: Income-based Jobseekers Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Housing Benefit Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit. People on key DWP benefit could get up to £447 every month next year The DWP is writing to people on these benefits to invite them to apply for Universal Credit - and anyone on them needs to apply or their payments will stop. Speaking about people in this situation, Mr Stone said in Parliament: "The trouble is that they have to wait five weeks until they get their first cash. How will they make ends meet? "What about the direct debits? I worry about that." He also told Labour ministers they should look at making changes to the policy as "people are really caught in a trap". Guidance on the website about moving to Universal Credit sets out this timeframe: "Your claim starts on the day you submit it in your account, however it usually takes around five weeks to get your first payment." What extra support is available to people moving to Universal Credit? The DWP was asked for a comment about what support is available to people who struggle to get by during this five-week interval. A spokesperson said: "We support millions of people through Universal Credit every year, and it remains a top priority for us to ensure they get the support they are entitled to. Advances are available for new and existing customers that urgently need support. "People moving on to Universal Credit also receive a two-week extension of their legacy benefits." This extension applies to people moving over from Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit or Income Support. This is on top of the Transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment, a two-week extension of Housing Benefit. The department also explained the reason for the five-week wait to get your first payment. READ MORE: PIP applicants issued key advice by former DWP assessor after cut 'delays' As the benefit is assessed and paid monthly and paid in arrears, it's not possible to award a payment as soon as a claim comes in, but rather the assessment period needs to run its course before the award can be calculated. If you apply for an advance payment, you have to pay back the amount in instalments, out of your future Universal Credit payments. The DWP also acknowledged that improvements could be made to the system. The spokesperson said: "We recognise Universal Credit could work better for people, which is why we're reviewing it, including how best to support people before they receive their first payment." How much is Universal Credit? These are the current rates for the monthly Universal Credit standard allowance: If you're single and under 25 - £316.98 If you're single and 25 or over - £400.14 If you live with your partner and you're both under 25 - £497.55 (for you both) If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over - £628.10 (for you both).
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New hub opens after closure of Wick's last bank
A banking hub has opened in Wick following the closure of the town's last organisation Cash Access UK is running the services from premises in Bridge Bank of Scotland branch shut last month. Since 2018, the town lost its Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Clydesdale Bank, TSB and Virgin Access UK is funded by major UK banks and has a network of hubs across the country. Wick's hub has opened in the town's former RBS building, and is the most northerly of Cash Access UK's has a counter service run by the Post from three banks will make visits to meet customers, with TSB on Tuesdays, RBS on Wednesdays and Bank of Scotland on premises also has a cash Access UK chief executive Gareth Oakley said: "I'm happy to announce the opening of our Wick hub, ensuring crucial access to cash and face-to-face banking services for residents and businesses across the community. "Customers can visit on any day of the week for their everyday banking transactions, and if you have a specific or more complex inquiry for your bank, a community banker will be there to help on the day they're in the hub."Caithness and Sutherland MP Jamie Stone welcomed the opening of the new hub, and said many customers still wanted face-to-face contact with bank Scotland, Cash Access UK also has sites in Turriff in Aberdeenshire, Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway and Troon in South Ayrshire.
The National
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Passion and tears as rural residents oppose the march of Big Energy
There was passion and tears from those who spoke of their despair and grief at what seemed like an unstoppable steamroller crushing their voices, opposition and local democracy. There was a genuine feeling of hope and camaraderie from the attending crowd. READ MORE: 53 community councils demand Scottish Highland energy projects pause The reckless over-deployment of industrial-scale renewables and the devastating infrastructure to encourage even more is leaving an environment torn up, habitats destroyed, communities reeling and widespread mental anguish. Jamie Stone MP was in attendance and I sincerely hope he took away with him that the communities relentlessly targeted by Big Energy won't roll over for a pittance of community benefit. In fact the message was: we don't want any money, we want to be left in peace after more than a decade of abuse by the multinationals encouraged by the Scottish Government. Kate Forbes MSP was conspicuous by her absence, as were senior Highland Council officials. The time for sticking their heads in the sand and ignoring the fury rumbling through our glens and communities has past, and they need to act for the people who pay their wages or lose their well-paid comfy seats. Energy minister Gillian Martin also needs to take note, and her 'better consultation by developers' will NOT stop communities objecting to Big Energy's profit-driven, destructive proposals. Instead of refusing to meet campaigners, but having multiple meetings with the very developers wreaking havoc across rural Scotland, she should make an effort to understand the distress her policies are causing. Slashing response times to thousands of pages of planning applications by half for already overwhelmed lay people is thoughtless and cruel. READ MORE: Taynuilt battery storage site application set to go to public hearing In addition, the meeting heard how our health is being scoped out of planning applications with the agreement of Highland Council and the Scottish Government. It is totally unacceptable and morally reprehensible that developers are allowed to not address human health in their environmental impact assessments for any energy proposals. The recent discovery that the radioactive isotope Caesium 137 from the Chernobyl fallout is potentially still sequestered in peat in significant quantities and is possibly being reactivated when excavated is a major cause for concern, not only for those who live near construction on peat (including the wildlife) but also for the workers digging it up. If we don't even test, how do we know it is not being reintroduced into water courses, private water supplies, grazing land and the atmosphere? Do the permitting authorities even know what the cumulative impact of regular exposure will be in the years to come? Is it a case of 'if you don't look you won't find, therefore it doesn't exist'? Rural Scotland and its people need protecting from the ruthless and profit-riven global investment colonisers who see them and where they live as collateral damage. I hope more will be inspired by what happened in Beauly on Saturday and join the growing swell of true environmentalists who have had enough of the damage caused by Big Energy and their enablers in the Scottish Government. Lyndsey Ward Communities B4 power Companies
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Head of youth hockey organization facing sexual assault charge
The head of a youth hockey organization has been charged with sexual assault following allegations that led to an arrest last month. Court documents confirm Ryan Wood was arrested on May 20. Wood is the director of hockey operations with the Purple Cobras Hockey Association within the Klevr Super League (KSL) Inc. KSL President Jamie Stone issued a letter to families of the Purple Cobras Association a week after Wood's arrest, stating in part, 'The allegations are deeply upsetting and concerning to the KSL, and are entirely inconsistent with the standards that we uphold.' Stone confirmed Wood had been suspended effective immediately from any involvement with KSL following the allegation, pending the sale of the Purple Cobras. 'We understand how upsetting this news will be to the families that have no fault to bear in the current circumstances. Please be assured that the safety, well-being, and trust of our families and players remain our highest priority,' Stone continued. One day later, Wood sent a letter to families stating he had been working over the past week and a half to 'finalize the sale of my entire business.' Wood continued, 'To those who have made accusations toward myself or my family—while I understand that financial uncertainty can lead to frustration—please remember that in the two years we've been part of the KSL, every supplier, coach, facility, and contractor has been paid, not to mention a loan to the company from my family personally to keep operations going has been done in the past to ensure those bills get paid, this was done to ensure your kids got more than what your contracts offered. We have always met our obligations. As with any business, until a service is not delivered, making unjust rumours or chaos is really unnecessary.' CTV News reached out to Barrie police for information and while the service confirmed a Barrie man had been arrested on May 20 and charged with a sex related offence it noted that to prevent any form of re-victimization no further details would be released. Barrie Colts co-owner Jim Payetta told TSN that Wood had been a billet family with the Barrie Colts for each of the last three seasons. In a statement posted on the organization's website, Barrie Colts owner Howie Campbell noted, 'To clarify, at the time of the incident, our season had ended and there were no team sanctioned events taking place.' It continued, 'It's disturbing to hear of this news. Myself, the OHL, and all it's member teams condemn all unacceptable behaviour. To date, we have not been contacted by police or any government agency in regards to this issue. Of course we will be fully cooperating with authorities in their investigation should we be called upon to do so.' Attempts by CTV News to speak with Ryan Wood have remain unanswered. The sale of the Purple Cobras has not been confirmed by Stone. Wood has a court appearance set in Barrie for June 30. The allegation against him has not been tested in court.
