Latest news with #financialhardship
CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
More people are giving up their pets. Here's what's behind it
In recent months, there has been a surge in the number of people looking to give up their pets, and financial hardship has been one of the main determinants for many. Katy Hansen from Animal Care Centers of New York City shares details.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Warning as thousands of grocery stores suddenly at risk of closure. Use our interactive map to check if your area is on list
Families across the US could soon find it more difficult to buy basic groceries. A sweeping report has revealed that a staggering 27,000 retailers across the country are likely to experience financial hardship due to cuts to food assistance. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DTE Energy supports vulnerable customers during historic heat dome with $800,000 donation to United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Need for support up 72% from the last program year due to extreme temperatures, more resources are needed for Michigan residents DETROIT, July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy today announced it is donating $800,000 to United Way for Southeastern Michigan to help Michiganders across the state stay safe during Michigan's extreme summer weather. The donation will provide relief to elderly, unemployed, underemployed, and disabled customers across Michigan who are struggling to pay their energy bills and have qualified for energy assistance in the current year. "Many Michigan families face genuine financial hardships and are struggling to pay their bills. This donation will help us support Michiganders accessing the help they need to pay their energy bills," said Jeff Miles, vice president of Community Impact, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "While MEAP recently expanded assistance amounts and eligibility requirements, this donation helps address current gaps and keep families enrolled now." According to United Way, the need for support has increased 72% from the last program year, resulting in a funding shortfall. This donation will provide immediate support to bridge that gap. At the end of last year, thanks to the advocacy of organizations like United Way and a coalition of other human service nonprofits, the Michigan legislature passed an energy assistance expansion which Governor Whitmer signed into law. The new law increases the funding available for low-income families under the Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and modifies the eligibility criteria to allow it to serve more of those in need. This additional funding will be available for new applicants on October 1, at the beginning of the State's fiscal year. Until then, the new dollars being invested by United Way and DTE will help fill a resource gap to provide much-needed support for current enrollees. "DTE's strong partnership with United Way of more than 40 years continues to be a lifeline for Michigan families – especially in the summer, when rising temperatures can lead to unexpected energy costs," said Evette Griffie, vice president of Customer and Community Engagement, DTE. "This donation isn't just about meeting the needs of today, it connects families to the right programs that can prevent these crises in the future." More than 5,000 residents were enrolled in LSP during the 2024-2025 program year, and DTE anticipates potentially greater need through the remainder of this year. This donation is expected to support 6,400 customers this program year. Visit for more information about the program or to enroll. "We're grateful for this critical support from our partners at DTE, which will allow us to help families not just get through tough times, but stay on solid ground," added Miles. "As household budgets are seeing increased pressure, we will continue to work with community partners to help more families move from crisis to stability and from stability to prosperity." Over the past five years, DTE has connected customers to more than $660 million in financial aid. The company works closely with federal, state and agency partners to advocate for new approaches to quickly get help to customers in need. DTE also served as a strong advocate for the recently passed legislation that will increase funding for energy assistance and reduce access barriers, opening the doors of support to additional Michiganders in need. "DTE works every day to connect customers to energy assistance – we are doing everything in our power to ensure customers are never without the energy they need. Our work doesn't end here. We will continue to advocate for the most vulnerable so they can receive the support and resources they deserve," said Griffie. Customers can learn more about financial assistance programs at About DTE EnergyDTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.3 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers across Michigan. The DTE portfolio also includes energy businesses focused on custom energy solutions, renewable energy generation, and energy marketing and trading. DTE has continued to accelerate its carbon reduction goals to meet aggressive targets and is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy, emission reductions and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at and About United Way for Southeastern MichiganUnited Way for Southeastern Michigan, a member of the United Way Worldwide network and a locally independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping households achieve stability and ensuring that children have the resources they need to thrive. For over 100 years, United Way has been a leader in creating positive, measurable, and sustainable change in communities throughout Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The organization collaborates with donors, agencies, corporations, and municipal partners to support essential services, including housing, food security, healthcare, and education. To give, advocate, volunteer, or learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE DTE Energy Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dumb and Dumber star tells Nicolle Wallace he hopes Trump voters suffer financial hardship
'Dumb and Dumber' star Jeff Daniels blasted Republicans and wished Donald Trump voters suffer financial hardship during a recent interview. Daniels called the president a 'snake oil salesman' while speaking on MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace's podcast, 'The Best People.' The two discussed his upcoming role as Ronald Reagan in the upcoming film 'Reykjavik' when Wallace asked him how the 40th president compares to the current administration. Daniels went on a rant about the collapse of the Republican party and expressed his desire for Trump voters to lose their money. 'I'm just an actor, what do I know? But when Mitch [McConnell] started stacking the courts 25 years ago, I said it on your show once, they can see it coming,' Daniels said. 'The new America that is diverse and treats everyone with equality and respect and dignity, you know, kind of like Jesus did. We're ready for that. And Mitch and company could see it coming. 'They were going to be the minority, so they just started and then here we are, and now you got it, and now you're losing money. I hope you're losing tons of money, those of you who thought this would be okay.' Wallace called out voters in Michigan who voted from Trump and said the tariffs are going to negatively impact them. 'I mean, Michigan voted for Trump this time again,' Wallace said. 'I mean, the tariffs are going to hurt your neighbors, they're going to hurt.' Daniels agreed that everyday people will suffer because of Trump's policies and said he believes people will eventually realize the president is to blame. 'Which I think, at the end of the day, that's what's going to do it. "Wait a minute, the grocery bill is what? $180 more? I can't get that car that we have to have unless I pay another $8,000. What? Who do I blame for that? Who do I see about that?" One person,' he said. 'I think he's a snake oil salesman, and I think people will see that.' Daniels said that Kamala Harris would have been a better choice for president because she would have lead the country like Abraham Lincoln. 'She would have been a good choice. I don't care what they say, because she would have done what Lincoln did,' he said. '[Lincoln] surrounded himself with the people who would disagree with him, not the people who would, you know, take a knee and go, "Yeah, more tariffs, sir, more."' Daniels returned to television in 2024, starring in the Netflix series A Man In Full as Charlie Croker, a real estate agent who's gotten used to living the high life. Prior to that he played Chief Del Harris in the crime drama American Rust for Showtime. It premiered back in September 2021 and ran through January of the following year, before being canceled after one season. In recent years the actor also starred in the leading man role in the Hulu drama miniseries The Looming Tower (2018), the heralded Netflix miniseries Godless (2017) and the political drama series The Newsroom (2012-2014), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series in 2013. During his career in Hollywood Daniels has also star in such films as The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Something Wild (1986), Gettysburg (1993), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Speed (1994), The Hours (2002), The Squid And The Whale (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Infamous (2006) Steve Jobs (2015), and The Martian (2015).
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Ministers urged to overhaul and raise carer's allowance
The carer's allowance benefit should be overhauled and the basic rate of payment increased to lift more unpaid carers and disabled people out of financial hardship, according to a living standards thinktank. The Resolution Foundation said unpaid carers on low incomes were paying a 'very heavy price' – a typical penalty of 10% or as much as £7,000 a year compared with non-carers – for looking after loved ones full-time. It called for the basic rate of carer's allowance – currently the lowest-value benefit at £83.30 a week – to be raised to at least the £92.05-a-week rate of jobseeker's allowance to help improve miserable living standards for the poorest carers. It also called for the removal of the notorious 'cliff-edge' penalty on carer's allowance claimants' earnings, currently capped at £196 a week, to enable more unpaid carers to supplement incomes with part-time work. The harshness of the cliff-edge earnings penalty, coupled with failures in the handling of carer benefits by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), caused hundreds of thousands of carers to unwittingly run up huge overpayment debts in recent years. Resolution's report comes as the disability policy expert Liz Sayce prepares to hand ministers her independent review of the carer's allowance – commissioned in response to an award-winning Guardian investigation into the treatment of vulnerable unpaid carers by the DWP. Hannah Slaughter, the Resolution Foundation's senior economist, said ministers need to review support across the board for unpaid carers: 'The trend of rising levels of disability across Britain, and the need for unpaid care, isn't going to end. It's time policy caught up with this reality,' she said. About two-thirds of unpaid carers experienced material deprivation – defined as the inability to afford essential items such as food and energy – while carer social security benefits were often inadequate to protect family incomes, Resolution said. Despite UK family members effectively providing £184bn a year of unpaid care to loved ones, the value of carer's allowance has fallen in the last two decades from 32% of full-time earnings at the minimum wage to just 19%, it found. Bringing the relative value of carer's allowance back up to 1999 levels of 32% would boost the benefit by £53.45 a week to £136.75, at a cost of £2.9bn a year, the Resolution report said. An alternative would be to raise carer's allowance rates in England and Wales to £94.60 a week, in line with the enhanced rates in place in Scotland. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Slaughter said: 'There are now over a million working-age families in Britain that include both a disabled person and an unpaid carer – and they are paying a heavy financial price for these circumstances. 'More must be done to boost the living standards of disabled people and their carers. Employers should improve their retention of disabled staff and carers, and the government should raise the value of unpaid care in the benefits system and extend carers' leave.' Emily Holzhausen, the director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, said: 'The evidence from the Resolution Foundation's report adds even more impetus for change to improve carers' benefits, especially after the scandal of overpayments of carer's allowance and potential cuts to welfare benefits.' A government spokesperson said: 'We understand the huge difference carers make, as well as the struggles so many face. 'That's why we have raised the carer's allowance earnings threshold by £45 a week to £196, benefiting more than 60,000 carers by 2029-30. This is the biggest ever cash increase in the earnings threshold for carer's allowance. 'We have also launched an independent review into social care, part of which will explore the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support.'
