Latest news with #lump
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Social Security Payments Up to $5,108 Going Out This Week: What to Know
Millions of Americans are set to receive social security payments this week. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has published a document online containing the key dates that recipients should mark on their calendars. Some can expect to receive up to $5,108. Beneficiaries have been divided into three groups in order to stagger their benefits over three payment dates this month because of the sheer scale of distributing the money. The first group received their July funds when they were issued last week. The second group will be paid on Wednesday, while the third group will be paid on July 23. The SSA issues payouts each month to more than 70 million Americans. The funds include retirement payments, as well as disability and survivor benefits. Payments are sent out once a month in the form of a single lump sum for most recipients. But due to the high number of beneficiaries, not all payments are issued on the same day. Recipients whose birthday falls on the 1st to the 10th of any month were scheduled to receive their benefits on the second Wednesday of July, which means they were paid last week on July 9. Those whose birthday falls between the 11th to the 20th will be paid this week —on Wednesday, July 16. The remaining group of beneficiaries, whose birthday falls on the 21st through to the 31st, will be paid next week on July 23. In recent months, there have been concerns that the SSA could be affected by President Donald Trump's attempts to slash budgets across the federal government, with tech mogul Elon Musk, being drafted in to run a newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) until he stepped down in May. Former President Joe Biden accused the pair of "taking a hatchet" to the social security system, which the White House and the SSA denied. Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, previously told Newsweek: "From a customer service standpoint, it does appear the Social Security Administration is feeling pressure at the moment, as layoffs have meant more work to do for a smaller staff of employees. The distribution of benefits has yet to see any negative effects, but with other aspects of the administration falling behind, it's easy to see why there are concerns future payments could be Americans will tolerate missed payments or slower customer service for a program they paid into for decades." Social security beneficiaries should receive their payments on the dates outlined above. Anyone who does not receive their payment on the scheduled date should wait three working days before contacting the SSA, the agency says, noting that Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays do not count as working days. Related Articles Social Security Warning Issued as Agency Moves 1,000 StaffersNew Plan Proposed To Save Social SecuritySocial Security Update: Payout Shift Triggers Drop in Personal Income 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
The National
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
One year under Labour and we still have a chaotic and cruel government
A YEAR ago today, the UK went to the polls in the Westminster general election in which millions were desperate to get rid of a chaotic and cruel Conservative government which was widely reviled and had lost all credibility. One year on and we still have a chaotic and cruel conservative government which is widely reviled and has lost all credibility. That's democracy, Westminster style. The Labour in name only government of Keir Starmer has relentlessly pursued the Tory line on Brexit, it has chosen to make the elderly, the poor and disabled pay for Tory mismanagement of the government's finances because making the super rich pay more in tax is too tough a choice for a Prime Minister who loves to boast about his willingness to take tough choices, choices which invariably entail bein tough on the vulnerable. We've had a continuation of uncritical British Government support for a genocidal Israeli Government which openly touts its wish to ethnically cleanse Gaza, slaughters tens of thousands of civilians and which is intensifying the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank in open defiance of international law and human decency. READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn confirms launch of new party – read the full statement We have also had a continuation of the previous Tory government's increasing assault on the right to demonstrate and protest, which culminated this week in the grotesque decision to lump the direct action protest group Palestine Action in with violent extreme right neo-nazi organisation and proscribe it as a "terrorist organisation". Chucking red paint on Donald Trump's golf resort and on an RAF plane suspected of preparing to carry British military equipment to Israel where it would be used to further the genocide in Gaza are now deemed to be terrorist offences on a par with plotting suicide bombings. It makes a gross travesty of what these powers were originally intended for, the kind of overreach which the government vowed when framing these laws would never come to pass. Allowing the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation to stand not only makes a mockery of anti-terrorism legislation, it also represents an intolerable breach of civil liberties and the right to protest. It opens the door to the proscription as a supposedly terrorist organisation of any non-violent protest group which creates a public nuisance or inconvenience, which is essentially the entire point of protest. With this precedent, groups like the Suffragettes, the Aids and HIV awareness organisation Act Up, and hunt saboteur organisations, could all have been proscribed as "terrorists". If the proscription of Palestine Action is allowed to stand, climate change activists are likely to be next in line. Lawyers for Palestine Action have launched a legal bid to temporarily block the banning of the group as a terrorist organisation. The case is set to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, ahead of a potential legal challenge against the move. Even pro-Israel groups oppose the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Mark Birbeck, of the pro-Israel Our Fight organisation, stood across the street from the Royal Courts of Justice in London with a small group holding a banner saying 'Stop the lies, there is no genocide in Gaza'. Birbeck said: 'We don't actually support proscribing Palestine Action. We don't think they are a terrorist organisation and in fact, our argument is that it makes a mockery of what terrorism is. 'It's bizarre that (the Government) is presenting this as some kind of aggressive step. 'My suspicion is that Palestine Action are going to run rings around them. 'These people know what they are doing. I don't agree with them, I don't agree with their politics, but they've been doing this for years. 'Our argument against Palestine Action though, is not that they are terrorists, but what we do believe they are doing is trying to claim the moral high ground and effectively they are doing that to isolate Israel.' Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana, who was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour party for voting in support of an SNP motion calling for the abolition of the two child cap on benefits, has announced that she has left the Labour party to join Jeremy Corbyn's Independent Alliance. John McDonnell, the now independent, but former Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington and shadow chancellor for Labour under Corbyn from 2015 to 2020, said Labour needs to 'ask themselves' why someone like Zarah Sultana would choose to leave. Like Sultana McDonnell had the Labour whip removed for voting to abolish the two child benefit cap, but as a prominent member of the old Labour left with a high profile position under Corbyn, he remains persona non-grata with Starmer and his centre-right faction On Twitter, McDonnell wrote: "The people running Labour at the moment need to ask themselves why a young, articulate, talented, extremely dedicated socialist feels she now has no home in the Labour party and has to leave." Jeremy Corbyn has welcomed Sultana's decision, saying in a post on social media: 'Real change is coming. 'One year on from the election, this Labour Government has refused to deliver the change people expected and deserved. Poverty, inequality and war are not inevitable. Our country needs to change direction, now. 'Congratulations to Zarah Sultana on her principled decision to leave the Labour Party. I am delighted that she will help us build a real alternative. 'The democratic foundations of a new kind of political party will soon take shape. Discussions are ongoing - and I am excited to work alongside all communities to fight for the future people deserve. 'Together, we can create something that is desperately missing from our broken political system: hope.' It will be interesting to see if this new political grouping recognises Scotland's right to self-determination and will agree to facilitate a second Scottish independence referendum should the people of Scotland give yet another mandate for one. The victory of Zohran Mamdani in the recent New York Democrat primary and an opinion poll showing that a left-populist party would be the most popular choice amongst younger voters, picking up 32% of votes amongst 18 to 24 year olds hint that such a party could become a significant political force and the real antidote to the toxic politics of the populist right.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Express RTI: Uttarakhand finance dept questioned Beatles ashram revamp by Bimal Patel firm, state govt gave go-ahead
The Uttarakhand Finance department had flagged the selection of Bimal Patel-led and Ahmedabad-based HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd by the state Tourism department for the revamp of Chaurasi Kutiya ashram, popularly known as The Beatles ashram, without a tender, reveal documents obtained under the RTI Act. The documents, reviewed by The Indian Express, show that the Tourism department justified the selection of HCP through single-source procurement by pointing to the complexity of the heritage cum eco-tourism project, and the expertise of the 'world-class' company, which had executed major projects such as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Central Vista redevelopment near Parliament. While the Finance department did come around to clearing the project, it recommended obtaining a priori the approval of the Forest department, and asked the Tourism department to ensure the rate reasonableness and the fees paid to the company, the documents showed. Following rounds of discussion, the Uttarakhand Cabinet approved hiring HCP as the consultant on August 3, 2023. The Beatles ashram is situated inside the Rajaji National Park in Rishikesh and was visited by the British band in 1968. While the cost of the consultancy is Rs 1.9 crore for the master plan lump sum and a fee of 4.75 per cent of the actual cost of the project for supervision support, Rs 15 lakh was levied for a one-day workshop, site visit, and broad design framework report. This was borne by the Tourism department, while the cost for the actual project will be borne by the Forest department. The complex has nearly 25 buildings, of which 12 will be revamped in the upcoming project. The actual project cost is over Rs 98 crore. The project will primarily involve the retrofitting of structures by strengthening the reinforced concrete beams and slabs. When contacted, Anand Patel, who helms the project at HCP, said that they received a request from the Tourism department in late 2021. 'We declined it then because the architectural intent was unclear. We visited the site twice or thrice, and in 2023 again, they requested and we submitted a proposal,' Patel said. On the conditions set by the Finance department, Patel said he was unaware. 'The conditions by the Forest department were factored in, and our agenda is to make the buildings safe and improve awareness on yoga, art, forest, and wildlife of the area,' he said. The bone of contention between the Finance and Tourism departments was over Rule 59 of Chapter 4 of the Uttarakhand Procurement Rules, 2017. This rule states that services from a single-source consultant can be obtained only after due justification is recorded and approval is obtained from the competent authority. For projects exceeding Rs 25 lakh, approvals from the administrative department and the finance department are mandatory. In giving the approval, then finance secretary, Dilip Jawalkar, said in his June 20, 2023, letter that the consultancy fees should be justified on the basis of the firm's agreements with other governments, wherein the same firm has secured the work through a competitive process. He also said that the department should justify the rate reasonableness based on a market survey and after comparison with the rates discovered through a bidding process for similar or comparable assignments for the Uttarakhand government. 'The department should get a formal consent from the Forest department before taking the proposal before the Cabinet, since the general impression is that the Forest department keeps changing its decisions and fails to honour its commitments,' he said. One of the officers in charge of the consultancy process, Satish Bahuguna, said that the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board was not aware of the 'opinion' of the finance department on the matter, and whether the market survey suggested was conducted. 'This is the opinion of the department. If it goes to the cabinet and approval is given, the decision stands over any suggestions,' he said. Jawalkar told The Indian Express that their responsibility is to 'give advice on the file of the department'. 'What department does subsequently is not in our purview,' he said. The then tourism secretary, Sachin Kurve, did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Three common payslip errors that could cost you £1,000s – how to spot them
Find out how to check your tax code PAY BLOW Three common payslip errors that could cost you £1,000s – how to spot them EMPLOYEES could be missing out on thousands of pounds every year because of simple payslip mistakes. Wage slips are something most of us barely glance at, but experts are warning that failing to check the small print could leave workers either overpaying tax, losing holiday pay, or facing huge bills from HMRC. 1 Brits could be missing out on thousands due to payslip errors Credit: Alamy One of the biggest errors is being put on the wrong tax code. This might not sound serious, but if you're paying too much tax each month, it adds up fast. Most workers in a single job should be on the 1257L code, which lets you earn £12,570 tax-free each year. But if your employer gives you extras like private health insurance, your allowance could shrink, changing your code to something like 1100L instead. Worse still, if you've recently changed jobs and see a code like C0T, W1, M1 or X, you could be on an emergency tax code, which means you're paying far more tax than you should. If you've been in your new job more than five weeks and still see one of these codes, speak to your payroll department immediately. Another costly mistake is missing or miscalculated annual leave. Many workers wrongly assume their holiday pay is sorted but if you take more days off than you're entitled to and leave partway through the tax year, your employer could demand money back. On the flip side, some employees are short-changed because they've not taken the time off they've earned. It's also common for holiday pay to be miscalculated, especially if you work irregular hours. What Does My Tax Code Mean? A Simple Guide to Your HMRC Letter Keeping track of your own days and comparing them against your payslip could save you hundreds. Finally, bonuses and commission payments can be a major trap. These are classed as taxable income, but in some cases they're added to payslips without the right deductions. If you've been handed a lump sum that hasn't been taxed, it might feel like a win but it could come back to bite you. HMRC may later demand the unpaid tax, potentially with interest and fines. If a big bonus pushes you into a higher tax band, you could also find yourself owing more than expected. Always check that any extra earnings have had tax and National Insurance taken off. It might seem like a headache, but checking your payslip each month can save you serious cash. If something looks off, speak to your payroll team and if you're still unsure, log in to your HMRC tax account online to check what they have on file for you. Expert Marc Crosby at said: 'The majority of payslip errors are genuine mistakes that can be easily fixed. "But without checking every payslip, you could be missing out on money owed to you or - worse - end up owing a lot in repayments or underpaid tax. "Employers may not always realise the full impact of what might seem like a small error, but particularly where Universal Credit and other benefits are involved, it can have a long-lasting knock-on effect which can be time consuming and stressful to fix. Fast action is vital to prevent small errors becoming financial disasters!' How to check your tax code You can check your current tax code by logging into your personal tax account online, using the HMRC app, or digging out your latest payslip. You could have also received a Tax Code Notice from HMRC in the post, so it's always worth checking recent letters too. If the numbers don't add up, contact HMRC directly. You can call them on 0300 200 3300 or write to: Pay As You Earn and Self Assessment, HMRC, BX9 1AS. Those who've overpaid could see a refund land in their bank within five days once their claim is processed or receive a cheque in the post within two weeks. But it's not always good news, some may find they underpaid tax and owe HMRC money. If that's the case, most will be asked to repay it gradually over 12 months. If you're owed money, you may also receive a P800 letter or a simple assessment telling you how much you're due and how to claim it. There's a four-year limit on claiming back overpaid tax, so if you think you've been overcharged, don't delay. Whether you're a full-time employee, working multiple jobs, or have just switched roles, it's worth double checking your code because a five-minute check could leave you hundreds better off.
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
These common payslip errors could cost you £1,000s - how to spot them
MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry warns about common errors on PAYE payslips that could cost you hundreds of pounds When something is wrong on your payslip, an innocent mistake could cost you hundreds or even thousands of pounds – even if it's not your fault! From being overpaid by your employer to not being on the right tax code, there are lots of ways an incorrect payslip could impact you and your finances. Check your payslip every month for these common errors. Incorrect tax code Everyone is assigned a tax code based on their income and other factors. For most people with a single job or pension, that code is currently 1257L. That reflects the amount of personal allowance you can earn before tax is owed: £12,570 per tax year. This changes depends on things like company benefits; for example, if you receive £1570 of medical insurance pre-tax, your code will be 1100L instead, as your Personal Allowance is reduced to £11,000 a year. If you have moved jobs part-way through the year, you may be placed on an emergency tax code which has a higher rate. If you see the code C0T, W1, M1, or X on your payslip and you have been at your job for more than 35 days, speak to the person who handles payroll. It usually means they haven't got the right information yet, such as your P45 from a previous job. Incorrect annual leave Make sure you keep track of how many holiday days you take, and that your payslip is correct. This is because you could be told you owe the company for overused annual leave if you stop working there through the tax year, or you could be missing out on holiday you are legally entitled to. Untaxed bonus or commission payments Bonuses and commission payments are taxable. If you see a lump sum payment on your payslip but tax has not been accounted for that extra amount, it's vital to get the payslip (and pay) reissued as soon as you can. This is because you could end up owing tax to HMRC that you weren't aware of, which can risk the payment of late payment fines and more (as well as finding the cash to repay the owed tax). It's particularly important to check your bonus and commission payments on your payslip if you are near a tax bracket threshold. A large payment could push you over this threshold, meaning you pay more tax than you expected to. Missed overtime payments If you work irregular hours or overtime, make sure they are accurate on your payslip. Even if you think something might be incorrect by half an hour, ensure it is updated to the right amount – especially if the error is repeated across several payslips, as you're losing money you're entitled to (or being overpaid). Overpayment Sometimes, employers accidentally pay someone too much. This can happen due to human error or if they believe they owed you extra, such as payment in lieu of holiday time. Your employer can claim this money back from you. Don't spend it. If you think you've been paid too much, tell payroll and check your payslip for details to find out where the error may have happened. Find out how to make the repayment as soon as possible, otherwise you could be in a tricky situation if your employer asks for money back that you've already spent. Classifying you as a contractor In industries where some employees are PAYE and some are contractors, it can be easy to be classed as the wrong type. This significantly impacts how taxes and National Insurance are calculated. PAYE employees have their pay taxed and deducted before they receive their money, while contractors get the full amount and are responsible for making their own tax and National Insurance payments. Late reporting If you claim means-tested state benefits, reporting periods can make a big difference in your payments. This is particularly true if you are unfortunate enough to have a reporting period that comes at the end of the month, when payday is likely to occur. That's because if a payday lands on a weekend, your employer might report your earnings too early or late for the correct period – meaning you don't receive the correct amount of benefit you're entitled to. If you are in receipt of both PAYE pay and means-tested benefits, make sure to speak with your payroll department about your payment date and the date they report it. If things aren't stacking up between your Universal Credit or benefits statements and your entitlement, speak to your employer and also make a note in your online Universal Credit journal. Withholding pay Your employer cannot legally withhold pay from you except in very specific circumstances. For example, they can't decide that you underperformed at work this month so deserve less pay. They also can't deduct for till shortages or missing stock unless your contract says so; they cannot take more than 10% of your pay due in each period. Your wages can be 'garnished' – that means deducted before you get paid – for a few specific reasons: If you have a County Court Judgement to recover debt, a claim can be made to take deductions from your pay (this is called an attachment of earnings). The Department of Work and Pensions can deduct from your pay to reclaim overpaid benefits, while HMRC can claim for underpaid taxes. Your local authority can claim for Housing Benefit overpayments, too. ACAS has a helpful list on what can and cannot be deducted from your payslip. They are also the people who can help you if you believe your employer has wrongfully deducted wages and has refused or been unable to resolve the dispute with you. Underpayment at National Minimum Wage Your employer cannot, except in very specific circumstances, take your pay below the hourly rate of National Minimum Wage. For example, if you earn NMW and they try to deduct the cost of a training course, you must have agreed to the course in writing beforehand. Underpayment also happens when hours have not been accurately tracked, or when you age up into the next NMW bracket. Anyone aged 21 or over is entitled to the National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour, those aged 18 to 20 should receive a minimum of £10 an hour, and under-18s and apprentices cannot be paid less than £7.55 an hour. Check your HMRC record If things don't seem to be stacking up on your payslip but your accounts department is convinced it is correct, you can check the details HMRC hold on you with your online tax account. This may indicate errors that aren't in payroll's remit or mistakes they are unaware they have made. For example, if you received a large bonus in one month, HMRC may believe that is reflective of your annual salary going forward, and as such they might estimate you are earning a lot more than you actually are. Or, HMRC may still have a previous employer listed as a current one (this is particularly likely if you move jobs in the same tax year). Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
