Café that offers paid internships to SEND youth struggling to stay open
The Gamesmaster cafe, run by Silver Lining, is struggling because of a reduction in Access to Work grants from the Department for Work and Pensions.
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Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
DWP launches major pension shake-up to make 20million Brits £1,000 better off
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will merge all smaller pension pots holding less than £1,000 together. This will help increase the returns on them and give Brits more money in retirement A major Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was introduced this week and its set to boost the retirement savings by over £1,000 for over 20million Brits. Labour launched its new Pension Schemes Bill yesterday which it hopes will make pensions simpler to understand and manage. The goal of the bill is to "drive better value over the long term" to give people more money when they come to retire. The most significant part of the bill is the DWP's plan to merge smaller pension pots together. The benefits and pensions department says having multiple small pots often leads to a small return for savers. This is because they have to pay multiple flat rate charges. However, by consolidating the smaller pots into larger ones, the returns will increase. Labour says it could potentially boost retirement savings by around £1,000. The bill will merge all pension pots holding less than £1,000 together into one pot for each individual. Currently, there are around 13million pension pots which have less than a grand in them. The Bill also introduces a new system to show how well pension schemes are performing. This will cover "Defined Contribution" (DC) schemes, which are a type of private pension that you contribute to on a regular basis. The DWP says this will help savers understand whether their scheme is giving them good value. If it's not, Brits will be able to move their savings somewhere. The Bill will also require schemes to offer "clear default" options to grow pension pots for those approaching retirement. This means people will have "clearer, more secure routes to decide how they use their pension money over time." Other measures part of the bill include: Implementing new rules creating multi-employer DC scheme 'megafunds' of at least £25billion, so that "bigger and better pension schemes can drive down costs and invest in a wider range of assets" Consolidating and professionalising the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), with assets held in six pools that can invest in local areas infrastructure, housing and clean energy Increased flexibility for Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes to safely release surplus worth collectively £160billion, to support employers' investment plans and to benefit scheme members Major players within the pension sector, including Phoenix Group, NEST, Now Pensions, and Royal London, have supported the new bill. The Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) have also welcomed the bill. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Hardworking people across the UK deserve their pensions to work as hard for them as they have worked to save, and our reforms will deliver a huge boost to future generations of pensioners. Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. 'The Bill is about securing better value for savers' pensions and driving long-term investment in British businesses to boost economic growth in our country. 'As part of our Plan for Change we're helping people find work, stay in work, and ensuring that work pays them back to give them the secure income in retirement they deserve.' Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: "The Bill is a game changer, delivering bigger pension pots for savers and driving £50 billion of investment directly into the UK economy– putting more money into people's pockets through the Plan for Change.' Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell added: "We are ramping up the pace of pensions reform. Workers deserve to get better bang for each buck saved, and these sweeping reforms will make sure they do. 'Pension saving is a long game, but getting this right is urgent so that millions can look forward to a higher income in retirement.'
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
PIP payments of up to £749 every month for people with muscle or joint conditions
More than one million people with musculoskeletal conditions receive between £29.20 and £187.45 each week. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - information The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now more than 1.1 million adults across Great Britain receiving support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for over 85 musculoskeletal conditions, including 9,495. The Scottish figure is low due to the number of existing PIP case transfers to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - everyone in Scotland currently on PIP will have their award moved to the devolved benefit this Spring. Musculoskeletal conditions are injuries and disorders that affect the human body's movement or musculoskeletal system such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels. Arthritis is a general term that refers to many of these different conditions, however, some common conditions include osteoarthritis, back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, gout, polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus and ankylosing spondylitis. If you are over 16 and under State Pension age, you may be able to claim PIP - or ADP in Scotland - to help with a musculoskeletal condition, and if your ability to work is limited due to your symptoms you could be eligible for 'new style' Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The latest DWP figures also show that there are now 3.7m people in Scotland, England and Wales claiming PIP, including 35,000 in Scotland. The latest statistics from Social Security Scotland show that at the end of January, some 433,055 people were receiving ADP. A successful claim for PIP or ADP is now worth between £29.20 and £187.45 each week in additional financial support and as the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £116.80 and £749.80 every pay period. The average processing time for new PIP claims is 15 weeks which means applications submitted this month could be processed - and back payments issued - by the end of July. New claims for ADP currently take 10 weeks on average to process, so a new claim submitted this month could be processed by the end of August. PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions The latest data shows that at the end of January, over one million people were receiving support through PIP for Musculoskeletal conditions. Scotland: 9,495 (does not include case transfer or new claims of Adult Disability Payment) England and Wales: 1,127,430 Living abroad: 975 Total: 1,138,160 Below is the list of 87 musculoskeletal conditions being supported through PIP to help with either daily living, mobility needs or a combination of both components. It is not definitive, so if your condition does not appear, don't be put off making a claim as an award for PIP or ADP is about how the condition affects you, not the condition itself. Musculoskeletal Conditions - General Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis of Hip Osteoarthritis of Knee Osteoarthritis of other single joint Primary generalised Osteoarthritis Chronic pain syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Fibromyalgia Pain syndromes - Chronic - Other / type not known Inflammatory arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis Arthritis - Psoriatic Arthritis - Reactive Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease) Rheumatoid arthritis Crystal deposition disorders Crystal deposition disorders - Other / type not known Gout Pseudogout Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis Osteochondritis Osteonecrosis Metabolic and endocrine disorders Osteomalacia Osteoporosis Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system Paget's disease Rickets Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations Achondroplasia Epiphyseal dysplasia - multiple Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations - Other / type not known Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis) Hypermobility syndrome Marfan's syndrome Osteogenesis imperfecta Benign tumours of bone Tumours of bone - benign Fracture complications Compartment syndrome (Volkmann's ischaemia) Fracture complications - Other / type not known Sudek's atrophy Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known Musculoskeletal Conditions - Regional Shoulder disorders Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) Rotator cuff disorder Shoulder disorders - Other / type not known Shoulder instability Elbow disorders Elbow disorders - Other / type not known Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) Wrist and hand disorders Carpal tunnel syndrome Dupuytren's contracture Tendon lesions Tenosynovitis Wrist and hand disorders - Other / type not known Neck disorders Cervical disc lesion Cervical spondylosis Neck disorders - Other / type not known Whiplash injury Non specific back pain Back pain - Non specific (mechanical) Specific back pain Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known Kyphosis Lumbar disc lesion Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine) Schuermann's disease Scoliosis Spinal stenosis Spondylolisthesis Hip disorders Dislocation of the hip - congenital Hip disorders - Other / type not known Perthes disease Slipped upper femoral epiphysis Knee disorders Bursitis Chondromalacia patellae Knee disorders - Other / type not known Ligamentous instability of knee Meniscal lesions Osgood schlatters disease Osteochondritis dissecans Patellar dislocation - Recurrent Ankle and foot disorders Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known Club foot (talipes) Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia) Hallux valgus /rigidus Amputations Amputation - Lower limb(s) Amputation - Upper limb(s) Amputations - Upper & Lower limb/s Injuries/fracture/Dislocation Abdomen - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Multiple - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation Pelvis - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Thorax - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of Upper limb - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of Other regional musculoskeletal disease Musculoskeletal disease - Regional / Localised - Other / type not known Even though new claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by ADP, it shares most of the same eligibility criteria. Full guidance on ADP can be found on the website here. Who might be eligible for PIP or ADP? To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you: have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP. preparing, cooking or eating food managing your medication washing, bathing or using the toilet dressing and undressing engaging and communicating with other people reading and understanding written information making decisions about money planning a journey or following a route moving around There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the website here. DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment How are PIP and ADP paid? PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP. What are the PIP and ADP payment rates? You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support. PIP is made up of two components: Daily living Mobility Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £1110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 How you are assessed You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here. Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here. How do you make a claim for PIP? You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the website here. Before you call, you will need: your contact details your date of birth your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits your bank or building society account number and sort code your doctor or health worker's name, address and telephone number dates and addresses for any time you've spent abroad, in a care home or hospital How to apply for ADP People can apply for ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pension age set to change for people with certain birth dates
The State Pension age is set to rise from 66 to 67 in the coming years - and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has urged people to check what the change means for them Brits born between two specific dates need to review their pension age due to upcoming changes. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging individuals with particular birthdates to verify their State Pension timing using their online checker. With plans set to incrementally raise the State Pension age from 66 to 67 beginning next year, it's important that everyone takes note of this imminent shift. By 2028, the transition is expected to be implemented nationwide. Since 2014, there have been regulatory reforms to adjust the State Pension age, as reported by the Daily Record. Official plans are to increase it further from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. An announcement on social media platform X from the DWP said: "Born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961? Check today to find out what your State Pension age will be." People born on 6 April 1960 can expect to hit the current State Pension age of 66 on 6 May 2026, while those born on 5 March 1961 will see the new State Pension age of 67 on 5 February 2028. Verifying your exact State Pension age through the online service is simple and essential for retirement planning. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says it is dedicated to ensuring that anyone affected by these pension age changes will be informed well in advance of the modifications taking place. Furthermore, the Pensions Act 2014 requires that the State Pension age be regularly reviewed at least once every five years. These assessments are grounded on the idea that individuals should expect to spend a certain proportion of their adult life receiving State Pension benefits, officials say. A review of the proposed increase to 68 is due before the end of this decade, initially scheduled by the previous Conservative government to occur two years after the General Election - which would have been 2026. The State Pension age review will consider life expectancy along with various other factors relevant to determining the State Pension age. Upon the report's completion, the UK Government may choose to make changes to the State Pension age. However, any proposals would need to secure approval from Parliament before becoming law. Check your State Pension age online Your State Pension age is the earliest age you can start receiving your State Pension. It may differ from the age you can get a workplace or personal pension. The online tool at allows anyone of any age to check their State Pension age, which can be a vital part of planning your retirement. You can use the State Pension age tool to check: When you will reach State Pension age Your Pension Credit qualifying age When you will be eligible for free bus travel - this is at age 60 in Scotland Check your State Pension age online here. State Pension payments 2025/26 Full New State Pension Weekly payment: £230.25 Four-weekly payment: £921 Annual amount: £11,973 Full Basic State Pension
