Dumfries and Galloway families receive more than £1million to heat their homes through winter
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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Rutherglen MSP highlights support to help families with cost of learning
Clare Haughey spoke as children went back to school. As children across South Lanarkshire head back to school this week, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has highlighted the wide range of support available to help families with the cost of learning. This includes over 7400 Best Start Grant, School Age Payments worth a total of £2,057,810 paid out to local families in the last year. The Best Start Grant, School Age Payment is a one-off payment of £314.45 to eligible families when their child starts primary school, to help with essentials such as school uniforms, shoes and bags. This is in addition to the Best Start Foods payment card, which supports families with the cost of healthy food throughout the year. The Scottish Government has also expanded free school meals to all pupils in primary one to five, with plans to extend this to all primary pupils in the lifetime of this parliament. Free school meals save families hundreds of pounds each year while ensuring every child has access to a healthy, nutritious lunch. Ms Haughey said: 'The start of the school year is an exciting time for children, but it can also be a financially challenging time for families. 'That's why I'm proud that in the last year alone, over £2million has gone to families in South Lanarkshire through the Best Start Grant, School Age Payment. 'From the Best Start Grant and School Clothing Grants, to free school meals and the Scottish Child Payment, the Scottish Government is taking real, practical action to support families and tackle child poverty - using the powers we have to put money in the pockets of families, and ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.'
STV News
2 days ago
- STV News
Council to oppose battery storage site over 'lack of information'
Plans for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land near Dunbar are set to be opposed by East Lothian Council over a lack of information about road safety, impact on the countryside and flood risks. The proposal for the land at Pitcox, near the Biel Water, will be decided by the Scottish Government's Energy Consent Unit, but East Lothian Council is able to object as a statutory consultee. Officers have raised concerns about missing information in the application, as well as information which they say lacks detail. In a report to councillors, officers highlight a lack of information and assessment in the landscape reports over the loss of hedgerow important to the character of the area and its visual impact. They say the proposed entrances for the site during construction fail to meet the required visibility distances with no mitigations offered to address the issue and there is insufficient information on the risks of surface water flooding. Speaking about the impact on the land itself, the council's landscaping officers said: 'We object due to lack of information and possible/likely loss of hedgerows important to the character of the area. Changing levels within the site may also impact on the adjacent hedgerow and trees. 'No information has been provided on this and this may have a greater impact on the existing landscape than suggested. Overall, we do have a number of concerns over the accuracy of the information submitted for consideration and we would ask that the additional information is submitted for our consideration.' The proposed BESS has been applied for by AEUK Battery Project and includes 80 BESS units, 200 metres of underground cabling, two emergency fire tanks, and safety fencing around the site. The applicants say construction is estimated to take up to 32 weeks if given the go ahead but once it is built is is expected there would only be one or two vehicle visits to the site each month. Local community councils have raised concerns from locals about the safety of the site and its impact on the area and officers recommend Energy Consent Unit considers the views of the organisations in its decision making. Councillors will be asked to debate the proposals and the council's response at a planning meeting next week after councillor Donna Collins called it in because of local concerns. If council objections cannot be resolved with the applicants a public inquiry is likely to be held to decide the application. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Attendance Allowance rules older people should know or DWP payments could stop
Nearly 1.7 million State Pensioners receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week on the non-means tested benefit from the DWP. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there were nearly 1.7 million people across Great Britain receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance at the end of August last year. The data also indicates 150,000 people living in Scotland are now receiving either £73.90 or £110.40 each week through the tax-free benefit, which is delivered by the DWP and designed to help older people with daily living expenses. However, many claimants may not be aware there are several changes in circumstances which must be reported to the DWP's Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 as soon as possible - especially if your condition changes or you go into hospital - as they could affect entitlement or payments. DWP guidance on the website also warns: 'You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.' The guidance goes on to list changes claimants must report which are outlined below. New claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland-only have been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, however, existing claimants must continue to report changes in circumstance to DWP until their award transfers to the devolved benefits system. Migration from the DWP system to Social Security Scotland is due to be completed by the end of this year. Reporting a change in circumstances If your circumstances change, the amount you get from Attendance Allowance may go up or down. You must contact the Attendance Allowance helpline straight away if: the level of help you need or your condition changes - you'll need to provide details like if the amount of times you need help each day has changed you go into hospital or a care home - you'll need to provide the address, the dates you've been there for, and how your stay is paid for a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live you plan to leave the country for more than 4 weeks you go into prison you change your name, address or bank details you want to stop receiving your benefit your doctor's details change your immigration status changes, if you're not a British citizen If you're not sure if a change affects your Attendance Allowance benefit, it's worthwhile contacting the DWP to check - full details on here. It's also important to be aware DWP guidance states if your circumstances change, the amount you get from Attendance Allowance may go up or down. Reporting a change if you need more help You should consider contacting the DWP to report a change if you feel you need more help for a disability or illness. This could be additional help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you do not currently get that help. This could include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also consider reporting a change if you are experiencing more difficulties completing personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. But remember, Attendance Allowance is not just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also consider reporting a change if you need more help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or blind You can contact the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. Full details about reporting a change can be found on the website here. There are more than 50 physical or mental health conditions being supported by Attendance Allowance and even if you're already claiming for one of these, another may have developed or your current condition may have become more debilitating. Health issues supported by Attendance Allowance Support is also provided for People who are terminally ill. Arthritis Spondylosis Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints Trauma to Limbs Blindness Deafness Heart disease Chest disease Asthma Cystic Fibrosis Cerebrovascular Disease Peripheral vascular Disease Epilepsy Neurological Diseases Multiple Sclerosis Parkinson's Motor Neurone Disease Chronic Pain Syndromes Diabetes Mellitus Metabolic Disease Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia Learning Difficulties Psychosis Psychoneurosis Personality Disorder Dementia Behavioural Disorder Alcohol and Drug Abuse Hyperkinetic Syndrome Renal Disorders Inflammatory Bowel Disease Bowel and Stomach Disease Blood Disorders Haemophilia Multi System Disorders Multiple Allergy Syndrome Skin Disease Malignant Disease Severely Mentally impaired Double Amputee Deaf/Blind Haemodialysis Frailty Total Parenteral Nutrition AIDS How much could I get on Attendance Allowance? From April 7, you could receive £73.90 (lower rate) if you need help during the day or at night or £110.40 (higher rate) if you need help during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill. The benefit is paid every four weeks , which means you could receive either £295.60 or £441.60 every pay period. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim Attendance Allowance even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. it is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction Full guidance on Attendance Allowance can be found on here.
