Nama trial adjourned following legal arguments over charge sheet for former MLA Daithí McKay
The long-awaited 'Nama trial' due to get underway on Monday has been adjourned to allow further legal arguments to be submitted.
The case relates to a 2015 evidence session before to the NI Finance Committee relating to the sale of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) property loan portfolio in NI.
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Daily Record
11 hours ago
- Daily Record
People on Basic State Pension payments urged to check for historical DWP errors
Historical State Pension errors mostly affect women who can ask the DWP to recalculate their payments. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The charity Independent Age has launched a handy State Pension factsheet providing essential information for older people already claiming the contributory benefit worth up to £230.25 each week, or those nearing the official age of retirement. The helpful guide covers everything you need to know about the payments, including the difference between the New and Basic, when to claim it, deferring, how the amount is calculated and when you might need to pay tax. However, it also takes a look at historical underpayments and urges those on the Basic State Pension who may have been due National Insurance (NI) 'top-ups' to contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate their State Pension if they think it might be wrong. A survey carried out by Independent Age found that 41 per cent of people aged 50 and over were anxious about their finances after retirement. Almost half said that they didn't have much knowledge of what financial options, including the State Pension, would be available to them once they retired. Independent Age guidance states: 'If you qualify for basic State Pension and can claim State Pension 'top-ups', these are usually calculated for you. But some people - particularly women who paid reduced NI rates - may have had their State Pension miscalculated and underpaid. 'If you think this affects you, contact the Pension Service to ask them to recalculate your State Pension. You can do this whether you're claiming or delaying your State Pension. You can also contact our helpline to arrange to speak to an adviser.' The full State Pension help guide can be found on the Independent Age website here. You can also call them directly on 0800 319 6789. State Pension historical errors The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that between January 8, 2024 and March 31, 2025, a joint State Pensions corrections exercise with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), identified 12,379 State Pension underpayments to women whose National Insurance (NI) records are incorrect. In 2022, the DWP became aware of a number of State Pension cases where it appeared that historic periods of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) were missing, leading to inaccurate State Pension payments. So far, around £104 million in arrears have been paid out, with an average payment of £8,377. Retirement expert Helen Morrissey is urging older people to complete the online form or contact the Pension Service if they think they have been affected after new research from the DWP shows the main reasons why those who have received a letter from HMRC asking them to check their State Pension as it could be wrong - have failed to do so. HMRC has sent out more than 370,000 letters - mostly to women - urging them to check their State Pension payments as they may be lower than they are entitled to. However, the DWP research indicates that the majority of people contacted by letter did not go on to apply for HRP. Barriers included: Not understanding the letter Thinking the communication was a scam Reliance on digital methods to put in a claim HRP was a scheme designed to help protect parents' and carers' entitlement to the State Pension and was replaced by NI credits from April 6, 2010. HMRC is using NI records to identify as many people as possible who might have been entitled to HRP between 1978 and 2010 and have no HRP on their NI record. After May 2000, it became mandatory to include a NI number on claims so people claiming after this point will not have been affected. How to use the online HRP tool You may still be able to apply for HRP, for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed Child Benefit instead of you you were getting Income Support because you were caring for someone who was sick or disabled you were caring for a sick or disabled person who was claiming certain benefits You can also apply if, for a full tax year between 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland Who qualified automatically for HRP The guidance on explains that most people got HRP automatically if they were: getting Child Benefit in their name for a child under the age of 16 and they had given the Child Benefit Office their National Insurance number getting Income Support and they did not need to register for work because they were caring for someone who was sick or disabled If your partner claimed Child Benefit instead of you If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2008, you cannot transfer HRP. However, you may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if they claimed Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16 and they do not need the HRP. They can transfer the HRP to you for any 'qualifying years' they have on their National Insurance record between April 1978 and April 2010. This will be converted into National Insurance credits. Married women or widows You cannot get HRP for any complete tax year if you were a married woman or a widow and: you had chosen to pay reduced rate Class 1 National Insurance contributions as an employee (commonly known as the small stamp) you had chosen not to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions when self-employed If you were caring for a sick or disabled person You can only claim HRP for the years you spent caring for someone with a long-term illness or disability between April 6, 1978 and April 5, 2002. You must have spent at least 35 hours a week caring for them and they must have been getting one of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care Constant Attendance Allowance The benefit must have been paid for 48 weeks of each tax year on or after April 6, 1988 or every week of each tax year before April 6, 1988. You can still apply if you are over State Pension age. You will not usually be paid any increase in State Pension that may have been due for previous years. If you were getting Carer's Allowance You do not need to apply for HRP if you were getting Carer's Allowance. You'll automatically get National Insurance credits and would not usually have needed HRP. If you were a foster carer or caring for a friend or family member's child You have to apply for HRP if, for a full tax year between 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland All of the following must also be true: you were not getting Child Benefit you were not in paid work you did not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the State Pension If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 Any HRP you had for full tax years before April 6, 2010 was automatically converted into National Insurance credits, if you needed them, up to a maximum of 22 qualifying years. A full overview of HRP can be found on here.
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
HMRC says DWP scheme can help towards state pension
A customer contacted the authority confused about a letter they had received HMRC has pointed to how claiming a DWP benefit could help build up your state pension entitlement. The tax authority explained the scheme after a question from a taxpayer over social media. The person said they had received a letter about the High Income Child Benefit Charge, which is where you have to pay back part or all of the benefit depending on your level of income. The taxpayer explained: "We stopped the Child Benefit due to my wage increase but then we received a letter stating that we are entitled to claim, even though I had to pay back over £1,000. We're totally lost with it all." In response, HMRC explained how the charge works: "For the current year, if you earn more than £60,000 you start to have to pay some of the Child Benefit back, and at £80,000 you pay all of it back." These thresholds apply to each person's individual income within a household. HMRC also mentioned how a couple could take advantage of the rules to get a state pension boost. The group said: "If one of you is not in employment at all, claiming the Child Benefit in their name would give them National Insurance credits (NI) towards the state pension. "You are able to claim, but not actually receive any money, just the NI credits. If you did that, you wouldn't have to file a tax return." A claimant will automatically get NI credits if they have a child who is under 12 and if you do not pay National Insurance. A person typically needs 35 years of full NI contributions to get the full new state pension, which currently pays £221.20 a week. Child Benefit is currently worth £26.05 a week for your eldest or only child, and £17.25 a week for each additional child you have. The benefit is paid every four weeks either on a Monday or on a Tuesday. In other benefits news, the Government has announced that the eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment will be expanded from next year, with all state pensioners to qualify. However, those with an income over £35,000 will have to pay it back. Currently, you have to be of state pension age and on a certain means-tested benefit to qualify, such as Pension Credit. The payment was worth £200 or £300 this past winter. More details about next winter's payment will be published at the end of June 2025.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Concerns raised over £72m shortfall's effect on council
Peter Fox has written to Monmouthshire Council's leader regarding the impact of the shortfall in employer National Insurance (NI) funding. The shortfall comes following the UK Government decision to increase NI contributions without providing full funding to local authorities, leaving public sector bodies to pay more to employ staff. Mark Drakeford, Labour's finance secretary, assured in November that additional funding would cover these increased costs. This week, he revealed the UK government would not provide full funding, leaving a £72 million shortfall across Welsh public services. Mr Fox said: "Mark Drakeford assured us that these tax increases would not fall on the public sector, so last week's news was bitterly disappointing. "Local authorities will now face a difficult choice: either cut vital services or raise council tax to cover the extra costs."
