‘My son is falling through the cracks of the child mental health system'
I wasn't surprised by the children's commissioner report out today, calling for urgent action to tackle waiting lists in mental health care for children.
Ten years ago, I received a call from my son Thomas's* reception teacher. They asked me to come in and said he was showing some developmental delays, and autistic traits. Within six months Tom, who is now 15, was diagnosed with autism and ADD (attention deficit disorder) and medicated.
Fast forward to his younger brother William*, and he has been languishing on a waiting list for six years.
Unlike his older brother, William has always excelled academically. But by the age of seven his teachers noticed various issues: he was impulsive, quick to anger and unable to self-regulate — all classic
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The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
Full list of benefits not affected by two-child rule – as government mulls axing cap
PARENTS could still claim thousands of pounds in support despite the two-child benefit cap — as ministers come under pressure to scrap it. Here is everything you need to know. 1 WHAT IS THE TWO CHILD CAP? The rule, which limits child-related payments in Universal Credit and tax credits to just two children per household, doesn't apply to all benefits. It means families with three or more kids may still be missing out on cash they're eligible for. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer yesterday refused to rule out scrapping the rule, which currently limits benefit payments to two children per household for Universal Credit and tax credits. It means that families can miss out on up to £3,455 a year for a third or later child born after April 2017. The policy, introduced in a bid to keep welfare spending in check, has faced criticism from some MPs and campaigners. But scrapping the cap could cost the Treasury around £3billion annually, and would likely require new tax rises or spending cuts elsewhere to fund. Visiting a factory in Warrington, the PM said he was 'determined to drive down child poverty' but stopped short of making a firm commitment. Asked repeatedly whether the rule would go, Sir Keir said ministers were "looking at all options". While the cap still applies to some benefits, others remain unaffected – and families may still be eligible for support depending on their circumstances. Here's the full breakdown. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence CHILD BENEFIT This universal benefit is paid for every child, regardless of how many you have. £25.60 a week for the first child £16.95 a week for each additional child If you are claiming child benefit for a child under 12, you also receive National Insurance (NI) credits. Child Benefit also comes with National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension. Note: If you or your partner earn over £60,000, you may be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge, which can reduce or eliminate the payment. How do I claim child benefits? APPLYING is straightforward and can be done in minutes at or through the HMRC app. Parents with a newborn baby should make a claim online as soon as possible and could then receive their first payment in as little as three days. You can also backdate claims for up to three months. Parents can make a claim and then choose to opt out of receiving Child Benefit payments can still receive National Insurance credits if one parent is not working. National Insurance credits build up your entitlement to the state pension. DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA) DLA is available for children under 16 who have disabilities and require extra care or mobility support. It's not affected by the two-child cap, and is worth £28.70 to £184.30 a week, depending on the level of need. Once a child turns 16, they must apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead. PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT (PIP) PIP is for people aged 16 to 64 with a long-term health condition or disability. It is not subject to the cap, and multiple eligible individuals can claim within the same household. The benefit is worth up to £184.30 a week for those entitled to both the daily living and mobility components. GUARDIAN'S ALLOWANCE This benefit is for individuals raising a child whose parents have died. Paid at £21.75 a week per child Paid in addition to Child Benefit Unaffected by the two-child limit You must be claiming Child Benefit and meet the qualifying criteria around guardianship. ADOPTION ALLOWANCE Paid by local authorities, this benefit supports adoptive families who may face extra costs related to a child's care needs. There's no cap on how many adopted children can qualify, and payments vary depending on your financial circumstances and the child's needs. LOCAL WELFARE SCHEMES These include support such as: Discretionary Housing Payments The Household Support Fund Free school meals These schemes are not restricted by the two-child cap, but eligibility and availability vary by council. UNIVERSAL CREDIT EXEMPTIONS While the child element of UC is capped, exceptions do exist, including: You have adopted them or other children in your household You receive guardian's allowance for them or other children in your household They are the second (or more) child born in a multiple-birth They or other children in your household are the offspring of one of your children who is under 16 years old They or other children in your household are not your child or stepchild, and you look after them under a court order They or other children in your household are not your child or stepchild and you look after them under an arrangement with Social Services (except for formal foster care) They were conceived as a result of rape, and you do not live with the perpetrator As the government continues to review the policy, no final decision has been made — but for now, these benefits remain available outside the cap. To check if you're eligible, visit or speak to an independent benefits advisor. Who's exempt from the two-child benefit cap? The two-child benefit cap means that you can only get more child tax credit or Universal Credit for your third (or more) child if: They were born before April 6, 2017 They are disabled (disabled child element only) You qualify for an exception in child tax credit or special circumstances apply in Universal Credit You qualify for an exception or special circumstances for each third (or subsequent) child if: You have adopted them or other children in your household You receive guardian's allowance for them or other children in your household They are the second (or more) child born in a multiple-birth They or other children in your household are the offspring of one of your children who is under 16 years old They or other children in your household are not your child or stepchild, and you look after them under a court order They or other children in your household are not your child or stepchild and you look after them under an arrangement with Social Services (except for formal foster care) They were conceived as a result of rape, and you do not live with the perpetrator .
The Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Sun
Aldi middle aisle to launch summer fan that's a huge £300 cheaper than Dyson's within days – here's the exact date
ALDI is launching the perfect gadget to keep you cool this summer - and it's £300 cheaper than a similar Dyson product. With temperatures soaring again this weekend many will be making plans to get outside and bask in the heat. 3 3 However, for those who prefer chillier temperatures, Aldi has the perfect bargain buy to cool you down. Fans are a great way to keep you cool, and are super cheap to run. Landing in stores on Thursday, June 5th, Aldi's sell-out Bladeless Fan and Air Cooler is perfect for penny-pinchers. The purse-friendly buy is priced at just £39.99, and features a sleek and minimalistic design. It has three different speed settings, from low to high and has three different modes, normal, nature and sleep, to suit your every need. The nifty gadget also oscillates to ensure the whole room is cooled down, and is super easy to control, thanks to the digital touchpad and remote control. And the budget supermarket is also selling an air cooler, for days when a fan just won't cut it. Aldi said: "Stay comfortable this summer with Aldi's sell-out Air Cooler (£39.99), that uses evaporative cooling technology for an affordable solution to chilling out – simply add water to the 5.5L tank to circulate cool air. "Featuring three speed levels, a 0-12-hour timer, remote control, LED light display, four ice boxes and automatic air-swing, it's the ideal alternative to pricey air conditioning." The bargain buys will be located in the middle aisle of Aldi stores, as part of its Specialbuys range. I tried Aldi's Dyson airwrap dupe at bargain price - and it gave me easy hair salon look However, shoppers better be quick if they want to snap up the bargain since, as with all Specialbuys, once they're gone, they're gone. The Aldi fan is a whopping £300 cheaper than Dyson's Cool Tower Fan, which is currently on sale at Curry's for £349.99. The Dyson fan has many similar features to the Aldi buy, but comes with an impressive 10 speed settings. Dyson said: "The bladeless Dyson AM07 Tower Fan with Air Multiplier technology keeps your room constantly refreshed, with low noise and energy emissions." Rival supermarket Lidl also has a bladeless fan landing in stores in the coming days. How to keep cool in hot weather Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. The Silvercrest bladeless desk fan, is cheaper than Aldi's offering, and is priced at £29.99. It has 10 different speeds which can cope with everything from mild heat to blazing sunshine. The manufacturer says another benefit of the gadget is it's simplicity – no blades means it is very easy to clean. There are other bonuses too – as it is bladeless, there is no risk of injury. The fan also has an impressive LED display which allows the fan's speed settings and the timer to be easily visible at night or throughout the day.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Will we see 'noisy heat pump' rows as Ed Miliband lets homeowners put them right next to neighbours?
Homeowners no longer need to get planning permission to install a heat pump less than one metre away from a neighbour's property, the government has said. As Labour battles to boost the number of heat pumps installed across Britain amid its net-zero drive, it eased the planning restriction. Before the announced change, homeowners needed planning permission if they wanted to install a heat pump within one metre of their neighbour's property amid concerns over noise. In locations where homes are close together or terraced, the former rule would often delay heat pump installations. The change relates to the installation of air source heat pumps. Most ground source heat pump installations already fall under permitted development rules and do not require additional planning consent. Air source heat pumps sit on the outside wall of a home and look similar to the air conditioning units seen outside many industrial buildings. The planning changes also included a relaxation of the rules for the size and number of heat pumps households can install. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, led by Ed Miliband, heat pumps typically have sound levels 'similar to a fridge'. However, some people have previously complained about heat pump noise, saying they can sound similar to industrial fan units found by restaurant kitchens. The government department said it commissioned independent research last year which concluded that noise complaints from air source heat pumps were rare and that heat pumps were generally perceived as being very quiet. For many homeowners concerns remain about the high cost of heat pumps, despite grants being available. Homeowners who want to make the leap from gas boiler to heat pump already have access to grants worth up to £7,500. Even with the grants, critics claim heat pumps remain an option that only a minority of households can afford. Thomas Clarke, who runs Asset Plumbing & Heating in London, told This is Money the planning rule easing will help his customers and business. He said: 'Previously, there would often be long delays and many customers had to pay extra for an architect in order to get a heat pump fitted. The easing of the planning rule is helping to streamline the process.' Clarke told This is Money that the government should provide more help to small and medium sized businesses to ensure they can afford to train up apprentices. He said a shortage in the number of people trained to install heat pumps was driving up the cost of installations for households. David Broom, new build partnerships director at Kensa, told This is Money: 'The changes will make it easier for households to install air source heat pumps without needing planning permission. 'Any move that removes barriers and helps more people switch to efficient, low-carbon heating should be welcomed.' He added: 'For ground source heat pumps, the good news is most installations already fall under permitted development, meaning they won't require planning consent. 'While these updates are a step in the right direction and should help boost uptake, more still needs to be done to make heat pumps accessible to every household. 'The most effective next move would be for the government to implement the long-awaited Future Homes Standard. This would end gas boiler installations in new developments, unlocking a market for around 200,000 heat pump installations each year.' A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told This is Money: 'The energy shocks of recent years have shown the urgent need to upgrade British homes and our Warm Homes Plan will make them cheaper and cleaner to run, rolling out upgrades from new insulation to solar and heat pumps. 'We are helping more people get a heat pump, providing £7,500 towards the cost, and they are three times more efficient than gas boilers, enabling families to save around £100 a year by using a smart tariff. 'All heat pumps installed have to comply with strict sound emission limits.' How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
