Latest news with #UC


Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
20 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim in August worth more than £17,000
Plus, we reveal one scheme which could see support worth £500 land in your bank account BENEFIT BOOST 20 Universal Credit freebies and discounts you can claim in August worth more than £17,000 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of households on Universal Credit are missing out on thousands of pounds' worth of extra support – from free food to savings bonuses and council tax discounts. With food inflation still stubbornly high, energy prices creeping up again, and back-to-school costs around the corner, August is a crucial month to check what help is available. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 We share all the freebies and discounts for those on Universal Credit Credit: Alamy If you're on Universal Credit or a similarly low income, you could be missing out on vital financial support, and many of these schemes don't need to be paid back. Here's a detailed breakdown of the help on offer this August, who's eligible, how much you might get, and how to claim. If you're eligible for all 20, you may be able to save more than £17,000 over 12 months. 1. Household Support Fund – Savings: up to £500 The Household Support Fund runs until March 2026 and gives emergency cash or voucher support to households struggling with essentials like food, energy, and white goods. Payouts and eligibility vary by local authority. For example: Brent Council offers up to £500 for struggling families. Apply at Doncaster pays between £100 and £300 to families on UC. See Ribble Valley gives food vouchers worth £200–£500 to households earning under £35,000. Visit How to apply: Go to your council's website and search for 'Household Support Fund' – the easiest way is to Google your council name plus the phrase. 2. Free holiday food and activities – worth hundreds If your child gets free school meals, you can usually access the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, run in partnership with councils and funded by the government. Activities include football camps, arts, drama and free meals. In many areas, bookings are open now for August sessions: Leeds offers HAF places including hot meals and sports activities: Hampshire includes cookery clubs, forest schools and free meals: In Scotland, parents receive direct holiday payments instead of food provision. For example: Glasgow pays £135 for summer holidays per eligible child: Wales and Northern Ireland also run holiday support schemes via schools and councils – check with your local authority. Five key changes to PIP & Universal Credit as Labour's benefits crackdown unveiled 3. Warm Home Discount – Savings: £150 credit Eligible low-income households can get £150 off electricity bills automatically between October and March. You usually don't need to apply – energy suppliers apply the discount directly if you qualify. If you're on UC and meet your supplier's rules (especially if your home is classed as "energy inefficient"), the discount will appear as a credit on your bill. Check eligibility at 4. Discounted broadband and mobile – Savings: save up to £196.68 Social tariffs offer cheap broadband to people on benefits. Some of the cheapest include: Virgin Media Essentials: £12.50/month – save £137.88/year vs regular Virgin package. BT Home Essentials: £15/month for fibre + calls. Voxi for Now: £10/month for unlimited mobile data for six months – saving £150 vs regular deal. According to Uswitch, the average broadband bill in the UK is £26.39/month – switching to the cheapest social tariff could save you £196.68 per year. Compare all social tariffs at 5. Free school meals – Savings: save up to £503.50 per child per year If your child is at school and you claim Universal Credit, they may qualify for free school meals during term time. To be eligible in England, your household income (excluding benefits) must be under £7,400 a year. This limit also applies in Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, all children in primary years 1 to 5 get free school meals regardless of income, and older pupils may also qualify based on UC claims. The Food Foundation says the average cost of a school lunch is £2.65. Over 190 school days, that amounts to a potential saving of around £503.50 per child per year. Check eligibility and apply at 6. Council tax reduction – Savings: save up to £2,280 If you receive Universal Credit, you can apply for a council tax reduction of up to 100%. Every local authority sets its own rules, but many reduce council tax significantly for low-income households. If you live alone, you can also get a single person discount of 25%. For example: In Manchester, households on UC can get up to 100% off their council tax. Apply at Bristol offers up to 90% for most working-age households on benefits. More info at The average Band D council tax in England for 2025-26 is now £2,280, so a full reduction is worth that amount annually. 7. Help with water bills – Savings: save hundreds off your annual bill Water companies offer social tariffs or capped rates for those on UC and similar benefits. These schemes vary by supplier. For example: Affinity Water caps bills at £119.50/year for eligible households. See United Utilities offers up to 50% off for households with high usage or medical needs. More at According to Discover Water, the average water bill in England and Wales has risen to £603 in 2025. Switching to a capped or social tariff could save you hundreds of pounds depending on your supplier and usage. 8. Energy grants – Savings: up to £1,500 Several energy suppliers offer grants to help customers on low incomes clear energy debts or cover bills. For example: British Gas Energy Trust offers grants up to £1,500 even if you're not a British Gas customer. Apply at Next Energy Fund provides help with white goods and bill support. Visit You'll usually need to show proof of income, provide meter readings, and explain your situation. These grants don't need to be repaid. 9. Free prescriptions and dental care – Savings: variable savings Universal Credit claimants may be entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and help with health costs. You'll qualify if: You're single and earn under £435/month Or your household earns under £935/month and gets the child element of UC or has limited capability for work These savings can quickly add up: NHS prescriptions in England cost £9.90 each A standard NHS dental check-up is £25.80 10. Help to Save – Earn up to £300 a year This government-backed savings account is designed to encourage low-income households to build a financial cushion. If you're on Universal Credit and meet the eligibility requirements, you can open a Help to Save account and get a 50% bonus on savings. You can save between £1 and £50 each month, and at the end of two years, you'll receive a bonus worth half of the highest balance you've saved. You can continue saving for up to four years, earning a maximum total bonus of £1,200 if you save the full amount every month. Payments can be stopped and restarted without penalty You can withdraw money if needed, but it may reduce your bonus Apply at 11. School uniform grants – Savings: up to £200 Buying new uniforms can be a major back-to-school expense. Fortunately, some local authorities offer school uniform grants to help cover the cost. These grants are often available if your child is eligible for free school meals and you're on Universal Credit. Examples include: City of London: £160 for secondary school pupils. Apply at Sefton Council: £45 for primary and £70 for secondary. See Wales: The Pupil Development Grant offers £200 to eligible families. More info at Grants are often paid as vouchers, bank transfers, or reimbursements. Deadlines and application processes vary, so check with your local authority. 12. Free or discounted travel – Savings: up to 50% off Help with travel costs is available in several forms if you're on Universal Credit and looking for work or studying: Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card: Offers up to 50% off rail fares. Available to jobseekers who have been claiming UC or JSA for at least 13 weeks (or longer depending on age). More info at 16–17 Saver Card: Reduces fares by 50% for young people. Apply at Student Oyster Photocard: Offers 30% off travelcards and bus passes in London. See Note: Eligibility criteria and application processes vary by scheme. Some discounts depend on your age or how long you've been claiming UC. Some councils also offer additional support, for example, Derbyshire County Council provides bus travel support through its Wheels to Work scheme. 13. Flexible Support Fund – Savings: no official cap Administered by your Jobcentre, this discretionary fund can help cover work-related expenses to support you into employment. Unlike Universal Credit, this isn't a fixed payment and is granted based on individual need. You might be able to get: Up to £150 for tools, uniforms, or work clothing Travel costs to interviews or training Short-term childcare support For example, one claimant in Leeds received £120 to cover train tickets for job interviews. To apply, speak directly to your work coach, who can authorise support. 14. Maternity grants – Savings: £500 per child The Sure Start Maternity Grant is a one-off tax-free payment to help with the cost of a new baby. You don't have to repay it, and it won't affect other benefits. You'll get £500 if: It's your first child You're expecting twins or more, and already have children Applications open from 11 weeks before the due date until 6 months after birth. You must be on Universal Credit and not already receiving other maternity payments. Download the SF100 form at and send it by post. 15. Healthy Start vouchers – Savings: up to £442/year Eligible parents can receive prepaid cards that are topped up every four weeks, helping you buy healthy foods and milk. It's designed for pregnant women and parents of children under four. £4.25/week if pregnant (from week 10) £8.50/week for children under 1 £4.25/week for kids aged 1–4 In a child's first year, this adds up to £442, and about £221 per year after that. You're eligible if you're on Universal Credit with earnings below £408/month. Apply online at 16. Funeral expenses payment – Savings: up to £1,000 If you're arranging a funeral and receive UC, you might qualify for this payment to cover necessary costs. This payment is usually made to the funeral director. You can get up to £1,000 for: Flowers Funeral director's fees Travel costs Burial or cremation fees may also be covered separately. Payments depend on your relationship with the deceased and other contributions (e.g. from insurance). Find out more at 17. Legal aid – Savings: varies by case Legal aid can cover the cost of advice or representation for those facing serious legal issues. If you're on Universal Credit, you may qualify if your case meets the criteria. Support is available for: Domestic violence and child protection Housing or eviction cases Discrimination Immigration or asylum matters You may have to contribute towards costs depending on your income or assets. Check eligibility at 18. Childcare support – Savings: up to £1,769/month If you're working at least 16 hours/week and on UC, you can claim back 85% of childcare costs: £1,031.88 for one child £1,768.94 for two or more children The money is paid after you've submitted evidence of payment each month. There are often delays, so it's important to budget carefully or ask providers if they'll accept delayed payment. Apply through your UC account at 19. Free childcare hours (England only) – Savings: up to £7,500 From September 2024, parents of 2-year-olds in working families can access 15 free hours of childcare per week. From September 2025, this extends to 30 hours for children from nine months old. To be eligible: Both parents must be working (or one, in single-parent households) You must earn at least £183/week and under £100,000/year The Government says this will save families an average of £7,500 a year. More details at 20. Discounted glasses and eye tests – Savings: up to £233.56 NHS optical support includes: Free eye tests every two years Vouchers for glasses or lenses worth between £42.40 and £233.56 depending on your prescription Some opticians apply the discount automatically if you show your UC award letter. Check the NHS guide at


San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
UC admits more California freshmen than ever — but fewer at top campuses
The University of California admitted more than 100,000 California first-year students for fall 2025 — a systemwide record — even as the most selective campuses extended fewer offers to in-state applicants. According to data released Monday by the UC Office of the President, 100,947 California residents received offers of admission, a 7.4% increase over last year's total of 93,990. The admission rate for California students rose to 77%, up from 70% in 2024. 'We continue to experience significant growth — a clear indication that Californians recognize the value of a UC degree,' UC President Michael V. Drake said in a statement. Four of the UC system's nine undergraduate campuses — Merced, Riverside, Davis and Santa Cruz — accounted for the increase in first-year admissions of California students. UC Merced in particular saw a whopping 71.9% surge in admissions of in-state students, after a 45% increase in applications following several changes that made it easier for students to apply and enroll there. UC Riverside also had a robust 46% increase in admissions of California students. Admissions of in-state first-year students fell slightly at its most competitive campuses: Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego, Irvine and Santa Barbara. Systemwide, UC admitted 149,368 first-year students from a pool of 205,348 applicants, increasing the overall admission rate to 73% from 66% last year, though not all are expected to accept the offer. Offers to domestic nonresidents rose by 9%, while international offers grew by 17%, despite lower anticipated enrollment from those groups. Among California admits, 41.8% reported low family incomes, up from 40.6% last year. While the proportion of first-generation college students dipped slightly to 42.4%, the actual number rose by more than 2,300. Admissions officials attributed the increase to the university's adherence to the California Master Plan for Higher Education, which guarantees admission to a UC campus for students in the top 9% of their high school class or statewide, regardless of standardized test scores. UC Berkeley, one of the most competitive campuses, admitted approximately 14,500 first-year students — 787 more than in 2024 — from a record 126,798 applicants. The campus also admitted more than 5,600 transfer students. Among freshman admits, 68% come from California and one in four identify as first-generation students. 'At Berkeley, we seek to find the most exceptional students wherever they are in the state, country or world, and it's especially rewarding when we can offer admission to more of these incredible students,' said Olufemi Ogundele, Berkeley's associate vice chancellor and dean of enrollment, in a statement. UC Davis admitted 55,739 undergraduate students for fall 2025, an 8.6% increase over the previous year. The total includes a record 45,963 first-year admissions — up 10.4% — and 9,776 transfer admissions, a slight increase from 2024. Of those admitted, 34,088 are California residents, representing 61.1% of the admitted class. The gains in admissions support UC's broader 2030 plan, which aims to gradually expand capacity for California undergraduates over the next five years.


Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer told to delay DWP Universal Credit cuts for new claimants
The Work and Pensions Committee led by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams warns in a new report disabled people could still be pushed into poverty as a result of the watered-down reforms Keir Starmer must delay a cut to Universal Credit for new claimants, a new report by MPs warns today. The Work and Pensions Committee says disabled people could still be pushed into poverty as a result of the watered-down reforms. Earlier this month the PM U-turned on plans to restrict eligibility for a key disability benefit — Personal Independence Payments (PIP). But there will be changes to the health element of Universal Credit for new claimants. From April 2026 all existing and new claimants with severe or terminal conditions will be protected, the MPs said. But they added other claimants assessed as having limited capability for work and work-related activity will see their awards halved — from £423.27 to £217.26 a month. While welcoming the major U-turn on PIP last month, the MPs' report said: "We remain critical, however, of the Government's failure to properly assess the impact of the cut to UC health on poverty, health and labour force participation. "For this reason, we urge it to delay the measure until it has had time to make such an assessment." Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams said: 'We welcome the concessions that the Government made to the UC and PIP Bill (now the UC Bill). But there are still issues with these welfare reforms not least with the cut in financial support that newly sick and disabled people will receive.' She added: "The Government's own analysis published in March indicates that from next April approximately 50,000 people who develop a health condition or become disabled – and those who live with them - will enter poverty by 2030 as a result of the reduction in support of the UC health premium.' 'We recommend delaying the cuts to the UC-health premium, especially given that other policies such as additional NHS capacity, or employment support, or changes in the labour market to support people to stay in work, have yet to materialise.' 'We agree in a reformed and sustainable welfare system, but we must ensure that the wellbeing of those who come into contact with it is protected. The lesson learned from last month should be that the impact of policy changes to health-related benefits must be assessed prior to policy changes being implemented to avoid potential risks to claimants.' Responding to the report, Nil Guzelgun from charity Mind, said: 'We cannot build a fair and compassionate system by stripping away support from those who need it most. Real reform must start with listening, both to the evidence and to disabled people themselves. "We urge the Government to pause these damaging plans and commit instead to a benefits system that protects people's health, dignity and independence.'


Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Under pressure, UC admits a record number of Californians; racial diversity remains strong
UC admitted its largest class of California undergraduates for fall 2025, while also maintaining a diverse student body and increasing the number of students who are the first-generation in their family to attend college, according to preliminary data released Monday. The University of California also offered admission to 17% more undergraduate international students, a group which has come under scrutiny from the Trump administration with increased vetting and visa delays. The strategy in raising international student admits took into account that UC raised nonresident tuition fees last year and that White House actions will likely mean fewer foreigners will decide to study in the U.S. in the fall. The bigger pool of admission offers aims to capture a large enough group of students who will enroll and bring the international diversity UC values — as well boost coffers with the full-price tuition paid by non-California residents. Overall, UC admitted 100,947 first-year California students, up more than 7% from last year. The number represents the largest admitted class to the nation's premier public university system as leaders address public demands to give more seats to Californians — despite the allure of charging higher tuition to out-of-state students during tough budgetary times. UC is grappling with a hiring freeze, layoffs, deferred state funding, campus-level structural deficits, potentially costly union contract negotiations and talk of tuition increases. Questions loom over billions in federal grants amid Trump administration claw-backs and multiple federal government investigations probing allegations regarding antisemitism, use of race in admissions and sources of foreign funding. The system-wide admission rate for California first-year students — even taking in highly competitive campuses including UCLA and Berkeley — increased to 77% from 70% last year. Overall, UC offered seats to 180,382 first-year and transfer students from California and other states and nations. At UCLA, the nation's most applied-to university, the admit rate remained roughly the same at 9%. UCLA offered admission to 8,575 California first-year applicants for fall 2025, down by more than 200 students over last year. Like in previous years, the number represented the smallest set of offers among UC campuses. Monday's data focused only on admitted students — not those who will end up accepting offers and enroll. Thus, the numbers are higher than campus capacities. 'We continue to experience significant growth — a clear indication that Californians recognize the value of a UC degree,' said outgoing UC President Michael V. Drake. 'Our latest admissions numbers demonstrate that families across our state recognize that UC degrees prepare students for a lifetime of meaningful contributions in their communities and far beyond.' Drake, a physician, will leave his role at the end of July to return to research and teaching. James B. Milliken, the former University of Texas Chancellor, will replace him. 'Creating pathways to a UC education for a wide range of top California students yields benefits not only for those students, but for the state at large,' said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, UC associate vice provost and executive director for undergraduate admissions. 'We are proud to offer these exceptional young people a place at the University of California.' The data released Monday continues years-long UC trends of increasing racial diversity, first-generation students, those from lower-income families, and transfers from California community colleges. In recent years, UC has touted the racial and ethnic mix of its admitted students as a better reflection of California demographics — even as diversity programs nationwide have come under political and legal attack, and the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that affirmative action in college admissions was unconstitutional. In California, Proposition 209, approved by voters in 1997, bans the consideration of race in admission to public education institutions. Over the years UC has moved to recruit a diversity of students and in the early 2000s, launched two major reforms. One focuses on an admission guarantee to top-performing students statewide and at most California high schools. The other evaluates applicants using a comprehensive review process — including special talents, how a student compares to peers in their high school, and geographic location — in addition to grades and coursework. This year, as the Trump administration has criticized campus diversity programs, UC's messaging around admissions has been quieter about race. A press release on admissions data did not refer to the racial make-up of admitted students, as it has in the past several years — although racial data was included in detailed admissions tables. Earlier this year, the Trump administration said it was investigating UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine of using 'illegal DEI' in admissions and suggested the system's faculty diversity goals amounted to race-based hiring discrimination. The Justice Department zeroed in on a 'UC 2030 Capacity Plan' that charts out desires to increase diversity among graduate students and faculty, including adding 1,100 tenure-track faculty. UC has vigorously defended it admissions practices and said it abides by state and federal laws. Monday's UC data showed increases in admits of all racial groups: Black, Latino, Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, white and 'unknown.' The growth happened despite the total applicant pool declining slightly — by less than 1% — to 249,824. For the sixth consecutive year, Latinos were the largest group of admitted first-year California students, primarily because of their high numbers accepted by UC Merced and UC Riverside. At the other seven undergraduate campuses, Asian Americans were the leading admitted group. Overall, Latinos made up 39% of first-year Californians admitted, followed by Asian Americans at 33%, white students at 18%, Black students at 6%, Native Americans at roughly 1% — or 604 people — and Pacific Islanders at less than 1% with 294 people. As it was last year — following national trends in higher education — women admits outweighed men. Across UC campuses, 54% of admits for the fall were women, 42% were men. In addition, 1% were nonbinary, less than 1% each were transgender men or women, and 3% were of a different or unknown gender identity. UC Berkeley and Davis, where 57% of admits were women, had the biggest gender divides. While UC's overall admission data showed increases in the number of students offered slots, the campus-by-campus data varied widely. Most campuses only increased admits by a few hundred or few thousand students. The bulk of admissions growth was dominated by UC Merced and UC Riverside. At Merced, UC's newest campus, overall admissions grew more than 60% to 50,662 from 31,585 last year. At Riverside, admissions jumped greater than 38% from 51,345 to 71,069. Part of the increase reflected targeted recruiting for those campuses, Yoon-Wu said in an interview. 'One of the changes this year was focusing on students who perhaps were not familiar with those two campuses and getting them in as applicants early on,' she said. Merced saw the biggest growth in applications this year with a 45% increase to to 51,745. The second-biggest increase was at Riverside, jumping 18% to 82,904. Both campuses have been expanding and do not face the same restrictions of some high-profile UCs that are surrounded by dense urban areas with relatively high housing costs, such as UCLA and UC Berkeley. Riverside, which is undergoing housing expansion, aims to enroll 35,000 students by 2035 — an increase of roughly 9,000 from last fall. Merced has a enrollment goal of 15,000 by 2030, which would be a growth of roughly 6,000 from last fall. Merced and Riverside campuses also have the highest admission rates in UC and are among the most diverse when it comes to race, first-generation status and student income levels. In addition, the campuses also have low yield rates — the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll. At Merced, the overall first-year student yield rate last year was 7%. At Riverside, it was 12%. Systemwide, the number of low income students and those who are the first in their family to attend college was relativity stable. Low income students made up 42% of the admitted first-year California class, a 1% increase over last year. First generation students also made up 42%, a 1% decrease. The system made gains in expanding access to California Community College transfer applicants. It offered admission to 27,845 — 5.9% more than last year. UC began adding more out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition, after funding cuts during the Great Recession. In recent years, under public pressure and amid state budget deals, it has steadily increased California admissions and enrollment. The latest admissions data showed an increase of 2,150 first-year admission offers to 26,191 — a growth of 9% — students who are residents of other states. At the same time, 3,263 more first-year international students were offered seats, an increase of 17% over last year. UC said that both numbers were higher due to 'rising uncertainty of their likelihood of enrollment' and noted that share of accepted students in the groups who choose to enroll is generally 'substantially lower' than that of California residents. Yoon-Wu said there were 'many factors' that contributed to the system wanting a larger pool of nonresident admits. She noted that that cost of being a non-Californian at UC has gone up. Last fall, the UC Board of Regents approved a 10% increase of the 'nonresident' tuition fee from $34,200 to $37,602. 'This year, there is more uncertainty about how people are feeling about higher education,' Yoon-Wu said, adding that changes in the Trump administration are 'definitely' a factor on student minds. 'Luckily for the University of California, we have proven that getting a degree from UC is a valuable decision.'


USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys legend Deion Sanders reveals cancer diagnosis, removal of bladder over offseason
One of the brightest stars of the Cowboys dynasty has made a stunning announcement concerning a personal health battle. But true to form, he also took the opportunity to turn his own setback into a motivational message for others. At an often-emotional Monday press conference in Boulder, Hall of Fame cornerback and current Colorado head coach Deion Sanders revealed that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, had the organ surgically removed and replaced, and has now been pronounced "cured from the cancer" by his doctors. The nine-time Pro Bowler, whose acquisition and play was a major factor in helping the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXX following the 1995 season, was flanked by his doctor from the University of Colorado Cancer Center as well as UC's assistant athletic trainer as he spoke on the ordeal. "It has been a tremendous journey," Sanders told reporters. "I'm truly thankful that God is so good. God is so good, you have no idea." Dr. Janet Kukreja explained that the type of cancer- discovered after a malignant tumor was found during routine tests- had "a high recurrence rate." That led Sanders to make the decision to move forward with the "curative" option of having his bladder removed in a procedure that took place shortly after the NFL draft in April. Sanders admitted that his surgery preparation contributed to the perceived drama that surrounded him and his family on draft weekend, as son Shedeur unexpectedly fell all the way to the fifth round. "There was some scenes you saw, all the bull junk that transpired on draft day," Sanders said. "It wasn't just that. It was just, I knew as well I had a surgery coming up. My sons, to this day, don't know what transpired. I just told them it was something with my foot, because I wanted to give them the focus on making the team and not focused on dad." As a result of the procedure and the subsequent rehab, the coach was away from his Buffaloes team during spring practices. He made an appearance at Big 12 media days earlier in July but declined to speak on his health. Sanders previously dealt with a serious blood clotting issue and as a result had two toes amputated in 2021. More recently, though, he had been battling another health concern that had- until Monday- been left unspecified. In a video just released over the weekend, Sanders acknowledged that he wrote his will in May, thinking then that he "may not be here" much longer. The outlook he described Monday, however, was considerably more optimistic. Sanders spoke unflinchingly about what his life looks like post-surgery, from his dependence on absorbent undergarments to the likely presence of a portable toilet on the sidelines of Colorado games this fall. Sanders was forthcoming in speaking about every aspect of his own cancer diagnosis, and he encouraged others to be just as open and honest in examining their own health. He urged everyone to get checked. "I know there's a lot of people out there going through what I am going through and dealing with what I am dealing with and let's stop being ashamed of it and let's deal with it. And let's deal with it head-on.' Doctors used pieces of Sanders's own intestines to construct a new bladder for the 57-year-old. That is to prevent the body from rejecting the replacement organ. Even though Sanders's rehab isn't over and he will continue to be monitored by his medical team, he now has his sights set on Colorado's upcoming season, when he looks to build on last year's 9-4 turnaround campaign. "I'm built for this," Sanders said. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!