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HOUSEHOLDS who claim Universal Credit and other benefits can use free online calculators to work out how much money they should get. The number of people claiming Universal Credit has soared because of the coronavirus crisis. Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show six million people were claiming Universal Credit, as of 14 January, 2021. This is a staggering 98% increase since 12 March, 2020. But in a boost for people who claim, the amount you receive from benefits is set to rise from April when new rates come into force. You can see what benefits are rising and by how much in our guide. What to do if you have problems claiming Universal Credit IF you're experiencing trouble applying for your Universal Credit, or the payments just don't cover costs, here are your options: Apply for an advance - Claimants are able to get some cash within five days rather than waiting weeks for their first payment. But it's a loan which means … [Read more...] about Free tools to work out how much Universal Credit and benefits you should get

THE past year has seen much of the nation turn to home improvements to help curb boredom - so it's safe to say we'd spot a work tool if we saw one. But this DIY-inspired brainteaser is challenging Brits to spot the tiny nail hiding among the other tools - and the time to beat is just 48 seconds. To inspire the nation’s keenest DIYers, SGS Engineering has created this work scene which features a range of popular tools such as hammers, spanners and hand-saws, When it comes to tackling home renovations, Dave Gordon, General Manager at SGS Engineering said: "The trick with DIY is to start small, make sure you have the right tools – and know how to use them, and ask for help if you need it. "Practice makes perfect too, so keep trying things and you’ll see that your confidence and skills do improve" - and the same can be said for this picture puzzle. Do you have what it takes? The answer is below - but no cheating until you've had a good look. Most read in … [Read more...] about Fiendishly tricky brainteaser challenges players to find the nail hidden in the DIY tools – so can YOU beat 48 seconds?

It was an ordinary Wednesday morning when I woke up on 13 March, 1996. It was snowing and I shivered as I pulled on my red school uniform sweater. We’d moved to Scotland three years earlier – my mum, my stepdad and my 11-year-old brother Joe. I loved my school. I was a happy-go-lucky kid and very settled. Dunblane was a safe, close-knit community. Neighbours were friendly and Joe and I had the freedom to play in the park and walk to school by ourselves. After we’d waved Mum goodbye at home, we walked the short distance to school and Joe went off to his class, which was in a prefab structure on the site, and I went to mine, Primary Four, which was a classroom in the main building. The school had a large gym in the middle and a big field at the back. It was coming up to 9.30am and our class was walking through a corridor to the music room, called the “GP room”, to practise singing for a big assembly later that week. But something wasn’t right. I was standing next to my … [Read more...] about ‘I tried to take my life after Dunblane horror – but now I have my happy family’

The Queen has stressed the importance of staying in touch with family and friends during "testing times" in a message broadcast hours ahead of the Sussexes' Oprah interview. Senior royals including the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined forces to appear in the special BBC One programme on Sunday to mark Commonwealth Day, as the bitter fallout from Megxit continued. The Queen's audio message celebrated collaboration, but stood in contrast to the troubles facing the royal family. Focusing on the global impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the monarch spoke of using technology that "transcends boundaries or division" and how there has been a "deeper appreciation" of the need to connect to others during the Covid-19 crisis. She also praised the "selfless dedication to duty" seen across the Commonwealth, particularly on the front line. Do you enjoy reading about the royal family? Sign up for all the best royal news from the Mirror here As Harry … [Read more...] about Queen stresses importance of staying in touch with family during ‘testing times’

THOUSANDS of pension savers are overestimating their future retirement pot by as much as £50,000. Research from consumer group Which? highlights how a worrying number of people don’t know much money they’ll get from their state pension . In some cases, savers are expecting up to £50,000 more than they’ll actually get, which could cause them money difficulties in later life. It also means some people could be saving far less than they need to in their private pensions, due to thinking that they’ll be getting a larger sum from the government. Which? found three in 10 people are overestimating their future state pension payments. In the biggest of pension gaps, one in 10 savers thought the state pension is worth £200 a week or £10,400 a year on average. What are the different types of pension? WE round-up the main types of pension and how they differ: Personal pension or self-invested personal pension (Sipp) - This is probably the most flexible type … [Read more...] about Simple pension pot error could leave you with £50,000 less than expected