{"id":551262,"date":"2026-07-15T16:47:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T16:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/551262\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T16:47:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T16:47:48","slug":"2-5m-pensioners-missing-out-on-up-to-13000-a-year-in-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/551262\/","title":{"rendered":"2.5m pensioners missing out on up to \u00a313,000 a year in benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Around 2.5 million pensioners<\/a> are missing out on some form of state-funded benefit, pushing them either into poverty or at risk of it<\/a>, a new report has found.<\/p>\n

Research by the charity Independent Age shows that if all older people took up their full means-tested entitlements, 280,000 fewer pensioners would be living in poverty.<\/p>\n

This would save the NHS<\/a> and social care sectors in England \u00a3790m a year, due to improved health and socio-economic outlook for those people affected, the report claims.<\/p>\n

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news<\/p>\n

How you could soon take a direct train from London to Cologne<\/p>\n

\"GeminiCaption: Gemini Trains<\/p>\n

British business travellers could gain a direct rail link between London and Cologne by 2030 under plans from Gemini Trains, a UK start-up that intends to challenge Eurostar?s three-decade hold on the Channel Tunnel.<\/p>\n

Image: press@geminitrains.com<\/p>\n

British passengers might soon be able take a direct train from London to Cologne after British-based start-up, Gemini Trains, has said it wants to run rival services to Eurostar.<\/p>\n

They hope to offer services to the French capital, including Disneyland Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport, as well as Cologne by 2030.<\/p>\n

Where else can you visit along the proposed lines?<\/p>\n

Gemini Trains, which says that it is backed by a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, will plan to make Stratford International its main London hub as capacity at St Pancras is under pressure.<\/p>\n

Trains would also stop at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International along the High Speed 1 line, which Eurostar suspended services along in 2020.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photographer: Connect Images
Provider: Getty Images\/Connect Images
Source: Connect Images<\/p>\n

What will you get for your money?<\/p>\n

The company has said that tickets will be subject to dynamic pricing, but they hope to offer one-way fares to Paris from about \u00a359.<\/p>\n

Travelling to Cologne will take around four hours, which is similar to Eurostar\u2019s London-Amsterdam service. Currently, those trips can take up to six hours with at least one change.<\/p>\n

Gemini has said its standard class will feature \u201cmore comfortable seats, good Wi-Fi and mood lighting\u201d, while business class includes food and a privacy screen.<\/p>\n

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Newsletter (\u00a3)<\/p>\n

6 min read<\/p>\n

A \u2018disruptor operator\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite having a solid team of experts Gemini Trains is very much a disruptor operator which constantly challenges the status quo\u2026 Eurostar, a monopoly operator, has become lacklustre and very expensive. We will shake things up.<\/p>\n

Adrian Quine, chief executive of Gemini Trains<\/p>\n

\"TheCaption: The Eurostar train stops at the station before it travels through the channel on its way to Paris.
Photographer: Alison Wright
Provider: Getty Images
Source: The Image Bank Unreleased<\/p>\n

Changes to buy now, pay later rules \u2013 what you need to know<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A group of Black Friday online shopping purchases photographed in delivery boxes filled with polystyrene packing pellets, taken on September 13, 2019. (Photo by Neil Godwin\/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Photographer: Future Publishing
Provider: Future Publishing via Getty Imag
Source: Future
Copyright: 2019 Future Publishing<\/p>\n

New regulations have been introduced that will provide better protections for shoppers using buy now, pay later (BNPL) schemes. These schemes, provided by companies such as Klarna, Zilch and Clearpay, mean customers can spread the cost of purchases over time.<\/p>\n

What will change?<\/p>\n

BNPL will now be subject to consumer duty, meaning customers will receive clear, transparent details about their agreement, including what payments are due, when they are due and what happens if there is a missed payment.<\/p>\n

Lenders will also be required to carry out affordability checks and offer support to customers in financial difficulty.<\/p>\n

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PROPERTY AND MORTGAGES<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

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PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

Regulations will raise awareness of short-term borrowing risks<\/p>\n

Mortgage brokers have said that the new regulations will make people more aware that BNPL is a form of short-term borrowing that can affect affordability assessments.<\/p>\n

Darani Ganesharajah, mortgage broker\u00a0at Springtide Capital, told Newspage even though amounts borrowed through BNPL could be small, people often forgot to mention them when applying for a mortgage.<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND \u2013 SEPTEMBER 27: A photo illustration of the new British ten pound note, featuring a portrait of Jane Austen, on September 27, 2017 in London, England. A polymer ??20 note featuring JMW Turner will enter circulation by 2020. (Photo by Jim Dyson\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Jim Dyson
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2017 Jim Dyson<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Is your dog addicted to his ball? How pets show signs of addiction<\/p>\n

\"ANKARA,Caption: ANKARA, TURKIYE \u2013 APRIL 15: Police dogs of the Turkish General Directorate of Security undergo rigorous training and actively take part in crime-fighting operations at the Dog Training Center (KEM) in Golbasi district of Ankara, Turkiye on April 15, 2026. Operating under the Narcotics Crimes Department, dogs are deployed across multiple units of the force. Both service dogs and their handlers are trained together to carry out coordinated missions. (Photo by Binnur Ege Gurun Kocak\/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

For many dogs, a tennis ball may be just a toy, but for others it could be part of a wider addiction. These dogs may love the toy so much that they may even be regarded as \u201cball junkies\u201d. <\/p>\n

Some dogs will ignore food to play with their toys<\/p>\n

As part of largest study of its kind, two Belgian shepherds were presented with their favourite toy locked inside a heavy container.<\/p>\n

Food was also given to them alongside the box, but they ignored it and attacked the container until they managed to break it open to release their toy. <\/p>\n

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First Person<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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LIFESTYLE<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

\nSimilarities between dogs and humans\n<\/p>\n

The study, conducted by the University of Bern, found that when their ball was taken from them, the dogs would actually exhibit withdrawal-like distress.<\/p>\n

\"MENANDS,Caption: MENANDS, NY \u2013 FEBRUARY 5: Buck walks with a football in his mouth at Mohawk Hudson Humane Society on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 in Menands, N.Y. Buck along will local dogs Jodi and Gazpacho will appear in the nationally televised Animal Planet Puppy Bowl XXII, airing on Super Bowl Sunday. (Lori Van Buren\/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
Photographer: Albany Times Union\/Hearst Newspa
Provider: Albany Times Union via Getty Ima
Source: Hearst Newspapers
Copyright: ? 2023 Lori Van Buren \/ Times Union<\/p>\n

\"ManCaption: Man is sitting at a slot machine while focusing on the game. Scene is illustrating gambling, entertainment, and casino atmosphere.
Photographer: Nico De Pasquale Photography
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision
Copyright: Nico De Pasquale<\/p>\n

The finding that 3 per cent of dogs experience this broadly correlates with the proportion of humans that are affected by behavioural addictions such as problem gambling.<\/p>\n

How you can help your dog<\/p>\n

Alja Mazzini, the lead author of the study, told The Times that you should start to be concerned if your dog is exhibiting an inability to disengage, persistent frustration when a toy disappears, difficulty resting and steadily escalating arousal.<\/p>\n

She recommended that play should be shorter, with clear beginnings, endings and time to recover afterwards, instead of long sessions of repeated ball-throwing.<\/p>\n

\"WomanCaption: Woman bonding with her border collie dog at sunset by the lake
Photographer: Olga Pankova
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

News<\/p>\n

British couple detained in Iran have sentence extended<\/p>\n

\"UndatedCaption: Undated family handout file photo originally issued on 15\/02\/25 on Craig and Lindsay Foreman. The family of a British man jailed in Iran on spying charges says he has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison. Craig and his wife Lindsay were sentenced to 10 years\u2019 prison in February after being convicted of espionage, charges they both deny. According to his family, Mr Foreman was told he had been given an additional two-year sentence for speaking to media outlets. Issue date: Wednesday July 15, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Family Handout\/PA Wire <\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Family Handout
Provider: Family Handout\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

Craig Foreman, who was jailed in Iran along with his wife, Lindsay, after being accused of espionage, has had two years added to his 10-year sentence. <\/p>\n

Why has their sentence been extended?<\/p>\n

Relatives of Foreman said his punishment has been extended for talking to the media from his cell in Evin prison in Tehran. <\/p>\n

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the department\u00a0was \u201curgently following up with the Iranian authorities about the reported increased sentence\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Analysis<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

Family\u2019s desperate pleas continue<\/p>\n

He [Craig] was allowed no lawyer, no translator and no opportunity to defend himself. We didn\u2019t think we could be any more shocked at their appalling treatment, but in this case, we are absolutely flabbergasted.<\/p>\n

Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman\u2019s son and a spokesperson for the family<\/p>\n

\"EMBARGOEDCaption: EMBARGOED TO 1600 THURSDAY AUGUST 28<\/p>\n

Undated family handout photo of Lindsay and Craig Foreman. The family of the British couple detained in Iran have requested an urgent meeting with the Foreign Secretary after the pair were \u201csuddenly whisked\u201d to a courtroom in the country\u2019s capital. The pair were taken into custody in January during a motorcycle tour around the world and were later charged with espionage. The couple, of East Sussex, deny the allegations. Issue date: Thursday August 28, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Family handout\/PA Wire <\/p>\n

NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Family handout
Provider: Family handout\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

Worries over their health<\/p>\n

The couple were arrested in January last year while they were passing through Iran on a motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia.<\/p>\n

Craig and Lindsay Foreman have both been on hunger strike since May, when prison authorities stopped them from calling their families.<\/p>\n

Last week, US-based human rights group, HRANA, said it had received information that Craig had lost 16kg and Lindsay was suffering from dizziness and body tremors.<\/p>\n

Last month, two United Nations human rights experts urged Iran to release the couple, saying the legal proceedings against them had been marred by serious irregularities.<\/p>\n

The midnight social media curfew for older teens proposal \u2013 explained<\/p>\n

Sixteen and 17-year-olds will face a voluntary overnight social media curfew, the Government has announced. <\/p>\n

\"PASAYCaption: PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES \u2013 JUNE 8: Passengers bound for the quake-hit city of General Santos check social media posts about destruction in Mindanao, following a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Philippines, at the domestic departure area at NAIA airport, Pasay City, Philippines, on June 8, 2026. Multiple buildings across the Mindanao region have reportedly been damaged or collapsed. Rescue operations are underway. (Photo by Daniel Ceng\/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

Midnight social media ban for teens<\/p>\n

The Government has announced that older teenagers in the UK will be subject to a social media curfew from midnight until 06:00. However, they will have the option to disable it by adjusting their account settings.<\/p>\n

\"BATH,Caption: BATH, UNITED KINGDOM \u2013 APRIL 27: In this photo illustration a 14-year-old teenage boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media apps on April 27, 2026 in Bath, England. In the UK, a ban on social media for under-16s has been backed by the House of Lords following the Australian law which aims to stop children under 16 from having social media accounts and social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram potentially being be fined for preventing children younger than 16 from having social media accounts. (Photo by Matt Cardy\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Matt Cardy
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe<\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

Hopes of ending infinite scrolling<\/p>\n

Apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube will be set to unavailable by default during the curfew times.<\/p>\n

The Government also wants \u201caddictive\u201d functions such as auto-play and infinite scroll to be set to disabled.<\/p>\n

Ministers believe these restrictions will improve teenagers\u2019 focus, sleep quality and family life.<\/p>\n

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Explained<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

Will it work?<\/p>\n

The Government trialled the curfew previously with 300 teenagers and found it led to improved sleep as well as making teens more communicative with their families.<\/p>\n

The report found the curfew was the most manageable measure to enforce. <\/p>\n

However, in Australia, where an under-16 ban is already in place, many teens have said that they can still access supposedly banned sites.<\/p>\n

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can also be used to get around age checks, but the Government said that they have found little evidence to show VPNs are being used by children.<\/p>\n

news \u2013 explainer<\/p>\n

Social media debate continues <\/p>\n

\"FILEAustralia brought in a similar ban for under-16s in December last year (Photo: Hollie Adams\/Reuters)<\/p>\n

Professor Sonia Livingstone, an expert in children\u2019s digital rights at the London School of Economics, told the BBC that the curfew could harm vulnerable children by restricting them from social media when they need it most.<\/p>\n

But online safety minister, Kanishka Narayan, said the plans show the UK is \u201cfirmly on the side of\u201d parents and families.<\/p>\n

2.5m pensioners missing out on up to \u00a313,000 a year in benefits \u2013 how to claim<\/p>\n

Research by charity Independent Age shows that if all older people took up their full means-tested entitlements, 280,000 fewer pensioners would be living in poverty. This would save the NHS and social care sectors \u00a3790m a year, according to the report.<\/p>\n

\"\"Charity Independent Age are calling on Andy Burnham\u2019s incoming government to come up with a strategy \u2018urgently\u2019 as poverty rates for older people hit 1.7m last year (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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MEDIA<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

What pensioners are missing out on<\/p>\n

Depending on their\u00a0circumstances, pensioners may be entitled to pension credit, council tax benefit, and housing benefit. <\/p>\n

The report found that only 62 per cent of those eligible are receiving the income-related pension credit top-up, and 230,000 pensioner households aren\u2019t claiming housing benefit. Over a million pensioner households could be missing out on council tax reduction benefits.<\/p>\n

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NEWS<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

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Newsletter (\u00a3)<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

Are you missing out on pensioner benefits?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Analysis by The i Paper suggests some pensioners eligible to receive all three benefits could be missing out on as much as \u00a313,000 a year.<\/p>\n

Pension credit\u00a0is available to those with weekly incomes of less than \u00a3238 for single people or \u00a3363.25 for a couple.<\/p>\n

Anyone with savings under \u00a316,000 can claim housing benefit.<\/p>\n

Council tax reduction can be claimed through your local council depending on how much savings you have.<\/p>\n

You can apply for the benefits on the Government online portal or by calling 0800 991234.<\/p>\n

Iran War<\/p>\n

All you need to know as US reinstates Iran blockade<\/p>\n

\"TOPSHOTCaption: TOPSHOT \u2013 A tugboat guides a ship at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on July 14, 2026. Tehran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz on July 12 and launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours, in retaliation for new US strikes following an attack by Iranian forces on a merchant vessel that was abandoned in flames by its crew. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) \/
Photographer: \u2013
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

The US has resumed blockading Iranian ports as the two countries exchanged attacks for the fourth day in a row following a breakdown in talks.<\/p>\n

\nTrump drops toll threat\n<\/p>\n

The blockade announcement came after Trump dropped a threat to introduce a toll on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. <\/p>\n

\"IRAN,Caption: IRAN, OMAN \u2013 JUNE 18: (RESTRICTIONS: NO Access Israel Media\/Persian Language TV Stations Outside Iran\/Strictly No Access BBC Persian\/VOA Persian\/Manoto TV\/Iran International TV) Rescue efforts are underway for a South Korean container ship that ran aground after choosing the wrong route while attempting to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz, which the Iranian military had closed, during the attacks launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28 in Oman, Iran, on June 18, 2026. (Photo by Stringer\/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

\"TOPSHOTCaption: TOPSHOT \u2013 US President Donald Trump looks on after signing an executive order to drastically shrink two national monuments in Utah, paving the way for fossil fuel extraction and mining, at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 13, 2026. The issue has become something of a political football. Previously, President Trump had targeted the two monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, during his first term in 2017, before his Democratic successor, Joe Biden, restored them to their original boundaries in 2021. (Photo by SAUL LOEB \/ AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: SAUL LOEB
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

Trump announced the toll would be replaced with a series of investments and trade deals with the Gulf states. <\/p>\n

The US President scrapped the toll \u201cbased on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership\u201d, just five hours before it was due to come into effect.<\/p>\n

Oil prices rise after blockade announcement<\/p>\n

The renewed attacks have triggered a sharp rise in oil prices as traffic through the Strait has slowed to a two-month low. On Tuesday, oil prices closed up at a one-month high, with Brent futures up 0.7 per cent to $85.31 (\u00a363.64).<\/p>\n

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Analysis<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

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Analysis<\/p>\n

4 min read<\/p>\n

\"TOPSHOTCaption: TOPSHOT \u2013 Motorists drive along an expressway as plumes of smoke rise after a strike in Tehran on March 5, 2026. Israel pounded Tehran with fresh strikes and Iran targeted Kurdish guerilla groups in Iraq on March 5 as a spiralling war in the Middle East engulfed the entire region. (Photo by ATTA KENARE \/ AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: ATTA KENARE
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\n

Threats to strike critical infrastructure<\/p>\n

Trump once again threatened to strike Iran\u2019s bridges and power plants if Iran does not return to the negotiating table. \u201cNext week, it gets really bad for them,\u201d he said in a Fox News interview.<\/p>\n

In April, Trump made similar threats, which were denounced by UN human rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk, who called them a \u201cwar crime\u201d under international law.<\/p>\n

US carries out strikes <\/p>\n

US Central Command (Centcom) said it launched a wave of strikes against Iran at 06:00 on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

Iran said at least seven people were killed in US strikes on a base in the southeastern city of Bampur.<\/p>\n

\"ThisCaption: This screen grab made on July 15, 2026, from a handout video released by US Central Command on July 13, 2026, shows what the US military says is a strike in Iran. The United States carried out a fresh round of strikes on Iran and renewed a blockade of its ports, while Tehran targeted American allies in the Gulf and vowed the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed \u201cuntil the US ends its aggression\u201d. (Photo by US Central Command Public Affairs \/ AFP via Getty Images) \/ THIS PICTURE WAS BLURRED AT SOURCE \u2014 RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE \u2013 MANDATORY CREDIT \u201cAFP PHOTO \/ US CENTRAL COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS\u201d \u2013 HANDOUT \u2013 NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS \u2013 DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Photographer: \u2013
Provider: US Central Command Public Affair
Source: AFP<\/p>\n

\"SmokeCaption: Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location, during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says are strikes on Iran, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on July 14, 2026. U.S. Central Command\/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. OVERLAY AND MASKING AT SOURCE. VERIFICATION : -Location and date could not be verified -No earlier version of the video found posted online before Tuesday (July 14)
Photographer: U.S. Central Command
Provider: via REUTERS
Source: Handout<\/p>\n

The Iranian response <\/p>\n

In response, Iran fired missiles and drones at US targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, according to state-run television network IRIB.<\/p>\n

In the early hours of Wednesday, Kuwait\u2019s military said it was intercepting Iranian attack drones, while Bahrain activated air raid sirens.<\/p>\n

The US said Iran \u201cintentionally targeted civilians\u201d by attacking seven commercial ships, which resulted in \u201ca dozen civilian crew members\u201d being killed, going missing or suffering from injuries, according to the commander of Centcom.<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

What do Labour\u2019s property reforms actually mean for homebuyers?<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Emily Braeger<\/p>\n

Money Reporter<\/p>\n

Buying a home in England could soon change significantly under Government plans to overhaul the home-buying process.<\/p>\n

Here is everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

\nWhat reforms are being introduced?\n<\/p>\n

Last month, the Government announced proposals aimed at modernising the home-buying process in England and Wales.<\/p>\n

\"ACaption: A drone view shows rows of terraced houses in the constituency of Gorton and Denton ahead of a parliamentary by-election, in Manchester, Britain, February 18, 2026 REUTERS\/Phil Noble TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Photographer: Phil Noble
Provider: REUTERS
Source: REUTERS<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Enterprise Investment Scheme is designed to encourage investment into small, early-stage UK companies (Photo: Aitor Diago\/Getty)<\/p>\n

A central part of the reforms is the wider use of reservation agreements, under which buyers and sellers each pay a reservation fee and agree to progress the sale within a set timeframe. Ministers also want more information about a property to be available before it is listed for sale.<\/p>\n

\nHow will this impact the market?\n<\/p>\n

\"FileCaption: File photo dated 29\/07\/25 of model houses on a pile of coins and bank notes. Councils risk becoming financially unsustainable unless they cut, reduce or overhaul critical services, a watchdog has said, as it warned of a near ?1 billion funding gap. The Accounts Commission said Scotland\u2019s local authorities are facing a combined revenue gap of ?975 million across the next two years amid increasing financial pressures. Issue date: Thursday June 11, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens\/PA Wire
Photographer: Joe Giddens
Provider: Joe Giddens\/PA Wire
Source: PA<\/p>\n

Higher upfront costs<\/p>\n

Buyers would be expected to spend more on due diligence before the reservation agreement.<\/p>\n

Fewer failed sales<\/p>\n

Encouraging buyers and sellers to commit earlier should mean fewer sales collapse.<\/p>\n

\"Business(Photo: Getty).<\/p>\n

\"RealReal estate investment and loan, mortgage and refinance concept. \u2013 stock photo. (manusapon kasosod\/ Getty)<\/p>\n

Strain on first-time buyers<\/p>\n

First-time buyers could be most exposed as they have to save for a deposit.<\/p>\n

Watch more from The i Paper<\/p>\n

@theipaper<\/a> <\/p>\n

Sir Olly Robbins, a former top Foreign Office civil servant, has launched a legal challenge after he was sacked following the Lord Mandelson vetting scandal. Robbins was fired from his position in April after Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him, saying he had failed to tell ministers of a recommendation to deny Mandelson security vetting clearance.<\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 The i Paper \u2013 The i Paper<\/a> <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Depending on their individual circumstances, pensioners can be entitled to pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit or all three.<\/p>\n

But many are either unaware they are entitled to the help, unsure how to claim it, or put off by long and onerous application forms.<\/p>\n

Independent Age is calling on the incoming Andy Burnham government to publish a new take-up strategy to ensure all pensioners are receiving their full entitlements.<\/p>\n

The report, based on analysis by Public First, finds that only 62 per cent of those eligible are receiving the income-related pension credit, meaning 1.2m people are missing out on a combined \u00a32.5bn in available funds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And some 230,000 pensioner households are not claiming pensioner housing benefit, amounting to about \u00a31.1bn in available welfare support.<\/p>\n

Official take-up figures of the council tax reduction benefit are not produced; however, the report indicates that over a million pensioner households could be missing out on this.<\/p>\n

Modelling by Independent Age shows that a total of 2.5 million people are missing out on pension credit, housing benefit, or council tax relief, or a combination of all three.<\/p>\n

Analysis by The i Paper suggests that some pensioners eligible for all three benefits could be missing out on as much as \u00a313,000 a year.<\/p>\n

Pension credit is worth \u00a375 a week or \u00a33,900 a year, while housing benefit is worth between \u00a3115 and \u00a3130 a week, or around \u00a36,000 a year (between \u00a35,980 and \u00a36,760).<\/p>\n

Older people who receive pension credit often qualify for maximum council tax support, where their bill is reduced to zero or has a significant discount. The average council tax bill is \u00a32,400.<\/p>\n

If 100 per cent of pensioners claimed what they were entitled to, the Treasury\u2019s overall benefits bill would increase.<\/p>\n

However, this would be mitigated in part by savings for the NHS and social care, as more people would be living healthier, more independent lives.<\/p>\n

Are you missing out on pensioner benefits? How to check<\/p>\n

Depending on individual circumstances, pensioners can claim one or all of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax reduction once they reach state pension age, which is currently 66.<\/p>\n

Pension credit is available to anyone over the state pension age on weekly incomes of less than \u00a3238 for single people or \u00a3363.25 a week for a couple. The benefit tops up their income to that threshold.<\/p>\n

People who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, and saved some money for retirement, may also qualify for an additional savings credit payment. This provides extra pension credit support for people with modest savings or an income above the basic state pension. Eligible people can receive up to \u00a317.96 a week if they are single, or up to \u00a320.10 a week as a couple.<\/p>\n

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible can apply for pension credit on the Government online portal<\/a>, or by calling the pension credit claim line on 0800 991234. Applications can start up to four months before a person reaches state pension age.<\/p>\n

Housing benefit helps people on a low income pay their rent and is worth between \u00a3115 and \u00a3130 a week. Anyone with savings of more than \u00a316,000 is not eligible.<\/p>\n

People can either apply via the same government portal as part of their pension credit claim, or via their local council. They will need to show proof of ID, rent and income in order to receive the benefit.<\/p>\n

The Government is also working on a new joined-up service for customers to apply for pensioner housing benefit and pension credit together.<\/p>\n

Council tax reduction helps people on a low income pay their council tax bill and depends on the claimant\u2019s circumstances and where they live. People have to apply through their local council, with the same documentation. As with housing benefit, anyone with savings over a certain threshold is ineligible.<\/p>\n

The report, entitled The only way is up: The impact of improved entitlement take-up on pensioner poverty and healthcare spending, also shows that 770,000 older people would remain in poverty, even if they took up all the benefits available to them.<\/p>\n

This suggests that financial entitlements and the state pension alone are not always adequate to live on.<\/p>\n

The number of older people in relative poverty in the UK rose last year to 1.7 million, an increase of 200,000 compared to the year before. Another one million pensioners live close to the poverty line.<\/p>\n

The report found that three groups especially benefited from increased take-up of these entitlements.<\/p>\n

These were: older people living alone, older renters and those on the old state pension. This is due to a combination of likely higher initial costs such as housing or energy, and a lower income.<\/p>\n

Joanna Elson, chief executive of Independent Age, said: \u201cOur social security system was designed as a safety net for all of us, but the evidence is clear, it is failing older people in poverty. Money that has been set aside is not reaching the older people who need it and at a time with increasing costs, the impact of this is devastating.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough our helpline, we hear often from older people who are having to skip meals or only wash once a week to make ends meet. This is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elson said a strategy was needed \u201curgently\u201d to ensure pensioners receive the benefits they are entitled to, and that the upcoming change of prime minister presented a \u201cgolden opportunity\u201d for this.<\/p>\n

A government spokesperson said: \u201cSupporting pensioners is a priority and our commitment to the triple lock for the rest of this Parliament means millions of pensioners will see their yearly state pension rise by up to \u00a32,100.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to our biggest ever pension credit take-up campaign, we have seen an additional 33,500 pension credit awards in 2025, worth on average \u00a387 a week, compared with the previous year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also working to bring together the administration of pensioner housing benefit and pension credit, to ensure more pensioners receive all the benefits they are entitled to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local authorities can set their own council tax levels, and the Government said it expects them to manage their finances effectively and protect vulnerable taxpayers.<\/p>\n

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