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HUNDREDS of pensioners are set to receive a cost of living payment voucher up to £120 on their doorstep.

For those who need a little bit of help this Christmas, the Household Support Fund offers some assistance to low income households.

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The Household Support Fund is worth £421million and aims to help with gas, electricity, and food during the winter months.

It’ll be split across local authorities that will individually decide who is eligible.

All households issued the support will be offered the vouchers automatically so there’s no need to reach out to the council.

Wakefield Council has set aside some money for pensioners receiving a council tax reduction but not pension credit.

They have recently released the conditions of their eligibility scheme.

To qualify for the voucher from this council you must live in Wakefiel,d be over the age of 16 and not living with family or friends, be responsible for the rent, receive a low income, and have no access to other public funds.

How much will I get?

For pensioners who still receive the Winter Fuel Allowance you should receive £80 worth of supermarket voucher.

This will be issued between November 6 and November 15.

If you are pensioner who no longer gets the Winter Fuel Allowance you could receive a supermarket voucher of £130.

The voucher should also arrive between November 6 and November 15.

For other households in receipt of Council Tax Support there should be £80 heading your way.

This will get to you between December 2 and December 11.

The vouchers should arrive within seven days with a set of instruction of how to redeem it.

What will the fund cover?

The aim of the fund is to support with rising living costs, especially for those who don’t receive other forms of support.

It’ll cover the costs of food, housekeeping and other essential bills like gas and electricity.

Items like clothing can be covered, including school uniforms, and beds and bedding.

It can’t be spent on non-urgent items, cash payments, mortgage costs, or rent.

What if I don’t live in Wakefield?

The Household Support Fund will be accessible all around the country.

The £421million fund budget will be spread across each council but each authority will decide its own eligibility.

Not all councils have published what they plan to do with the Household Support Fund budget yet.

If you’re keen to find out what support is available to you, you can contact your local council and ask if there is any help on offer.

For those unsure which council they should contact, you can find your council area by using the Government’s council locator tool via gov.uk.

The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help you find out what you may be able to claim.

Other help on offer

You might be able to get some support from you energy firm if you haven’t receive a Household Support Fund voucher.

For example, British Gas is handing out up to £1,700 worth of grants to UK households.

This is through the company’s Individual and Families Fund and is accessible to people living in England, Scotland, and Wales – even if you’re not a British Gas customer.

To be eligible to get this support you must have been given help from a money advice agency in the last six months and .

You’ll also need to have not received a grant from The British Gas Energy in the last six months.

Other energy companies have their own support network for customers.

These include OVO, Boost, E.On, E.On Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita.

How has the Household Support Fund evolved?

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.

Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.

It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

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The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.

In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.

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Sir Keir Starmer may have sent his “hearty” congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election this week, but there are a number of policy areas where the UK government is poised to clash with the incoming Republican administration.

The prime minister will need to strike a balancing act: maintaining goodwill with the next White House to work together on thorny global issues, while ensuring he does not alienate domestic voters who largely take a dim view of the president-elect.

Whitehall insiders are also bracing for personality clashes, particularly with Elon Musk, who is tipped for a prominent role in Trump’s team and has revelled in using his social media platform to goad Starmer and criticise the UK.

Tariffs

Economists have warned Trump’s threat to impose 10-20 per cent tariffs on all imports into the US — and 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods — would hit UK trade and investment.

A sector-by-sector analysis by the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy at Sussex University forecast Trump tariffs could cause a £22bn annual hit to UK exports, with key sectors such as fishing and petroleum facing sharp declines.

“Most UK industries . . . will face steep challenges if the US goes ahead with the proposed tariffs,” said UKTPO economist Nicolò Tamberi, though he added textiles “may see gains from trade shifts due to reduced Chinese competition in the US market”.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research said tariffs of 10 per cent would cut forecast GDP growth by 0.8 percentage points next year, and cause a 1.4 percentage point reduction in 2026.

Ahmet Kaya, principal economist at Niesr, said higher prices would hit lower-income households hardest. “Trump’s proposed tariffs would be yet another shock to the UK economy,” he added.

The prospect has sent shockwaves through Whitehall. “This has the potential to be as problematic for us as Brexit,” said one British government figure.

Foreign and defence

Trump has pledged to “end wars”, a noble ambition that poses problems for a world currently enmeshed in multiple conflicts.

The UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine under successive Tory and Labour administrations could be severely undermined by the president-elect, who has indicated his desire for Kyiv to agree a swift deal with Moscow, triggering anxiety about the prospect of him pressing Ukraine to accept terms.

While Starmer has promised the UK will raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP — compared with 2.3 per cent currently — there are questions over whether European states could provide plug the military and financial gap if the US, which has provided a major proportion, pulls back.

Trump’s position will also have a bearing on Israel’s conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hizbollah in Lebanon, although it remains to be seen how much leverage he will have over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The UK government has increasingly stepped up pressure on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in the region and to show restraint towards Iran to avoid spiralling conflict in the region.

Dr Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow at the Rusi think-tank, said: “If the election results indicate, at least partially, American voters’ repudiation of the Democratic party’s policies in Gaza and the failure to negotiate a ceasefire deal, it is difficult to see how a Trump administration will pivot to improve the situation.”

Nato

Trump has previously expressed ambivalence about Nato. Any move by him that cast doubt on Article 5 — the principle of collective defence that lies at its heart — could force Britain and Europe to shoulder far more of the burden of securing their own region, above and beyond current planned increases.

While the prime minister would like to focus expenditure on vote-winning areas like the NHS and education, he may yet be forced to pour even more cash into Britain’s armed forces.

Strategic rivalry between the US and China is meanwhile likely to intensify under Trump, which could have consequences for London.

During his first term, Trump pressured Britain to fall into line on Beijing, such as banning technology manufactured by Chinese company Huawei from the UK’s 5G rollout.

Technology

Governments around the world are drawing up rules to govern how AI is developed and used, making the next few years key to the safe rollout of the rapidly-evolving technology.

Trump has said he plans to scrap the Biden administration’s Executive Order on AI — which was tied closely to the UK’s AI Safety Summit last year.

The move would put the US on a collision course with the UK government on regulation, one UK-based technology lobbyist warned. “To me, the downsides are quite significant” for the UK’s role in tech, they added.

Big Tech companies are likely to be emboldened by Trump to fight against European-style regulation of the industry, such as the UK’s Online Safety act and new Digital Markets Unit regulator.

Policing of online activities is an area where Musk, Trump’s top tech industry ally, has already clashed with the UK. The X owner repeatedly likened the UK to the Soviet Union for its policing of offensive speech after far-right riots spread across the country in August.

Climate

An avowed climate change sceptic, Trump promised while campaigning to increase drilling for fossil fuels in the US and vowed to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, Joe Biden’s flagship legislation to encourage investment in clean energy.

Labour ministers are privately aghast at Trump’s approach to climate change but some believe that Europe could become a relatively more attractive place for low-carbon investment in the coming months.

The Starmer government will pitch Britain as one of the most politically stable countries in the world with a more interventionist approach to green energy than the previous Tory administration.

Trump’s victory will also overshadow the UN COP29 climate talks in petrostate Azerbaijan next week, given the president-elect’s promise to withdraw from the 2015 Paris agreement — as he did during his first term in the White House.

Starmer is attending the COP talks in Baku but other major political figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron and EU president Ursula von der Leyen had already dropped out even before the US election.

A MAN who has visited all 76 cities in the UK has called Wrexham a “city of the future” for tourists thanks to its A-list glow-up.

Travel guide creator Peter Naldrett, who lives in Sheffield, believes Wrexham will be an upcoming tourist destination in the next few years.

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Wrexham – home to just under 45,000 people – was given city status in 2022 after winning the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours.

Peter, who visited every UK city while researching his book, Bright Lights, Big Cities, wouldn’t be surprised if Wrexham became a tourist magnet in the next few years.

Talking exclusively to the Sun Newspaper, he said: “The city of the future is Wrexham and quite unusually it’s all about football.

“Wrexham AFC had a Hollywood buyout and the football is actually going brilliantly well with promotions for the Welsh side.

“This, coupled with the TV show, means more people are coming to every game, selling out stadiums.

“The knock-on effect for hotels and restaurants will be an upward spiral for maybe the next five or 10 years.

“If everything goes well, I think visitors could see a museum opening, like the Wrexham Story, or some activities for the kids.”

Surrounded by beautiful mountains and Welsh valleys, Wrexham has already been rising in popularity among holidaymakers.

The interest in Wrexham as a holiday destination has a lot to do with its football team and its celebrity owners, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Since the buyout from the Hollywood stars, the Red Dragons have been promoted back to the football league for the first time in 15 years.

They filmed the whole thing for a popular Disney+ series called Welcome to Wrexham, bringing wider appeal to the town, attracting people from beyond the UK.

And some of their celeb pals like Paul Rudd and Hugh Jackman have been spotted watching games in the Welsh football stadium.

Until these potential attractions open, there are plenty of other places for visitors to enjoy, including amazing walks, water sports and crucially, some very cheap pints.

In 2022, according to Wales Online, Wrexham was the cheapest place in the UK to get a beer.

They reported that the average cost of a pint in the town was “just £2.09 – almost £4 cheaper than the nation’s most expensive spot” which, of course, was London.

If you’re not a big drinker, there are plenty of outdoor activities in the surrounding areas.

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One of those is the Llangollen aqueduct, which visitors can kayak over, while sampling the breathtaking surrounding views.

There’s also the Clwydian mountain range and Dee Valley area of outstanding natural beauty, which both have walks to suit every ability.

The Dee Valley website says that the area “is an outstanding place to explore on foot” with some “challenging long-distance routes that are of national importance”.

For the less outdoorsy, there’s plenty to do in the town as well, including National Trust property Erddig.

The Grade-I listed property features a 17th century country house, a restored walled garden and outbuildings.

There are also play areas and places to eat, making it an excellent place for a family day out.

Although Wrexham itself isn’t coastal, it’s not too far from it, with Talacre beach in Flintshire less than an hour’s drive away.

The Kent town of Margate was featured in the new Hollywood blockbuster Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman.

Meanwhile, a magical beach in the UK where Harry Potter was filmed has been called a “surfer’s paradise” by fans of the franchise.

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NextGen Planners has announced that entrepreneur, author and speaker James Ashford has acquired an equity stake in the organisation.

This partnership will accelerate NextGen Planners’ mission to provide its community of financial professionals with enhanced tools and strategies for personal and business growth.

Ashford, known for founding GoProposal – a pricing software for accountants acquired by Sage in an eight-figure deal – brings significant expertise in business development, client engagement and profitable growth strategies.

He has experience in transforming the accounting industry, as well as being an advocate for the benefits of financial planning through his own personal story.

He will provide invaluable insights as NextGen Planners expands its offerings to financial planning professionals worldwide.

NextGen Planners chief executive Adam Carolan said: “James Ashford’s involvement marks a significant milestone for us, enabling us to reach new heights in supporting our members’ growth.

“James’s background in scaling companies and enhancing client value will empower our community with practical strategies for driving success in their businesses.”

This strategic partnership will provide NextGen Planners members access to high-impact growth resources, leveraging Ashford’s innovative methodologies for efficient pricing, business growth and client service enhancement.

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

A golden rule of defence is to strive to prevent declarer ruffing in dummy. However, sometimes, the timing of the ruff is consequential. Would the defender’s tempting offer have won you over? 

Bidding
Dealer: East
E/W Game

West’s jump to 3H was a pre-empt. Supporting your partner aggressively after an intervening take-out double is a perfect moment to barrage; after all, if you have a big fit, so do your opponents. South doubled again, striving to find a 4-4 spade fit but, when North suggested clubs, the retreat to 4D indicated four spades, five or six diamonds, and great strength. North prized his singleton heart and went to game.

West led 4♥; East won with K♥. East appreciated that a heart ruff could not be prevented, but he might be able to stop declarer from reaching dummy’s long club suit if he forces a heart ruff prematurely. So, East laid down A♥. What should declarer do? 

If South trumps on the table, he cannot draw all the trumps and get to dummy to enjoy his club winners. Instead, he must refuse the ruff, discarding a spade. Now, whatever East leads, South can win in hand, draw all the trumps, unblock ♣AK and finally enter dummy by overtaking 5♦ with dummy’s 6♦. On the club winners, all three spade losers can be discarded from hand.