The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival will return to The Stray on June 27 and 28, featuring a packed programme of family-friendly entertainment including live music, a cookery theatre, and a variety of new attractions.

New for 2026’s festival, the ‘Sizzling Showdown’ Arena will host daily competitions and interactive shows, including a family dog show, chilli-eating challenge, and a ‘Foodie Olympics’.

Michael Johnston, festival director, said: “Part of what creates the vibrant, community-led atmosphere at our event is the wonderful mix of local acts and up-and-coming musicians that take to the stage each and every year.

“It’s important to us that we deliver a diverse and exciting line-up that’s testament to the region’s wealth of talent while offering a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy.”

This year’s festival will also feature inflatable banana jousting, inviting friends and families to take part in light-hearted duels.

Both the Sizzling Showdown Arena and the jousting attraction are free for ticket holders.

The live music line-up kicks off on Saturday at 11am with Wil Forrester’s smooth saxophone covers, followed by the dance and music duo Old Time Rags at 12pm.

Saturday’s programme also features vocalist Sienna Craven, The Johnny Storm Band, Gumbox, and headline act The UB40 Experience at 5.45pm.

The evening will close with Ibiza Sax Classics at 7.15pm.

Sunday’s highlights include Mackie, Scoble and Friends, the Leeds City Stompers, and the Danny Charles Band.

Headliners The Soul Shebang will perform their tribute to soul legends at 5.15pm, before Ibiza Sax returns to close the festival at 6.30pm.

Early bird tickets are on sale now at harrogatefoodfestival.com.

Tickets are priced at £6.95 for adults, £4.95 for under-16s, and free for children under five.

Manchester City injury list as two new names added following Premier League draw with West Ham

Manchester City dropped more Premier League points on Saturday with a disappointing 1-1 draw at West Ham.

Despite dominating the game for large periods, City could not fashion a victory and the draw means Pep Guardiola’s side are now nine points behind Arsenal in the race for the title.

The Blues now turn their attentions to the Champions League with Real Madrid in town on Tuesday. City were beaten 3-0 in the first leg of the last-16 tie so have a mountain to climb to reach the quarter-finals and have fresh injury issues to contend with.

Savinho and John Stones missed the trip to the London Stadium due to minor complaints. Here’s the injury latest from the Etihad.

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Savinho

Injury: Hamstring

The winger was taken off at half time of the defeat to Real Madrid and while that was a tactical change, the Brazilian felt his hamstring and was deemed not fit enough to travel to West Ham. He is expected to be fit for the second leg against Real on Tuesday.

Potential return date: Real Madrid (H).

John Stones

Injury: Ankle.

The England international has had an injury-hit campaign and has only recently returned to action. He felt his ankle in training so was left out of the West Ham game as a precaution. The England international started a week ago at Newcastle in the FA Cup and should be back in the squad for Tuesday, although there will be open training on Monday ahead of it where his injury status will become more clear.

Potential return date: Real Madrid (H).

Rico Lewis

Injury: Ankle.

Lewis has been absent in recent weeks with an ankle problem and is not yet fit enough to return to the squad. “Rico still has a little bit of swelling in the ankle,” said Guardiola ahead of the trip to West Ham.

Potential return date: March.

Josko Gvardiol

Injury: Leg.

Gvardiol is a long-term absentee for City having fractured his leg in the January draw with Chelsea. The defender is in a race against the clock to be back before the end of the season and this summer’s World Cup.

Potential return date: May/June.

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Max Alleyne

Injury: Knock.

Alleyne has not been in the squad since the victory over Salford in the FA Cup. He picked up a knock in that game but did feature in first-team training on Tuesday before the trip to Real Madrid.

Potential return date: March.

Mateo Kovacic

Injury: Ankle.

It has been a frustrating season for Kovacic after suffering an ankle injury in October. The midfielder is back in training and was among the subs against West Ham.

Alford, 54, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in January after he was found guilty of the assaults which occurred during a party at a friend’s home.

He died at HMP Bure in Norfolk on Friday, the Prison Service said.

London’s Burning star John Alford in 1993 (Image: John Stillwell/PA Wire)

The former actor, who appeared in the BBC drama Grange Hill, was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to a 15-year-old girl at a property in Hertfordshire on April 9 2022.

After Alford’s death was first reported by The Sun on Sunday, a Prison Service spokesman said: “John Shannon died in prison on March 13 2026.

“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

Jurors heard during the trial that the defendant, charged under his real name John Shannon, sexually assaulted the girls while they were drunk following a night out at the pub.

St Albans Crown Court heard that Alford bought some £250 worth of food, alcohol and cigarettes from a nearby petrol station, including a bottle of vodka which the victims subsequently drank.

He then had sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl in the garden of the home and later in a downstairs toilet, and inappropriately touched the 15-year-old girl as she lay half asleep on the living room sofa.

Police received a third-party report from the 15-year-old girl’s mother outlining the allegations two days later, before the defendant was arrested.

The 15-year-old girl said in her evidence she had felt “absolutely sick” following the assault and had planned to keep the incident secret before having a “mental breakdown” to her friend’s mother on April 11.

Alford told jurors during the trial that all the allegations were “scandalous” and a “set-up”, and that there was no DNA evidence to support the assaults.

He said he had told police that the girls were “going to extort money” from him, and that he suffered from mental health issues including anxiety, depression and paranoia.

Alford was previously convicted of supplying illicit drugs to former News of the World journalist Mazher Mahmood, who was known as the “fake sheikh”, following a trial in 1999, and was jailed for nine months.

Jurors heard he also received a payment of £500,000 from the news organisation in relation to allegations that his phone had been hacked.

Alford was convinced by Mahmood to meet a fake Arabian prince at London’s Savoy hotel in 1997 on the promise of receiving new acting roles and lucrative public appearances, before later being asked to source cocaine for the individual.

Former London’s Burning star John Alford outside Snaresbrook Magistrates Court in London, where he was convicted of one charge of supplying cocaine to News of the World investigative editor Mazher Mahmood, after he was secretly filmed handing cocaine and cannabis to a bogus Prince. Taken in 1999 (Image: Peter Jordan/PA Wire)

He later filed lawsuits against the News Of The World and its editors with claims that he was subjected to landline wire-taps, voicemail hacking and the wide-ranging theft of his personal data for use in their headline stories.

Mahmood was jailed in 2016 for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos, which led to Alford’s conviction being examined by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

The use of three locks in England’s pack improved their maul significantly, while Chessum had a huge impact in the loose; scoring from close-range, assisting Alex Coles with an inside pass, before intercepting Matthieu Jalibert at a pivotal moment, with England trailing by 11 points, and racing clear to score from 60 metres out.

The four women all work alongside each other and have done for many years

LIke most mums, Kelly Brown is proud of her kids, but she says she is “incredibly proud” to work alongside her three daughters – and all have incredibly valuable roles in the health sector. Hannah, 31, Laura, 37, and Lucy, 28, have followed in their mother’s footsteps all working at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

And it didn’t start with Kelly, her mum, Gloria worked as a staff nurse at the former miner’s hospital in Caerphilly.

For over 20 years Kelly has worked in healthcare, supporting patients and families in Wales. For 16 years she was a health care support worker but for the last four years she has been helping those affected by cognitive impairment and dementia as a memory link worker,

Hannah has worked in the gynaecology department at UHW for 12 years as a health care support worker, winning a health hero award for supporting women through difficult experiences.

She said: “My role is all about providing compassionate, hands-on care and being there for patients when they need reassurance and kindness the most.”

Her elder sister Laura has also been working at the same hospital for 12 years, starting as a health care support worker but since progressed into the role of patient flow co‑ordinator in the Emergency Unit. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here

A big inspiration for Laura is her mum who she watched work hard as a health worker when she was growing up. Laura said: ““I’m so proud of the incredible women in my family.

“My mum inspires me every day with her passion for supporting patients with cognitive impairment and her dedication to going above and beyond for her patients.”

Kelly felt a similar inspiration when she was young as her mother, Gloria, worked as a staff nurse at the former miner’s hospital in Caerphilly. Sharing Gloria’s story with her daughters has “played a big part in encouraging” the family to pursue careers in healthcare.

“I think it’s fair to say nursing runs in our blood,” Kelly said.

Lucy, the youngest of the three sisters, began her career with the seven years ago as a health care support worker in the neonatal intensive care unit and has now qualified as a registered nurse after completing a flexi nursing degree. She now cares for some of the most vulnerable babies while supporting the families.

She said: “As the youngest in the family, I grew up watching my mother and sisters be advocates for their patients and always going above and beyond for them. Seeing their compassion and dedication inspired me to follow the same path.

“We share the same commitment to caring for patients, and I’m proud to represent the health board alongside my mam and sisters.”

Kelly said: “Working in the same organisation as my daughters makes me incredibly proud. We each play different roles within the Cardiff and Vale Health Board, but we share the same commitment to caring for others.

“Working here isn’t just a job – it’s something that means a great deal to our family. Caring for others has always been at the heart of what we do, and I feel privileged to continue doing that every day.”

At least five people have been killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine, with a further 18 wounded, officials have said.

Four of the deaths were in the Kyiv region, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia targeted energy infrastructure with around 430 drones and 68 missiles.

Mykola Kalashnyk, the head of the area’s regional administration, said 15 people were injured, with three of those in a critical condition.

Russia’s defence ministry said the nighttime attacks targeted energy and industrial facilities serving Ukraine’s armed forces, as well as military airfields.

Another person was killed, and a further three wounded, when Russian-guided bombs hit a residential area in the city of Zaporizhzhia, authorities said.

It comes as US-brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are on hold, as Washington focuses on its military action in Iran.

While Moscow has condemned the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, it has stopped short of offering military support to its longstanding ally – and stands to benefit from the conflict.

Russia is already profiting from the surge in global energy prices and may hope that the war in the Middle East will detract attention from Ukraine and force NATO allies to reduce military support for Kyiv.

Iran war latest: Trump calls on UK and China to send warships

Mr Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Saturday that “Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine”.

“We must be fully aware of the real level of the threat and prepare accordingly, namely: in Europe, we need to develop the production of air defense missiles – especially those capable of countering ballistic threats – as well as all other systems necessary to truly protect lives,” he wrote.

The road into Tyre is lined with the yellow and green flags of Hezbollah. Billboards are filled with the faces of fighters who lost their lives in the many battles with Israel over the years.

We’re in the evacuation zone, the area of south Lebanon that Israel has told everyone to leave. And it’s not long before we see the mounting human cost of the latest conflict this community is engulfed in.

Middle East crisis: Follow live updates

A group of mourners is gathered by the side of the road at a temporary cemetery. Huddled around makeshift memorials, some weep, some hug, others stare blankly ahead. They’re here to bury four men that they say were medics and social workers. They were not, they say, fighters.

Ehsan Dbouk, a cleric for the group, says they’ve had to use this site because the men’s hometowns are no longer safe.

“We can’t bury our martyrs in their villages on the frontline,” he says. “We are dealing with an enemy that doesn’t distinguish between killing fighters and killing civilians.”

That enemy, they claim, represents an existential threat. Israel frames the Iran-backed group, proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK, in exactly the same way. Neither side is showing any sign of backing down.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has rapidly expanded the evacuation zone here. Until three days ago, it stretched from the border in the south with Israel to the Latani River. That has now been extended further north to the Zahrani River, about 25 miles from the border, raising fears of a ground invasion.

More than 800 people have been killed so far in the country and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

But Ehsan dismisses allegations that Hezbollah is dragging the rest of the country into a war it doesn’t want and cannot win.

“The displaced are part of the resistance,” he says. “Hezbollah was born from their homes. They are the fathers and mothers of those fighting on the frontlines.”

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Iran war day 15: Videos from the ground

You can see how battle-hardened those who stayed behind are. The IDF is fighting more than a force in Hezbollah – it’s battling a mindset. And after months of Israeli strikes in the middle of a ceasefire, supporters of Hezbollah believe they are fighting a just war now more than ever.

Nada Harb, a mother and Hezbollah supporter, tells me: “I won’t leave, I didn’t in the previous wars. I was born in war. But there was no resistance then like Hezbollah. The Israelis used to come at night, break down the door, they kidnapped my brother, my father, my sister, my uncle, and no one was allowed to say anything.”

Read more from Sky News:
‘The fighting feels like we’re going to finish it – once and for all’
Why Kharg island is so important for Iran

At her home, she takes us to her balcony to show us three buildings hit by airstrikes. She is exposed, vulnerable, but determined. The IDF insists it’s targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and leadership here.

But the civilian impact is already huge. The bridges, they say, that Hezbollah is using are also critical to civilians. And hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee this war already – many with no power, no shelter and no say in what happens next.

It was a busy Friday night for officers as they made several arrests while on patrol

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PSNI’s auto crime team made several arrests across Belfast last night, (Friday) for a number of offences.

Police announced they attempted to pull over one vehicle which failed to stop when signalled.

A spokesman for PSNI said: “The driver was wanted to be recalled to prison and when signalled to stop by the team he made off creating a pursuit in which he drove dangerously from the vicinity of the Grosvenor Road to the Whiterock area.

READ MORE: One person taken to hospital following city centre incidentREAD MORE: Map shows the 29 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020

“The Auto Crime Team were assisted in containing the vehicle by Roads Policing Interceptor officers all whilst he was driving at the officers in a bid to escape. They arrested the driver for his return to prison, and various motoring offences. Searches of the male recovered a quantity of Class A drugs and Class C drugs for which he has been further arrested.

“While the team were conveying the first driver to custody, other members stopped and arrested a drink driver in the Lower Falls Area who provided a breath sample over double the drink driving limit.

“Shortly after returning to patrol, another vehicle was reported as having been stolen in the Ballysillan area. The car made it’s way to the Castlereagh Road area where the team located it and the suspect.

“This male has been arrested for the theft of the vehicle which has been recovered to be returned to it’s rightful owner.

“The actions taken by the team this evening have assisted in bringing offenders to justice to prevent further offending and most importantly have prevented harm being caused to the public.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

The New Moon in Pisces this week is an eye-opener; specifically a third eye opener.

Expect to experience psychic phenomena, messages and events. It’s a week of woo!

Tune into your intuition, expand your mind, write down your dreams, scry, moon bathe, read your cards, ask for spirit messages and guidance, gaze into flame or incense smoke and see what feelings and ideas emerge from your heartspace.

Let’s use the tarot cards to see what message is ready for you to receive from beyond the veil. What will this New Moon awaken for you?

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Tarot card for Aries for this week: The Empress

Meaning: This is a loving, maternal, feminine and nurturing energy who is surrounding you with love from beyond, from the other side, from your ancestors and passed over loved ones. Can you feel them?

Their message is to say how loved you are, on this side of the veil as well as the other. Don’t doubt yourself, be hard on yourself, or second guess yourself. Act like a person who is supported, cheered on, encouraged and admired. Lean on the support of others, they are all here to help.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Tarot card for Taurus for this week: King of Swords

Meaning: This is a masculine, older, sharp-minded, clever and worldly energy who is surrounding you with much-needed lessons, wisdom, insights and cunning ideas of how to overcome your issues. Do you feel super clear-eyed and minded right now? This is your King of Swords guide helping you to see what needs doing, and why, and how.

Their message is to ask you to plan ahead, lay down a strategy that gets you where you want to go, and walk the walk single-mindedly, even ruthlessly. Make this about you. Do what needs to be done.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Tarot card for Gemini for this week: Eight of Wands

Meaning: This is a chorus of voices, maybe a collective of spirits or ancestors or a tribal kind of force or energy which is sending you many, many omens and signs right now. Maybe you keep on seeing angel numbers or repeat words or symbols?

Their message is to remind you that your Gemini superpower is communication. No one can weave words like you, and this is a gift. Use it. Make moves that no one can because no one else can manipulate a message or network in the skilful and persuasive way that you can. Talk yourself in or out of something. The power of words is yours.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Tarot card for Cancer for this week: Ace of Wands

Meaning: This is a single-minded force or energy that is fiery, sparkling, exciting and motivating, and it serves to provoke a new beginning for you.

The message is to make a bold leap into the unknown this week, one inspired by excitement and optimism, that might not feel sensible or even feasible. But you must do it anyway. You may not land where you think, but you will land someplace new and interesting.

Travel, education, lifestyle change, new purpose, creative skill and career change are all on the table – see where your attention is drawn…

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Tarot card for Leo for this week: The Moon

Meaning: This is a mysterious, feminine and lunar energy surrounding you with intrigue and illusion, challenging you to see and find your way through the mist to the truth you are seeking. You may feel there is more to something that what is shown. It’s a quest. A quest for truth and transparency.

Let the New Moon be a time to reflect, question, and validate the facts as they stand, and then ask for the answers they beg. The message for you now is to probe, dig, investigate and establish the whole truth. Powerful change will come from this mission.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Tarot card for Virgo for this week: The Star

Meaning: This is a pure-hearted, truthful, authentic and stirring energy who is surrounding you with good fortune, luck, opportunity and possibility to help you manifest a dream come true. What do you wish for? Imagine this week you meet a genie with a lamp and are granted a wish. What would it be?

All the genie asks of you is to make your own overt, bold steps in your dream’s direction, and it will activate the help you need. Is that a good deal? If so, then take it, act on it, and manifest your most heartfelt desire – this kind of help doesn’t come around that often.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Tarot card for Libra for this week: Knight of Wands

Meaning: This is a swashbuckling, fun-loving, adventurous energy who is surrounding you with the urge and desire to head out into the world on a fresh adventure or quest. Can you feel the call of the wild?

Their message is to say it’s time to explore, experiment, expand and escape your comfort zones and patterns and routines. Throw caution to the wind and do something bold and fresh this week, then follow it up with something else. The spirit of adventure is visiting with you and won’t leave until you’ve had a good time!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Tarot card for Scorpio for this week: Eight of Coins

Meaning: This is from someone who was incredibly hardworking, never had it easy, but kept going. Their resilience, courage and humble strength was an inspiration and example. This might be a passed loved one or an ancestor, or just a spirit guide drawn to you.

Their message is to say you are doing great, doing your best, and it’s working! It might not always feel that way but you mustn’t give up or quit. Keep putting one foot in front of the other this week because a piece of good fortune, a breakthrough, lies ahead for you — even though you might doubt it. Keep going. You’ve got this, Scorpio. Your guide is backing you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Tarot card for Sagittarius for this week: Six of Swords

Meaning: This is a masculine, sharp-minded and clear-eyed spirit or energy who is reasoning with you to make the bold leap, exit or departure you’ve been mulling over for at least the last six months.

Their message is to say it’s time to make that move now. This is the window of opportunity. And it’s been such a long time coming that it won’t feel sad or hard, the grieving has already been done, the penny dropped long ago that your heart wasn’t in this. Just bring clarity to the situation now and follow through on what your heart is telling you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Tarot card for Capricorn for this week: Eight of Cups

Meaning: This is a nagging feeling in your heart that you’ve not fulfilled something, made a mistake, let an opportunity slip through your fingers. And you need to turn face and acknowledge whatever it is. Some unseen force keeps bringing it up for your attention.

Their message is to you should just say how it is, what you regret, let that be a part of your past story, and turn to the future feeling unburdened. You’re going to get a second chance, but you need to purge this old regret first. Once you do, the new shining glowing sparkling opportunity will show itself, and all will be forgotten!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Tarot card for Aquarius for this week: Nine of Wands

Meaning: This is a masculine, strong, reassuring energy, a parental or nurturing force in your life or realm who would always encourage you — their spirit is walking with you now.

Their message is to tell you they are standing shoulder to shoulder with you, giving you all of their power and wisdom and resilience, so that you can tackle whatever it is that you’re dreading or worrying about. Now is the time to face it and unpick it and address it. You will be given all you need, good fortune will speed things along, the results will be positive, and it will be easier than you think. They’ve got your back, so stride forth with confidence.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Tarot card for Pisces for this week: The Tower

Meaning: This is a powerful unseen force that will move in and out of your life abruptly this week, likely taking away something painful, fading or false with it. This energy moves fast and with precision and force, almost like ripping off a plaster, provoking a moment of ouch! And then lasting relief and healing.

Their message is to say get ready for an unexpected event or revelation that collapses something you knew, deep down, was wrong. Your intuition is correct. Forces are at work to prove that to you, so don’t deny or suppress it. This is a good thing!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

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Over 100,000 requests have been made to the DWP’s digital Proof of Benefit service which allows people to download or request a letter confirming their benefits to access discounts on broadband and council tax

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released a fresh update regarding an online service designed to assist individuals in saving money.

Since its inception in September 2025, the digital Proof of Benefit service has received over 100,000 requests.

This service enables users to download or request a letter confirming their benefits without the need to make a phone call or visit a Jobcentre.

Such a letter can facilitate savings from social tariffs on broadband to council tax reductions, as many organisations require proof of benefits before discounts can be accessed.

The service encompasses eight benefits: Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), State Pension, Pension Credit, and Attendance Allowance, reports the Mirror.

Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western stated: “We are modernising DWP services, so they work better for everyone.

“This new 24/7 digital service is a great example of this, putting people firmly at the centre, giving them instant access to vital support when they need it.

“This is just the start of how we’re transforming DWP for the better – modernising DWP services to work around people’s lives – not the other way round.”

Future enhancements will enable customers to view payment information, report certain changes online and receive tailored support.

This comes as the DWP is transitioning from some older legacy benefits to Universal Credit.

Universal Credit has taken the place of most Tax Credits, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit claims. However, you can still claim Housing Benefit if you reside in supported or temporary accommodation.

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is also being phased out in favour of Universal Credit, with the DWP aiming to have all claimants transferred by March 31, 2026.

If you’re an income-related ESA claimant, you should have received your “migration notice” detailing the transition process in the final months of last year.

This “migration notice” provides a three-month deadline for transitioning to Universal Credit – beyond this point, your existing benefits will cease.

According to the DWP, 55 percent of individuals will be financially better off on Universal Credit, whilst 35 percent will be worse off. The remaining claimants will see no change.

If you’re set to be worse off under Universal Credit, you’ll receive monthly transition payments to cover any shortfall.

This transitional protection remains in place until there’s no difference between your new Universal Credit award and what you previously received under legacy benefits.

However, these transitional payments are only available if you wait to be transferred through the “managed migration” process.