MORE than a million benefits claimants with disabilities are set to lose out on the Winter Fuel Payment this year.

The cash, worth up to £300, is being dished out to people on certain means-tested benefits.

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Cuts made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that only households claiming pension credit and a handful of other benefits are now eligible.

And now a fresh report has been published by the Social Security Advisory Committee looking at the impact of the Chancellor’s decision to change the eligibility criteria.

The move will reduce the number of people who receive a Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales from 10.8million to just 1.5million.

The most recent available data from May 2023 shows that 2.6million State Pension recipients claim Attendance Allowance (AA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

According to the report, at the same time more than half of Pension Credit claimants were also in receipt those three benefits.

While the committee found that people with a disability will be disproportionately likely to get the Winter Fuel Payment this year, the Department estimates that around 1.6million people with a disability will lose entitlement to the cash.

The report reads: “We consider it essential that the Department urgently reviews its current Pension Credit take-up campaign to ensure those receiving Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment are sufficiently engaged and aware of the options available to them.”

It’s important to note that claiming Pension Credit will not affect your cash from other benefits like PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance.

James Taylor, Scope’s executive director of strategy and social change, said the charity is concerned by the government’s decision on the winter fuel payment, which it says “will make life harder for older disabled people”.

He said: “While some disabled pensioners receive pension credit, there are an alarming number who will miss out this winter.

“We’d urge anyone who thinks they could be eligible to apply, or to get in touch with our helpline for advice.

“We desperately need a longer-term solution for the eye-watering energy costs many disabled people face, which is why we’re calling for the government to bring in discounted bills for disabled households.”

What can you get?

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner – this is known as “guarantee credit”.

If your income is lower than this, you’re very likely to be eligible for the benefit.

However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.

You could get an extra £81.50 a week if you have a disability or claim any of the following:

• Attendance allowance
• The middle or highest rate from the care component of disability living allowance (DLA)
• The daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP)
• Armed forces independence payment
• The daily living component of adult disability payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate.

You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if both of the following apply:

• You reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016
• You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension

This part of pension credit is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.

Pension credit opens the door to other support, including housing benefits, cost of living payments, council tax reductions and the winter fuel payment.

Claims for pension credit also open doors to a number of freebies and discounts.

For example, pension credit claimants over 75 qualify for a free TV licence worth up to £169.50 a year.

Claims for the benefit also provide eligibility to £25 a week cold weather payments and the £150 warm home discount.

We have a guide on all the state pension freebies and discounts you can get.

If you’re not sure if you will be able to get Pension Credit, you can use our handy tool to check what benefits you’re eligible for.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Woman Accuses Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of Assault and Links Him to Tupac’s Murder: Lawsuit Claims. Sean “Diddy” Combs Faces New Sexual Assault Allegations Linked to Tupac Shakur Murder

Introduction to the Lawsuit Against Sean “Diddy” Combs

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned music executive, is once again facing legal trouble. In a new lawsuit, a woman has accused Combs of sexual assault, alleging that he raped her in March 2018. The plaintiff, Ashley Parham, claims the assault occurred shortly after she suggested Combs was involved in the 1996 murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.

Details of the Allegations

According to the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, Parham asserts that Combs assaulted her at an apartment in Orinda, California. The incident followed a FaceTime call in February 2018 between Parham, Combs, and a man also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. During the call, Parham shared her belief that Combs was connected to Tupac’s murder, a remark that allegedly enraged Combs. The music mogul reportedly warned her that she would “pay” for making such a statement.

The Incident Leading to the Assault

In March 2018, Parham claims she was at the home of the second defendant, assisting him with cancer medication, when Combs arrived with several individuals, including his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram. Khorram, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, has been previously involved in other allegations against Combs.

Parham alleges that Combs brandished a knife and threatened to harm her, while Khorram intimidated her by stating she could be “sent anywhere in the world” and would never see her family again. The lawsuit also accuses Khorram of aiding in the intimidation.

The Assault With a Remote Control

According to Parham, after Khorram and another defendant left the apartment, Combs violently assaulted her using a remote control, making her feel as though her life was under his control. Parham claims she reported the alleged assault to the Contra Costa Sheriff but mentioned that her efforts to include Combs’ name led to her feeling dismissed by authorities.

Combs’ Legal Team Responds to the Lawsuit

Combs’ representatives have yet to publicly comment on the new lawsuit. However, in a motion filed in federal court, Combs’ legal team argued that the latest allegations were part of a growing list of lawsuits aimed at damaging the music mogul’s reputation. The motion highlighted that over a dozen lawsuits have been filed against Combs, many of which have allegedly been discredited.

Combs’ attorneys expressed concern over the “chaotic media frenzy” surrounding the lawsuits, warning that this could prevent him from receiving a fair trial. “These ongoing allegations, if not addressed, will prevent Mr. Combs from receiving a fair trial, if it hasn’t already,” his lawyers stated.

Plaintiff’s Attorney Vows to Seek Justice

Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, Parham’s attorney, released a statement, saying, “I was appalled by the allegations my client shared with me and will fight diligently to ensure she receives justice.”

This lawsuit adds another chapter to Combs’ ongoing legal challenges, which have continued to make headlines.

Combs’ Ongoing Legal Troubles

In September 2023, Combs was indicted on federal charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution. The charges stem from an indictment that alleges Combs orchestrated events known as “freak offs,” which prosecutors claim were highly organized sexual performances.

Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been incarcerated in Brooklyn after being denied bail by two judges. His trial is scheduled for May 5, 2025.

Previous Allegations of Misconduct Against Combs

The latest lawsuit follows a series of legal battles for Combs, who was first thrust into the spotlight over sexual misconduct allegations in November 2022. His former partner, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse. While that lawsuit was resolved the following day, it opened the floodgates for additional allegations of misconduct against the founder of Bad Boy Records.

As Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to face mounting legal issues, the latest sexual assault lawsuit from Ashley Parham has added further complexity to the music executive’s legal battles. With a federal trial set for May 2025 and growing public scrutiny, the ongoing lawsuits are shaping the narrative around one of hip-hop’s most influential figures.

Related: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused of Sexual Abuse of 9-Year Old.

The UK pensions market is facing numerous challenges preventing individuals from maximising retirement savings.

These include a lack of accessible advice, confusion over pension charges and features, and cumbersome transfer and consolidation processes.

These obstacles can be daunting, leading many to disengage or make poor financial decisions.

One of the most critical problems is the advice gap, which is particularly troubling in the pensions sector, where individuals are often required to make significant decisions about their retirement income.

Habit stacking involves linking a new behaviour to an existing habit, making the new behaviour easier to adopt and maintain

The complexity of the pension system, coupled with auto-enrolment and the increasing accumulation of multiple pots (an average of 11 per person, according to the Pensions Dashboard Programme) only adds to the confusion.

Tracking these pensions and understanding their associated charges can lead to indecision, further exacerbating the issue – and that’s if you find all the pots!

Over a year on from the introduction of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty standard and the ongoing The Pension Regulator’s value for money consultation, the lack of transparency around pension charges remains a challenge for the unadvised. Many individuals are unaware of the fees they are paying, for current or deferred pensions, or how these fees impact their retirement savings over time.

The complexity of pension products also makes it difficult to compare options and make informed decisions, leaving many at a disadvantage. Research from The People’s Partnership found 72% of people who transferred a defined contribution pension didn’t know the fees for their new pension.

The key is in aligning technology with existing habits or activities to streamline pension management at optimal points of times

Beyond decoding the charges and features, the next step in the process can involve transferring pensions, which can present another set of challenges riddled with paper-based processes and administrative delays. If the individual has gotten this far in their efforts to ‘sort out their pensions’, this transfer process can often be the ultimate barrier limiting their ability to benefit from better investment opportunities or lower fees.

A potential solution to these challenges lies in habit stacking (a concept from behavioural psychology that involves linking a new behaviour to an existing habit, making the new behaviour easier to adopt and maintain), technology and timing.

For example, leveraging technology to identify habitual processes and strategically introducing engagement opportunities at those moments could significantly benefit thousands, if not millions, of savers.

In the process of transfers, technology is already available and in use to make them faster, more transparent and less burdensome for both individuals and providers. However, by introducing a new habit into the existing transfer process – such as automatically finding pensions and presenting a simple comparison of features and charges – we could significantly drive up the right kind of pension engagement.

Despite the challenges in the UK pension market, digital tools and habit stacking offer solutions at scale to help close the advice gap

So far, I’m aware of only one workplace pension provider taking this innovative approach – Aegon. As part of its bulk (or scheme) transfer service, it includes key steps such as identity verification and an automated letter of authority. This enables newly transferring members to use this engagement opportunity, at no cost, to find their old pensions, review them with indicators based on charges and features, and, where safe to do so, consolidate – all online. Additionally, indicators highlight where advice is required for certain pots.

The key is in aligning technology with existing habits or activities to streamline pension management at optimal points of times. By simplifying processes – like finding old pensions, comparing and presenting their charges, and enabling truly digital transactions – technology can significantly enhance engagement when used at the right time. It also improves decision-making and future incomes.

If such approaches were more widely adopted, it could create a more accessible and user-friendly pension system, embedding engagement at crucial moments and removing barriers to informed choices.

Despite the challenges in the UK pension market, digital tools and habit stacking offer solutions at scale to help close the advice gap, simplify transfers and improve transparency, leading to more savers making better financial decisions.

Scott Phillips is founder and chief executive of The Pension Lab

THE Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an update to state pensioners who could miss out on the Winter Fuel Payment.

The Government department said it will get in touch with those claiming Housing Benefit but not Pension Credit.

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You can claim the two benefits at the same time, with Pension Credit unlocking the up to £300 Winter Fuel Payment, but tens of thousands who can are not.

In response to Labour MP Paula Barker, Sir Stephen Timms, a minister at the DWP, said it was working with councils to boost the uptake of Pension Credit.

Sir Stephen also said the DWP will be directly contacting pensioners who are receiving Housing Benefit that may be eligible for Pension Credit in November to encourage them to claim.

A DWP spokesperson added: “We will be writing to 120,000 pensioner households in receipt of Housing Benefit but who are not currently claiming Pension Credit as they may be eligible.

“We urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to Pension Credit to check their eligibility and apply.”

It comes after the Government announced a major change to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment.

The up to £300 payment used to be issued to anyone of state pension age, currently 66, or older.

But the Government has now made it means-tested meaning only those on certain benefits receive it.

You now only receive it if you are on one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payments Regulation 2024 reduces the number of people receiving a Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales from 10.8million to 1.5million.

The Government estimates the move will save it £1.3billion this financial year and £1.5billion per financial year after this year.

However, hundreds of thousands will miss out on the Winter Fuel Payment because they are not claiming Pension Credit despite being eligible.

The Government is in a drive to get as many people on to the benefit which not only unlocks the £300 payment but is worth on average £3,900 a year.

What is Pension Credit and who is eligible?

Pension Credit is a Government benefit designed to top up your weekly income if you are a state pensioner with low earnings.

The current state pension age is 66.

There are two parts to the benefit – Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or your joint weekly income to £332.95 if you have a partner.

Savings Credit is extra money you get if you have some savings or your income is above the basic full state pension amount – £169.50.

Savings Credit is only available to people who reached state pension age before April 6, 2016.

Usually, you only qualify for Pension Credit if your income is below the £218.15 or £332.95 thresholds.

However, you can sometimes be eligible for Savings Credit or Guarantee Credit depending on your circumstances.

For example, if you are suffering from a severe disability and claiming Attendance Allowance, as well as other benefits, you can get an extra £81.50 a week.

Meanwhile, you can get either £66.29 a week or £76.79 a week for each child you’re responsible and caring for.

The rules behind who qualifies for Pension Credit can be complicated, so the best thing to do is just check.

You can do this by calling the Pension Service helpline on 0800 99 1234 from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday or by using free online calculators.

Those in Northern Ireland have to call the Pension Centre on 0808 100 6165 from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

It might be worth a visit to your local Citizens Advice branch too – its staff should be able to offer you help for free.

Pension Credit is known as a “gateway” benefit which means it opens up a host of perks, like the winter fuel payment and a free TV licence if you are 75 or older.

It also unlocks discounts on your council tax and the Warm Home Discount, if you are on the Guarantee Credit part of the benefit.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

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Consumer reporter Sam Walker explains all you need to know about the payment.

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free benefit designed to help cover the cost of heating through the colder months.

Most who are eligible receive the payment automatically.

Those who qualify are usually told via a letter sent in October or November each year.

If you do meet the criteria but don’t automatically get the Winter Fuel Payment, you will have to apply on the government’s website.

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You’ll qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter if:

• you were born on or before September 23, 1958
• you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of September 16 to 22, 2024, known as the “qualifying week”
• you receive Pension Credit, Universal Credit, ESA, JSA, Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:

• you live in Switzerland or a EEA country
• you have a “genuine and sufficient” link with the UK social security system, such as having lived or worked in the UK and having a family in the UK

But there are exclusions – you can’t get the payment if you live in Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Malta, Portugal or Spain.

This is because the average winter temperature is higher than the warmest region of the UK.

You will also not qualify if you:

• are in hospital getting free treatment for more than a year
• need permission to enter the UK and your granted leave states that you can not claim public funds
• were in prison for the whole “qualifying week”
• lived in a care home for the whole time between 26 June to 24 September 2023, and got Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Payments are usually made between November and December, with some made up until the end of January the following year.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories