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Vitality expands IP product to cover more occupations

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Vitality expands IP product to cover more occupations

Vitality has announced several changes to its income protection product to cover more occupations.

The provider said that from today (7 October), it will expand its range of deferral periods for a further 280 occupations including manual occupations and skilled trades such as plumbers, mechanics and warehouse workers.

The changes will see even more individuals become eligible for shorter one and two-month deferred periods.

Additionally, it has extended the maximum retirement age to 70 for 22 occupations including teachers, nurses and care workers.

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This has been changed to reflect the different ways people are working, many retiring much later in life.

Vitality also announced that it will be moving 349 manual roles and skilled trade occupations to an Own Occupation definition of incapacity, replacing their Special Definition that was previously used.

This change means these occupations will now be assessed on an Own Occupation basis for the entirety of their claim.

These changes build on the provider’s previous enhancements made in 2023, which included the introduction of access to private healthcare for claimants through their Recovery Benefit and the Vitality Income Boost.

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The latter boosts claims by up to 20% for the first six monthswhen members engage with the Vitality programme.

It also introduced enhanced Guaranteed Insurability Options, allowing members to increase their term and shorten their deferred periods after a change in occupation.

Justin Taurog, managing director, Vitality Life said: “Income protection provides people with support during an incredibly difficult time, and we are pleased to be able to update our product in this way, and expand access to our cover.

“Vitality has a core purpose to make people healthier and to enhance and protect lives.

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“Today’s announcement is the latest in the evolution of our income protection product, and when combined with our unique access to our UK-wide network of physiotherapists and mental health support that help people get back to work as part of their cover, and the Vitality Programme, we can both protect our members and support them to live a healthier life for even longer.”

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Iconic 90s beer will RETURN to UK pubs after 30 years – and punters can’t wait

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Iconic 90s beer will RETURN to UK pubs after 30 years - and punters can’t wait

PUNTERS cannot wait to get their hands on this iconic 90s beer that is set to return – after a 30 year wait.

A blast from the past and one of the nation’s most beloved drinks during the 1950s will be “coming very soon to your favourite pubs” according to the Burton-on Trent brewery.

Beer drinkers may be pleased to know that the fan-favourite will be back after a 30 year wait

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Beer drinkers may be pleased to know that the fan-favourite will be back after a 30 year waitCredit: Getty – Contributor
Double Diamond was known for the marketing campaign stating it 'works wonders'

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Double Diamond was known for the marketing campaign stating it ‘works wonders’Credit: Getty

Announcing the come back on Instagram, Allsopp’s Beer revealed that Double Diamond has been set to make a return.

The caption of the September 25 post read: “It’s back, and it still works wonders!

“After months of research and trialling recipes to make it perfect, we’ve relaunched Double Diamond.

“Revived as a 3.8% pale ale that drinks like a lager, it’s a delicious, easy-going, sessionable draught beer, coming very soon to your favourite pubs.”

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First made in 1876, the new and improved recipe seems to be a hit with punters.

Many have already taken to the comments section to express their joy at the relaunch.

One user commented: “Working wonders!”

Another said: “We tried and can say it’s stunning!! Safe to say we have it in the cellar waiting to come back on!!”

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Someone else wrote: “The first beer I had the privilege of tasting in the company of my beloved Grandad, watching match of the day not quite the same these days.”

The 8 ways a pint of beer a day can help BOOST your health – from cancer to diabetes

A fourth put: “Something to look out for.”

Another commented: “Where? Can’t wait to try it out.”

The brewery has revealed Double Diamond will not be their only offering with other old beers to make an appearance.

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Drinkers could opt for a pint of Hofmeister, Kestrel Pilsner or Watneys Party Seven keg, all from the same brand.

Those hoping to find other drinks by the brewery could also hop to Allsopp’s Best Bitter.

Marketed at being “perfect for any occasion” the beer has notes of forest fruit, marmalade and biscuit.

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Thousands of hard-up families to get series of automatic payments worth £180 – are you one of them?

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Thousands of hard-up families to get series of automatic payments worth £180 - are you one of them?

THOUSANDS of low-income families will get the chance to benefit from council funding worth up to £180.

Cash-strapped households could be eligible for the added support after the cost of living crisis – there’s just one thing they’ll need to know.

Cash-strapped household may be eligible to get their hands on the extra funding from Ealing council

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Cash-strapped household may be eligible to get their hands on the extra funding from Ealing councilCredit: Alamy

Ealing council has been offered £2.6 million to help those in financial need until March.

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It is expected that the funding will be the last phase from the government so those strapped for cash will want to check if they’re eligible.

If you’re living in the area and are hoping to nab some extra money to pay for essentials, you don’t need even need to apply.

However, those eligible will need to get their skates on as the clock is ticking for recipients to redeem the vouchers.

Those deemed qualified to receive the payment will be sent a 16 digit code with instructions via email or letter.

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The personalised link will need to be claimed via the Blackhawk website which is a trusted partner of the local council.

All of the payments have been offered as vouchers with those eligible for free school meals receiving ones to spend at supermarkets.

Based on low income, those claiming benefit from the scheme will gain either £15 or £30 per child depending on when they were means tested.

If you’re children are not old enough to claim free school meals then there’s no need to fret as you could still be eligible.

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Those with kids under five, receiving housing benefit or council tax reduction could find a voucher in their inbox.

Jack Chambers confirms €125 increase in Earned Income Credit

Care leavers have also been placed on the list of those to be supported, with Ealing locals receiving £100 per care leaver.

The Household Support Fund has been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions to help those who qualify to be able to afford food and essential items.

Local authorities across the country have been allocated funding from the £421 million pot.

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The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help those unsure figure out what they may be able to claim.

Funding applications and eligibility varies between council and so those interested in redeeming support should check with their local authority.

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.

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

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

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

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Sainsbury’s shoppers rush to buy ‘stunning’ home essential perfect for Christmas scanning at £7.50 instead of £24

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Sainsbury’s shoppers rush to buy ‘stunning’ home essential perfect for Christmas scanning at £7.50 instead of £24

CHRISTMAS has come early for Sainsbury’s shoppers after they discovered a £24 festive essential is scanning at tills for just £7.50.

Savvy customers have been rushing to their nearest store to try and bag up the Xmas item which has been described as “stunning” and a “bargain”.

A savvy Sainsbury's shoppers has shared a bargain deal on Christmas bedding

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A savvy Sainsbury’s shoppers has shared a bargain deal on Christmas beddingCredit: Sainsburys
The home essential is scanning for just £7.50 instead of its advertised £24 cost

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The home essential is scanning for just £7.50 instead of its advertised £24 costCredit: Sainsburys

The supermarket giant has sent fans wild by selling a Night Before Xmas Bedding set featuring a range of Christmas classic images.

A decorated tree, a snowman, Santa Claus, candy canes, a reindeer and even an elf carrying presents all are included on one side of the duvet cover and pillow cases.

On the reverse sits a red and white candy cane print.

Sainsbury’s describes the item online by saying: “Christmas is right around the corner.

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“Snuggle into this soft bedding set featuring festive illustrations.

“Or flip it over for a jolly, candy-cane patterned look.”

It comes in a range of sizes from single up to super king.

The price online lists it as costing £24.

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But lucky shoppers have noticed a mega bargain on the bedding with it being sold in store for a whopping £16.80 less than advertised.

One customer shared the find on Facebook and posted a picture of the playful bedding alongside the caption: “My first proper bargain in Sainsbury’s.

“Originally £24 for the double, scanning at only £7.20!

“The single one usually £20 scanning at £10.”

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Several people quickly jumped into the comments section under the post as they spoke about how tempting the deal was.

One described the set as “stunning”.

As another told their pal: “Can u look for me pls in king.”

A third chimed in to their friend saying: “I just looked on Sainsbury’s website and still showing full price. You got a bargain.”

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However do bear in mind that when prices are reduced by this much it’s usually in order for stores to clear excess stock, so availability will vary from store to store.

It’s always best to phone ahead to your local shop to check what they have available to avoid disappointment.

It always pays to compare prices so you know you’re getting the best deal.

There are plenty of comparison websites out there that’ll check prices for you – so don’t be left paying more than you have to.

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Most of them work by comparing the prices across hundreds of retailers.

Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web.

Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.

Christmas fanatics have also spotted a festive essential on offer at Home Bargains.

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Shoppers are racing to their nearest store to buy £4 Polar Express slippers in time for the big day.

How to bag a bargain

SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…

Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.

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Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.

Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.

Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.

Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.

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When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.

Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.

Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.

And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.

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Inside the Rolls-Royce Private Office in New York City

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Inside the Rolls-Royce Private Office in New York City

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CNBC’s Robert Frank goes behind-the-scenes for an exclusive look inside the new Rolls-Royce Private Office, a secret design studio in downtown Manhattan, accessible only to VIP Rolls-Royce clients.

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DWP error leaves 40,000 hard-up households without winter heating payment – will you get a letter on your doormat?

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Full list of areas handing out free cash to thousands on state pension to replace £300 winter fuel payment after cut

THOUSANDS of struggling households have been left without vital energy bill help following a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) error.

The Winter Heating Payment (WHP) is made automatically by Social Security Scotland to those on a low income or benefits once a year.

The Winter Heating Payment is paid to certain low income households in Scotland

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The Winter Heating Payment is paid to certain low income households in ScotlandCredit: PA

It is the Scottish equivalent of the Cold Weather Payment, which is made to households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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The energy bill help is worth £58.75.

But around 37,000 households have missed out on the payment due to an error made by the DWP when passing claimant details to the Scottish government, according to The Times

Shirley-Anne Somerville, the social justice secretary, told the publication Social Security Scotland had noticed an issue “with a number of seemingly eligible clients” and had asked the DWP to investigate.

This revealed that thousands of eligible households had been missed and failed to receive their payment.

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Anyone who has been affected by the WHP error will receive a letter this week letting them know that they are entitled to the support.

The Sun has contacted the DWP for comment.

It comes after the Scottish government, in line with the rest of the UK, confirmed it will no longer provide winter fuel payments to all pensioners.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed earlier this year that the Winter Fuel Payment would only be given to retirees on pension credit, or other means-tested benefits.

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Those who qualify will receive a payment of either £200 or £300.

Winter Fuel Payment Changes

The Sun has launched a ­Winter Fuel SOS campaign to help thousands of pensioners worried about their energy bills.

Who is eligible for the Winter Heating Payment?

The WHP is made to households who were receiving certain benefits during what’s known as the “qualifying week”.

This year’s qualifying week is November 4 to November 10.

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So, if you were receiving any of the below benefits between the above dates, you should qualify:

  • Universal Credit
  • Pension Credit
  • Income Support
  • Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income Related Employment Support Allowance
  • Support for Mortgage Interest

You also have to meet one specific requirement of one of the above qualifying benefits.

Further information can be found on the Scottish Government’s website.

You can also find a checker tool on its website which tells you if you qualify for the payment.

It will ask you questions about where you live, who you live with, what benefits you receive and when you received your benefits.

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If you’ve not been paid the WHP and think you are eligible, you should contact Social Security Scotland.

You can do this by calling them on 0800 182 2222.

When will I be paid?

Households entitled to the Winter Heating Payment usually see the cash start landing in their bank accounts from the middle of December with payments being made up until the end of January.

If you are in line for the payment this year, you will also receive a letter from Social Security Scotland beforehand.

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The payment has previously appeared alongside the code “WHP” on bank statements.

Almost 400,000 received the WHP payment in the winter of 2022/23.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

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.

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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.

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

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  • 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.

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Rolls-Royce NYC Private Office showroom caters to top-tier clients

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Rolls-Royce NYC Private Office showroom caters to top-tier clients
Inside the Rolls-Royce Private Office in New York City

Rolls-Royce has opened its first U.S. “Private Office,” a secret VIP design studio for ultra-wealthy clients who want highly personalized cars.

The Private Office, in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District, is central to the fabled British automaker’s new strategy of growing sales and profits from selling more customized, higher-priced vehicles rather than boosting production. Rolls-Royce produced 6,032 cars last year, less than half the production of Ferrari, yet continues to generate strong profit growth for its parent company BMW.

While Rolls-Royce customers have been customizing their rides for decades, the Private Office brings the concept of a personalized Rolls to a whole new level. Once select customers order a car from a dealer, they can go to the Private Office to work with a designer to create an entirely personalized car — from special paint colors to their favorite fabrics, woods, lighting schemes and other materials.

“They may want the exterior of their Rolls-Royce to match the color of their dog’s eyes,” said Rolls-Royce CEO Chris Brownridge. “They may want to have interior panels in the car with the mother-of-pearl from their private collection. We can bring those sorts of requests to life through having direct access to the team. And the possibilities really are endless.”

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Rolls-Royce CEO Chris Brownridge.

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Rolls-Royce calls its top level of personalization the “Bespoke” program. Creating a Bespoke Rolls can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the sticker price, which for a Rolls-Royce Phantom is just under $500,000, bringing the total sale price of some cars to more than $1 million.

The Private Office is reserved for the most complicated — and expensive — Bespoke projects. It’s not a dealership and there are no actual cars displayed. To get into the Private Office, customers press a black security screen outside an unmarked building and take a secure elevator to the top floor.

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With its sleek black kitchen, low sofas, a dining table, outdoor terrace, and turntable with stacks of classic rock and jazz vinyl records, the Private Office looks more like a billionaire’s pied-a-terre than a car showroom. The only hint that it’s a Rolls-Royce facility is a row of shelves along the back wall displaying samples of paint colors, threads, leathers, metals and a row of the famous “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornaments in different finishes.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Syntopia.

Courtesy: Rolls-Royce

The New York Private Office is the company’s third worldwide, following Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which opened in 2022, and Shanghai in 2023. The company is about to open its fourth, in Seoul, Korea.

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The idea, Brownridge says, is to bring the expertise and design capability of its Goodwood, U.K., factory to clients around the world. That’s especially important as client requests become more unusual and complex.

One Rolls-Royce client wanted a car inspired by flowers. The Rolls team created an extended-wheelbase Phantom with a headliner covered with more than 1 million embroidered roses. Another client who loves Hawaii and has a favorite rocking chair made of rare Koa wood wanted a Koa-themed Rolls. Since Koa wood is protected in Hawaii, only dead or naturally fallen Koa trees can be harvested. Rolls spent three years waiting and hunting for the right tree, then built a Koa Phantom, with the wood used on the dashboard, center console and doors. The company even made a matching picnic hamper and table. The whole package took more than 500 hours to create.

Interior of the custom Rolls-Royce Koa Phantom.

Courtesy: Rolls-Royce

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“A lot of these clients would never, ever sell their cars,” Brownridge said. “It’s so personal and it means to much to them.”

To keep up with the surging demand for custom cars, Rolls-Royce is also expanding its Bespoke workshops in Goodwood. Brownridge said the goal isn’t to produce more cars, but to produce higher-value, more customized cars.

“As our commissions have become more sophisticated, our business has become more successful,” Brownridge said. “Our mission is really to create value for our shareholder, to create value for our retail partners, but most importantly, to create value for our clients. Because when you produce a masterpiece for them, it means so much more than just a motorcar. I often say that the fact that they have four wheels is almost a nice-to-have, because they really are a work of art.”

Brownridge said when customers are building their special Rolls-Royces, they not only visit the factory in Goodwood, but they also get to know the paint shop specialists, the woodworkers, the embroidery experts and other members of the team.

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“Every single client that I’ve met, they all say, what makes Rolls Royce Special is that they feel that they are part of a family,” he said. “They’re not customers to us, they’re part of Rolls Royce. Many of our clients will come to Goodwood, and they will know the people that are making their cars. It’s not just the personal connection to the motorcar. It’s the personal connection to the whole team who are producing these magnificent things.”

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