Simon Collyer
HMRC UK Tax Authority Is Paying Back Nearly £2 Million Child Benefit - Are You Entitled to Claim?
Since 2013, couples where one partner earns more than £60,000 have no longer been entitled to claim child benefit, which is currently worth up to £1,076 per child, per year.
HMRC is refunding parents to the tune nearly of £2m after scrapping 6,000 child benefit penalty fines for higher earners.
Around 35,000 families were fined after failing to register for a tax charge which was introduced six years ago.
The law meant anyone earning more than £50,000 a year would have to pay back some child benefit through a self-assessment form.
After many parents complained, HMRC is now cancelling thousands of fines and refunding people who had a ‘reasonable excuse’ for not paying.
You can be paid too much Child Benefit say HMRC if you do not report a change in your circumstances. You’ll usually have to pay it back.
Contact HMRC about repayments if you need more information.
HMRC 0300 322 9240
Monday to Thursday, 8:30 to 5pm
Friday, 8:30 to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges
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JobsIreland.ie Website Gets a Marketing Push
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will be promoting JobsIreland.ie website, the Government’s national recruitment website, from today (Monday, 17 June) with a promotional campaign including sponsorship of a special, week-long “How Ireland works” feature on Newstalk running all this week.
The week focuses on the world of work and will include polls, features, and interviews about how people work in Ireland today. In tandem, the Department will be running digital and social media advertising to promote and raise awareness of the JobsIreland.ie service for both employers and jobseekers.
The JobsIreland.ie online recruitment service is operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and provides free online vacancy advertising and a convenient candidate matching service for employers and candidates with the opportunity to register and search for the latest jobs. Candidates build their CV on the site and get matched to the most suitable job vacancies.
The JobsIreland.ie website also provides access to the European Jobs Network, with some 3.5 million job vacancies and over 400,000 candidate CVs from across the European Union. Employers can register online or call our dedicated customer service team at 1890 800 024 where our team will complete registration and have a vacancy advertised within minutes. More information available here.
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Northern Irelands 'Made the Call' Help Claimants Get the Benefits They Need
To make sure you're getting all the benefits, services and supports you're entitled to, make the call on freephone 0800 232 1271.
87% of people who “Made the Call” say the service has had a positive impact on their lives
87% of people surveyed who had used the Department for Communities Make the Call Wraparound Service said it has had a positive impact on their lives.
The aim of the service is to ensure that every individual and household across Northern Ireland is receiving all the social security benefits to which they and their families are entitled. This includes services, supports and other Government schemes that people may be missing out on; such as the Blue Badge scheme, help with school meals, transport or uniform grants and hospital travel costs.
The Social Return On Investment Report 2018, commissioned by the Department for Communities, has found that receipt of these additional benefits, supports and services has had a positive and significant effect.
- * 95% of people surveyed who had used the service felt under less financial strain, had more money in their weekly budget and were more able to pay bills
- * 79% of people surveyed said they suffered less stress, anxiety and social isolation
- * 40% of those surveyed said they were able to increase their home heating
- * 40% of those surveyed said they were able to make home improvements
- * 79% of those surveyed said they were able to park closer to their destination, able to go out more often and access places they couldn’t previously
Glynis Jones, Head of the Department’s ‘Make the Call’ Team said: "Through our work we know that people don’t always realise what benefits, supports and services they are entitled to and how much these additional entitlements could impact on their lives. We are actively reaching thousands of people each year and my team works collaboratively through effective partnerships with other Departments, Councils, Primary Care Providers and the voluntary and community sector to connect people with the Services and Organisations that can make a real difference."
ABC Note: More advice on checking all your potential entitlements is available by ringing the ‘Make the Call’ Advice Line number on 0800 232 1271, or online at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/makethecall
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The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance For Irish Children
Today, Employment Affairs and Social Protection Minister, Regina Doherty, T.D., is reminding families that the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be made available again this year, and urged families who are not automatically entitled to make an application before the end of September deadline.
Minister Doherty said:
“The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. I was very pleased to secure €56 million in Budget 2019 for this year’s scheme.
“Many families can be under much pressure with back to school costs and I would urge them to check their eligibility for this scheme which provides a once-off payment to assist with the costs of school clothing and footwear. While the benefit will be automatically paid to almost 110,000 families in respect of approximately 200,000 children already registered with us, I would recommend others to check out the scheme to see if they are eligible,
“The income limits for this payment have been adjusted to ensure that the increases in social welfare payment rates introduced by Budget 2019 do not negatively impact on people’s entitlement to the allowance.”
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a nationwide scheme that provides a once-off payment to eligible families towards the cost of school clothing and footwear.
The allowance paid for each eligible child aged 4-11 on or before 30 September 2019 is €150 while an allowance of €275 is paid for each eligible child aged 12-22 on or before 30 September 2019. Children aged between 18 and 22 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college in the autumn of 2019.
Funding of €56.3 million has been provided for the scheme this year. It will be automatically paid to almost 110,000 families in respect of approx. 200,000 children from the week beginning 8 July to allow families sufficient time to prepare for back to school.
Similar to previous years, the majority of payments will be paid with no application form required. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is currently processing these payments and customers will receive written confirmation before the end of this month informing them of their automatic entitlement. The Department will issue payments totalling approximately €40.5 million to these families from the week beginning 8 July.
Families who do not receive notification from the Department of an automated payment by the end of June will need to make an application even if they received a payment last year – the application form will be available from 24 June in all Intreo Centres, via SMS (text Form BTSCFA followed by your name and address to 51909) or by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
There is also an option to apply online this year at www.mywelfare.ie. Customers wishing to avail of this option need to have a Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID account. Those who do not have a Public Services Card can make an appointment at www.mywelfare.ie to get one.
The closing date for receipt of applications for this year’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is 30 September 2019.
The Department is also providing a dedicated phone bank that will be open to answer enquiries from Monday 24 June during business hours 9.00am to 5.00pm. Anyone wishing to make enquiries about this scheme can contact LoCall 1890 66 22 44
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U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta joined President Donald J. Trump to Discuss Workforce Development
U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta joined President Donald J. Trump and governors at the White House to discuss how skills-based workforce development can help increase good, safe, family-sustaining career opportunities.
Please see the video below.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of $2,234,122 for Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants. These grants will enable states to expand their use of fidelity bonds to help persons with criminal records with employment opportunities.
These grants are the latest of several efforts by the Trump Administration to reform America's criminal justice system. On April 1, 2019 the Department hosted an event – Strengthening America's Workforce – to discuss paths for Americans transitioning from the justice system into the workforce. In December 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed the First Step Act, which aims to reduce recidivism and ensure successful reentry of ex-offenders back into their communities.
The Federal Bonding Program (FBP) was created in 1966 by the U.S. Department of Labor and issues free-of-charge fidelity bonds to employers as a job placement tool to assist formerly incarcerated individuals and other at-risk applicants. Since the creation of the program, over 52,000 job placements have been facilitated through the Federal Bonding Program (FBP). The goal of these demonstration grants is to increase employment outcomes for persons with criminal records, educate employers and the public on the availability and benefits of fidelity bonds for persons with criminal records, and provide outreach to employers to encourage them to hire persons with criminal records.
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Rocktoberfest-London 19 June at 8 Northumberland Avenue
Not quite our usual fodder, but if you have the means and can support this event it is a VERY worthy cause.
A Leg To Stand On ("ALTSO") is a registered charity providing free, high quality prosthetic limbs, orthotic devices, and wheelchairs to children in the developing world. Its mission is to offer children who have lost their limbs in traumatic accidents or suffer from congenital disabilities the physical capabilities to access the opportunities and self-esteem earned through education, work and mobility.
The net proceeds raised at the event will benefit ALTSO's 11 programs in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
ALTSO was founded in 2002 by C. Mead Welles of Octagon Asset Management with Dr Dinesh Patel, Chief of Arthroscopic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. For more information on the organisation’s impact or events, visit www.altso.org.
ALTSO’s highly anticipated Rocktoberfest-London is less than one week away as the charity begins to kick off festivities this week. The event, 19 June at 8 Northumberland, will host live bands made of financial industry professionals rocking on stage to raise money for the charity’s mission.
Today marks the official launch of the event with the opening of the digital silent auction. The auction, which is available to anyone to participate, even if they cannot attend the event, features items like an Exclusive Tour of the Chrysler Building in NYC and a Private Spin Class at Boom Cycle for Up to 40 Guests. Bidding is open until 23:00 BST on 19 June and net proceeds will benefit the patients that the charity serves. You can view items and sign up now at https://app.galabid.com/altso or by texting ALTSO and Your Full Name to +44 798 435 1999.
Funds raised through ALTSO’s signature fundraising series, Rocktoberfest, held annually in London, Chicago and New York City, supports the charity’s mission to provide free, high quality, prosthetic limbs and mobility aids to children with limb disabilities in the developing world. In large part to the ongoing series the charity has treated more than 18,000 children in Asia, Africa and Latin America since inauguration in 2002.
Laurence Parry, Tax Partner and Financial Services specialist at Kreston Reeves, commented, “We are proud to support ALTSO in providing accounting and tax support to their UK charity; enabling them to continue their groundbreaking work across the developing world, bringing free orthopaedic care to children with limb disabilities whose families cannot afford treatment. We are looking forward to another great Rocktoberfest in London on the 19 June!”
Alongside Kreston Reeve’s year-round accounting support, Rocktoberfest-London will host a number of industry sponsors including BNF Capital, CGI, SteelEye, Talan LLC, Equita, GlobeTax, Hentsu, Lombard Odier, Lyxor Asset Management, Margo Group, Wavestone, Sandler Capital and more!
Of these sponsors, a number have already committed to global sponsorship, offering up more support to the charity at their New York and/or Chicago events in October. These include Talan, GlobeTax, Sandler Capital, Lyxor Asset Management and Hentsu.
Tickets are still available until the day of the event at £150, a portion of which qualifies for Gift Aid, and include a five-hour open bar and hors d’oeuvres. They are available to purchase online until 12:00 BST the day of the event, 19 June, on ALTSO's Website.
Image: Venue 8, Northumberland Avenue.
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Should a Broadband Connection Be a Right for Every Citizen?
We are making some progress in our 'wayleave' battle with Virgin Media who have needed permission to dig a trench to lay a broadband cable. Two letters were sent but not recieved say Sapphire Property Management Ltd, but now an email was sent with a wayleave permission request and that has been responded to. We still have no broadband or a landline.
The ABC has written to Will Quince MP as our argument is that having broadband should be a human or civil right, like access to water or electricy and gas.
A human right is a right given by God, such as the right to be free. A Civil Right are the rights that each person has in a society, whatever their race, sex, or religion:
Civil rights include freedom, equality in law and in employment, and the right to vote.
At the ABC we feel that everyone by law should have access to broadband and if they cannot afford a connection then they should still have one either free or at a heavily discounted price.
We have asked Will Quince MP for his views.
ABC Note: Will has recently been appointed a DWP junior minister.
Image: Colchester's, Will Quince MP (Cons.) junior DWP minister.
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Scotland’s Income Supplement
The Scottish Government’s proposed Income Supplement, and help as many people as possible break free from poverty which has been on the rise in Scotland
Think tanks IPPR Scotland and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) combined to say plans for a new benefit to help low-income families could be a “golden opportunity” in the fight against child poverty – which affects 240,000 youngsters across the country.
The Scottish Government has already committed to bringing in an income supplement for low-income families.
IPPR Scotland has already warned that without action, 50,000 more youngsters will be forced to live in poverty by 2023-24. An income supplement is already being used in Ireland as a means of helping low paid families.
To help stop people going under the Joseph Rowntree Foundation are saying the supplement must incorporate:
Urgency: start early, in this Parliament. Start small if necessary and build up. The Programme for Government and the next Scottish Budget are crucial to enable this.
Predictability: high levels of predictability are highly valued by those with experience of the Social Security system. This should mean that reassessments are not over-frequent so that the payment can be a reliable source of income.
High take-up: Income Supplement must reach those in need. The application process should be accessible, straight forward and automated if possible.
Poverty depth: to change children’s lives we need to ensure we tackle depth of poverty. Income Supplement should include a focus on those in deepest poverty, and families we know have the highest poverty risk, to have impact.
Image: Scottish children in rising poverty.
Ambition: significant investment is needed to reduce child poverty. Whilst this cannot all be done by social security; it must play its full part.
Impact: JRF have assessed a number of options for impact on child poverty and cost. JRF believe cost effectiveness is an important principle to ensure the maximum number of children are taken out of poverty.
ABC Note: Nearly 1 in 4 children in Scotland (23%) were in relative poverty after housing costs in 2016/17. That's 230,000 Scottish children. 1 in 10 children inScotland (10%) were in persistent poverty during 2012–2016. This means they were living in povertyfor at least three out of four years.
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Latest Northern Ireland Employment Statistics
The March 2019 Quarterly Employment Survey results were published at 9.30am this morning. The key points are:
- The number of (seasonally adjusted) employee jobs in March 2019 was estimated at a record high of 778,240. This was an increase of 4,010 jobs over the quarter and 15,580 jobs over the year. The annual change in employee jobs is statistically significant i.e. the recorded change exceeded the variability expected from a survey of this size and was likely to reflect real change. Increases were experienced in all sectors over the year, with the services sector accounting for the majority of the growth.
- The numbers of employee jobs in the services (632,130 jobs) and manufacturing (88,190 jobs) sectors reached the highest levels on record in March 2019 in the seasonally adjusted series.
- Private sector jobs increased over the quarter (0.7% or 3,710 jobs) and the year (2.4% or 13,350 jobs) to their highest level (569,460) on record in the seasonally adjusted series.
- Public sector jobs increased over the quarter (0.2% or 450 jobs) and the year (1.0% or 2,040 jobs). There are now 19,700 fewer public sector jobs than the series peak in September 2009 (-8.6%).
- In the last five years, employee jobs have increased by 9.6% (67,980 jobs) and by 12.6% (87,000 jobs) from the low in March 2012.
- The annualised growth rate of 2.0% in 2018 is below growth rates in 2017 and above growth rates in 2016.
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Esther McVey Apologises for Universal Credit And Escalating Food Bank Use On Good Morning Britain
Esther McVey has been forced to apologise to people failed by Universal Credit system. The Tory leadership candidate was questioned over how use of food banks rocketed during her time as Work and Pensions Secretary.
The former Work and Pensions Secretary appeared on Good Morning Britain. The discussion on the ITV breakfast show was led by Piers Morgan.
This included her views on LGBT education, confession to marijuana use while at university as well as failings of the Universal Credit system - which she oversaw between January and November 2018.
Ms McVey in the running to become the next Prime Minister, 54-year-old Morgan explained that "the personal beliefs" of such a leader are "very important". McVey is however considered to be only an outside hopeful in the Conservative Party leadership race.
McVey’s past DWP exploits are counting against her in the Conservative leadership race. Few rate her chances on becoming Tory leader.
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Executives
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Simon Collyer
Position: Founder & Director
Simon Collyer hails from Brightlingsea in Essex, a small town on the coast between Colchester & Clacton. Simon worked very successfully in the leisure marine industry in the UK and in Australia. Later in London Simon worked in the web development and publishing fields, founding a below-the-line sales promotion agency in the early nineties and then later a software company Red Banner in South Africa (2002-06). Here in South Africa, Simon became interested in the Third Sector and starting his own organisation.
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Christopher Johnson
Position: Bookkeeping and Administration
Chris lived in Oxford for twenty years, having been educated at Magdalen College School. Chris sought a career with British Rail and spent twenty years in railway retail management ending with Virgin Trains at Euston Station. Christopher retrained in bookkeeping and accounts in 2000 and now works for Chelmsford Community Transport.
A strong, enthusiastic team player with a meticulous eye for detail, Christopher brings a range of skills to the ABC.
Team
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Frances Rimmer
Position: Researcher
When not charming snakes Frances is a Modern History student at the University of Essex, focusing specifically on social history. The lives and experiences of the ordinary person rather than on politics or the military. Outside of her studies, Frances enjoys film and writing. As a keen roller skater who plays roller derby with the Kent Roller Girls, Frances secret wish would be to become a skating instructor and open her own rink, as she has always wanted to help people in some way, and feels it would be great to do so while also sharing her passion with like-minded people.
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Stuart Meyers
Position: Researcher
Stuart Meyer, is a final year American Studies student at the University of Essex. Stuart focussed his academic life on global justice and the rights of migrants. Additionally Stuart has a passion for writing, both creatively and with the aim of providing accessible information to those who need it most Stuart has made a great contribution to our library of Advice Guides demonstrating his versatility by writing intelligently on a wide range of topics.
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Louis Jones
Position: Film Maker
Louis is a 19 year old TV and film student studying at Colchester Institute. Along with hand-picked fellow students, Louis made the ‘Membership’ video that can be seen on the ABC website. Louis volunteers at, Hospital Radio Colchester, as a football commentator. A true fan of the ‘Great Game’ Louis insights have been sought after on occasions by key local media, the Colchester Daily Gazette & even BBC Essex.
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Marcus Pierpont
Position: Film Director
Talented student film maker, Marcus Pierpoint, directed the ABC 'Membership' film which can be seen on the organizations website. Marcus has recently graduated from a BTEC course, studying Creative Media Production at Colchester Institute and he claims a true passion for films and filmmaking. Marcus also enjoys radio work and volunteers at the local hospital radio station, producing and presenting his own show. Marcus is enrolled at the University of Greenwich, and dreams of a career in the media industry.
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Shane Mitchell
Position: Film Maker
Shane Mitchell, is another Colchester Institute Film and TV student that aspirers to be a Director of Photography in the future. Shane was the camera operator for the ABC Membership video, fun to make says Shane but it is also work he is very proud of. Shane loves all things ‘film’ and he makes videos even in his spare time.
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Joe Corlett
Position: Film Director
Ex-student script writer/director, Joe Corlett, directed the ABC's corporate video (About Us) which is now viewable on the main website. Joe graduated from the Colchester Institute with a BTEC diploma in the field of media. Joe is passionate towards film making and hopes to continue making more that are constructed form his own material. On the side he's loves being out jogging in all terrains and when not out side he's writing scripts for future projects. Joe is now out in the world ready to start his life goal of working in the Media industry.
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Jon Taylor
Position: Film Maker
Jonathan Taylor has been working in the media sector for 3 years and for our filming projects he worked as the production manager. John worked on graphical elements of our film, About Us for example, rendering images and making them look good on screen.
Jon is also experienced in animation and he made the logo and animation sequences in the ABC corporate videos.
Part of Jon’s brief was to also organise the administration side of filming, known collectively to admin experts the world over as ‘the paperwork’.
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Thomas Hearn
Position: Film Maker
Thomas Hearn, has been involved in media, for about three years. Tom likes to work a lot at a computer, particularly the editing suite. For the ABC project, Tom worked on the edit itself; created and pieced together both the footage and the music, Tom created the visual elements of the ABC ‘About Us’ video and put most of the visual effects on the video.
I think we can agree that along with the rest of our youthful student team; Tom has done a very fine job indeed.
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Max Gillard
Position: Film Maker
The last of our film team Max Gillard has recently finished college studying Creative Media Level 3 and Max hopes to continue the course on to University to someday gain a job in the media industry.
We wish Max the best of luck.
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Harry
Position: Film Maker
My name is Harry Genge and I am an aspiring film maker. I have skills in the majority of film orientated jobs, though I am most interested in the creative roles such: Directing, Director of Photography and Writing. In my spare time I make short films, write, read, draw/paint and take the dog out for long walks.
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Ned
Position: Producers
My name is Ned Woodcraft and I’m an aspiring Producer. As well as completing a diploma in media production I have also had a number of jobs in the professional market. I’m also a keen sailor and water sport enthusiast.
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Brandon
Position: Producer
My name is Brandon and I’m an aspiring producer and actor. I enjoy bringing a production together with planning and preparations to create a great finished product. My hobbies also include street magic and bass playing.
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Callum
Position: Writer and Director
My name is Callum Olive and I’m an aspiring writer and director. I’m always looking for a new project and love writing new stories and screenplays at home and on the move. My hobbies include playing the piano and street magic.
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Joanie DeMuro
Joanie joined ABC team in early 2017. She was one of six student volunteers from the University of Essex in that cohort. The student team focused on a range of projects, including creation of Wikipedia page,‘training manual’ and most importantly, researching and adding entries to the website directory of organisations that assist the unwaged, or those on low incomes. “This placement was very helpful - thanks for the opportunity Simon.”
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Cherry Lam
Cherry Lam has been volunteering for ABC for one month. Although it is a short period of time, she knows a lot more about the running of a charity organisation. Cherry is responsible for adding directories to the organisation website according to categories. Joining this placement helped her improving skills and gaining new experiences. Cherry says is extremely appreciative of the support she has received from ABC which allowed her to improve skills.
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