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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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 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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