Fiona Callingham

UK health authorities report more than 1,000 imported infections in early 2026, including malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya and enteric fever, with the majority linked to travel to Asia. Travellers are urged to check destination-specific health guidance, consider vaccinations and medications, and follow mosquito-bite and food-and-water precautions, with additional advice for those who are pregnant or trying to conceive.

A petition urges the UK Government to increase the State Pension to £610 per week for all individuals over 60, including expatriates whose pensions have been frozen due to lack of reciprocal agreements. Organiser Denver Johnson proposes linking payments to 48 hours of the National Living Wage. The petition argues that entitlement age increases undermine pension accessibility and calls for reforms to restore eligibility at 60. If the petition reaches 10,000 signatures it will trigger a government response, and at 100,000 it may be considered for parliamentary debate. The article also outlines current State Pension rates under the Triple Lock and provides guidance on tax obligations for pension income.

Historic National Insurance record errors mean many women who claimed Child Benefit before 2000 may have missing Home Responsibilities Protection, leading to State Pension underpayments. DWP data shows HRP issues remain the main cause of these errors, with correction work under way through the LEAP exercise and over 370,000 letters issued urging individuals to verify their records. Affected people are encouraged to check their National Insurance history and pension forecast on GOV.UK, with guidance provided for those who may need to apply for HRP credits for qualifying years between 1978 and 2010.

Higher‑earning pensioners can now check whether their Winter Fuel Payment or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will be reclaimed through taxation using a new HMRC online calculator. Payments are automatically issued unless recipients opt out, and individuals with income above £35,000 will have the amount recovered through tax code adjustments or Self Assessment. Income is assessed individually, meaning partners may be treated differently depending on their earnings. Pensioners may opt out of future payments, with the option to rejoin later, and repayment cannot be made as a lump sum. Notifications for tax code adjustments began in April, and additional guidance and opt‑out options are available online and via phone services.