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Soccer Aid 2025 announce late call-up for Brazil legend, 53, just hours before kick-off

BRAZIL legend Rivaldo has been announced as a stunning late addition to the Soccer Aid 2025 lineup.

The 53-year-old legend, who last graced the pitch professionally back in 2015, is making a sensational return for the charity event.

Rivaldo holding up a soccer jersey with his name and number 10.
Rivaldo has been announced as a late call-up for Soccer Aid 2025
***EMBARGO: TUESDAY 11TH MARCH 2025, 00:01*** Any use of this image other than in an editorial context to promote Soccer Aid for UNICEF, for any purpose whatsoever including advertising and commercial usage, will require a separate prior agreement in writing from UNICEF, the copyright holder and, in some cases, the person or persons depicted in the image, and on occasion the photographer. Mandatory Credit: Photo by UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures/REX/Shutterstock (15187563ab) Tyson Fury (left) is England Manager and Wayne Rooney is Player-Manager (right) for UNICEF 2025, which takes place on Sunday 15th of June at Old Trafford, Manchester. Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on Sunday 15th June at Old Trafford, Manchester. Tickets are on sale now at socceraid.org.uk/tickets. In a world first, Tyson Fury will co-manage England at Soccer Aid for UNICEF alongside Wayne Rooney who is out of retirement to play and manage alongside the former heavyweight champion of the world. In a mouthwatering prospect, Fury has refused to rule out substituting himself on during the match to form a stunning attacking line-up with Manchester United's all-time record goal-scorer Rooney.
Tyson Fury and Wayne Rooney will also be involved

His addition was announced 9:30pm on Saturday evening, less than 24 hours to start of the game which is schedule to kick off at 7:30pm tonight.

Wearing the blue and black kit of the Rest of the World team, Rivaldo’s return is one that adds to the growing importance of the game.

Fans are already buzzing with excitement at the thought of seeing the Ballon d’Or winner back on the field.

Brazilian Rivaldo, whose dazzling footwork and lethal finishing made him one of the greatest players of his generation, has kept a relatively low profile in the football world since his retirement.

But now it seems the urge to play again – especially for a cause like Soccer Aid — has proved too strong to resist.

One fan on X said: “I swear, if a similar announcement of Totti appears on here, last minute, I will lose my head. You’ve been warned.”

Then another one read simply: “This is so cool as a real legend will be playing.

The stage is set for a thrilling evening, as Rivaldo prepares to line up alongside global superstars like Usain Bolt, David Beckham, and Michael Owen.

With all eyes on the legendary striker, Soccer Aid 2025 is set to be one for the history books.

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England ended their SIX-YEAR wait for a win at Soccer Aid 2024 at Stamford Bridge which raised £15million.

Let’s just hope that Rivaldo’s fitness holds up and he can help raise more the charity game.

But the big question is, can he still deliver that signature Brazilian flair?

World XI team and coaching staff

Here is a look at the full team for the World XI for Soccer Aid 2025...

Team:

  • Tony Bellew (Former boxer)
  • Leonardo Bonucci (Former footballer)
  • Tobi Brown (YouTube star)
  • Martin Compston (Actor)
  • Richard Gadd (Actor)
  • Bryan Habana (Former rugby star)
  • Dermot Kennedy (Musician)
  • Kaylyn Kyle (Former footballer)
  • Gorka Marquez (Dancer)
  • Nadia Nadim (Footballer)
  • Livi Sheldon (Gladiators star)
  • Edwin van der Sar (Former footballer)
  • Nemanja Vidic (Former footballer)
  • Harry Kewell (Former footballer)
  • Big Zuu (YouTube star)
  • Noah Beck (Actor)
  • Carlos Tevez (Former footballer)
  • Billy Wingrove (Football freestyler)
  • Robbie Keane (Former footballer)
  • John O’Shea (Former footballer)
  • Maisie Adam (Comedian)
  • David Trezeguet (Former footballer)
  • Nicky Byrne (Singer)
  • Kheira Hamraoui (Former footballer)
  • Asim Chaudhry (Comedian)

Manager:

  • Peter Schmeichel (Former footballer)

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‘Need to cut him’ – Fans call for UFC star Rodolfo Bellato to be AXED after controversial ‘dive’ leads to no-contest

Collage of Rodolfo Bellato in a mixed martial arts fight.

UFC fans have called for Dana White to axe Rodolfo Bellato for seemingly pretending to be knocked out by an illegal upkick from Paul Craig.

The pair’s rescheduled light-heavyweight showdown in Atlanta ended in a No Contest this morning after the Brazilian was deemed unable to continue after being kicked in the face.

Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato facing off in a UFC match.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Paul Craig’s rescheduled showdown with Rodolfo Bellato ended in controversy[/caption]
Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato fighting in a UFC match.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Craig caught the Brazilian with an illegal upkick seconds before the end of the first round[/caption]
Paul Craig standing over a downed Rodolfo Bellato in a UFC match.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Brazilian Bellator appeared to be knocked out by the strike[/caption]
Paul Craig and Rodolfo Bellato fighting in a UFC match at State Farm Arena.
SHUTTERSTOCK
But replays appeared to show the 29-year-old was still conscious as he theatrically fell backwards[/caption]

Scottish submission specialist Craig struck a postured-up Bellato – who had one knee on the canvas – with the kick seconds before the end of the first round.

Bellato initially looked like he’d been knocked out by the strike as he lay on the canvas with his arms sprawled out.

But replays showed the Dana White‘s Contenders Series contract winner was still conscious as he theatrically fell to the mat.

Bellato seemingly regained consciousness very quickly and, in an apparent daze, tried to protect himself by scooting his back to the cage wall.

The former LFA champion was deemed unable to keep fighting, resulting in the contest being ruled a No Contest.

MMA fans weren’t convinced Bellato was genuinely hurt by the upkick and took to X to call for the UFC to cut the 29-year-old for play-acting.

One wrote: “Rodolfo Bellato faked a brutal KO just to try and get a cheap win over Paul Craig.

“What a complete embarrassment!!! The UFC needs to cut him immediately.”

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A fighter being attended to by officials after a UFC match.
ALAMY
Rodolfo Bellato was deemed unable to continue the contest[/caption]
Rodolfo Bellato of Brazil sits against the cage during a UFC fight.
GETTY
UFC fans have called for Dana White to axe Rodolfo Bellato for his apparent playacting[/caption]

Another said: “Cut his a** immediately!

And another said: “I told my son right away he was obviously faking, thinking Craig would be disqualified. Absolutely insane.”

One remarked: “Bro protested and faked being concussed all in the space of five seconds. Embarrassment to the sport.”

Another chimed in: “Yeah, Dana should fire this guy immediately. Who does that?”

One stunned viewer said: “That dive by Bellato was top tier.”

Craig addressed the narrative that Bellato flopped in his post-fight press conference, saying: “A few people messaged me regarding this.

I don’t want to think any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport.”

Paul Craig on Rodolfo Bellato's apparent playacting

“And they’re saying that it looked a bit floppish, like he was maybe hamming it up.

“I don’t want to think any fighter is looking for an easy way out in this sport. We’re all fighters.

“We’re all in the UFC, the pinnacle of our careers, and we’re looking to put on a performance.

“But I can see where people are looking at and think it looks a bit ‘floppishly’, ‘he’s maybe taking a dive.’

“I don’t really think that, but I’ll need to watch it back. It’s raw at the moment.”

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We had to launch Mission Impossible-style hospital escape to bring my boy home to die – I won’t get over the trauma

A TEENAGER with just days to live was forced to evade security guards as he fled through a hospital, before jumping into a getaway car – just so he could die at home.

Teddie Marks, 18, was wheelchair-bound, with his legs swelled up from cancer but was able to show off his athletic prowess one last time during the comedic mad dash.

Teenage boy in hospital gown giving thumbs up.
Jay Marks
Teddie Marks died from a rare and aggressive cancer[/caption]
A terminally ill boy and his mother.
Teddie with his heartbroken mum Jay
Jay Marks
A terminally ill boy being kissed on the cheek by a woman, while wrapped in a blanket in a wheelchair.
Jay Marks
The teen was forced to flee the hospital[/caption]

Mum Jay – who is campaigning for more access to grief counselling for bereaved families – explained how everything had been put in place to allow her son to receive palliative care at the family’s home in Braintree, Essex.

However, at the last minute, as they left University College London Hospital they were confusingly told Teddie had to stay, against his wishes.

Security was called and they were to be blocked from leaving – but the adventurous young man was having none of it.

Mum-of-three Jay, 42, said: “He’s 18, they got all his paperwork ready, they gave us all his medication, they said to us he was going to be blue-lighted because from UCLH to Braintree it’s a bit of a drive.

“Then they said they were going to get a normal ambulance but I would have to sign responsibility for him, which was fine… then we’re told that’s been cancelled.” 

Jay continued: “In the end, the palliative care nurse fitted him up with a 24-hour pump so that we could get him home and hook him up to the machine.”

‘That makes no sense’

The family then got into a lift on the 15th floor with the palliative care nurse, alongside a “bag of medication” and all of Teddie’s things from weeks of being in and out of hospital – when they hit another speed bump.

“On the way down she had a call and she was like ‘right okay’, then she said ‘they’ve called security’,” explained Jay. 

“We were like what? That makes no sense because she was with us and he’d been discharged. 

“Teddie was an adult and sound of mind, and he’d told them he wanted to go home.”

Not wanting to stick around to find out what was going on, Teddie, who was being pushed in a wheelchair, as well as his mum and dad Joseph, and two other relatives, bolted.

“When the lift doors opened on the ground floor we ran, we were gone,” said Jay.

“We were literally running through the hospital and the nurse was shouting ‘stop!’ 

“They didn’t catch up to us, and poor Teddie, he jumped in the car, bearing in mind his legs were all swollen, he had lymphedema where the fluid wasn’t going back upwards because of where the tumour was sitting. 

You’ve never seen him move so fast. He jumped out of the wheelchair, jumped in the car and went ‘drive!’

Jay MarksMum of Teddie

“You’ve never seen him move so fast,” continued Jay. “He jumped out of the wheelchair, jumped in the car and went ‘drive!’”

Joseph’s two aunts, who had been with them at the hospital, stayed behind and later told the family the nurse burst into tears.

“She was crying and she was saying ‘I’m happy they got to go’ because it wasn’t her that had called security – it had been higher up,” explained Jay.

“They’d already given him his discharge papers and everything we needed, it made no sense. It’s funny to look back on now, what everyone else must have been thinking.”

A young man with no hair stands in front of blue number 18 balloons.
Jay Marks
Teddie was just 18 when he passed away[/caption]
A woman holding a young boy.
Jay Marks
Jay and Teddie as a toddler[/caption]
Three children sitting on patio chairs.
Jay Marks
Teddie (centre) with his sister Robyn and brother Harrison[/caption]

That was on July 12 2024 and on the 14th Teddie finally passed away.

It had been a tough journey since his shock diagnosis at age 16 in 2022 with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in soft tissue.

“It’s quite rare but quite aggressive, and it tends to come back even if you get rid of it,” explained Jay. 

“He did have a six-month period when he got rid of the cancer, and then he relapsed in July 2023, and then we’ve had a long battle.” 

Trips to Germany

The family was told there was nothing more the NHS could offer and so they spent tens of thousands of pounds, via GoFundMe, to travel to Germany multiple times – the last of which was days before Teddie died. 

“We’d been seeing different professors that had tried different treatments,” said Jay. “Unfortunately, the last professor we tried, he was having some success, and the month after that treatment, Teddie was feeling much better. 

“All the swelling in his legs had gone down, he was feeling much better, but by that time the cancer had spread and we didn’t catch it.”

Teddie knew he was dying as he’d flown to Germany the last time, but didn’t want to give up. 

“His words were ‘I’m not going to die without trying’,” said Jay. “He was fighting the whole time.”

Asked if he’d been able to get alternative treatment sooner she believes her son could have survived, Jay said: “I think so. The NHS will say ‘no, no’ but they are so ignorant to what is out there in Europe, it’s unbelievable.”

Boy in soccer uniform holding award and medal.
Jay Marks
Teddie was a talented footballer[/caption]
Teenage boy in grey sweatshirt standing against brick wall.
Jay Marks
Jay described him as the ‘perfect’ child[/caption]
A teenage boy sits in a red chair, adjusting his face mask.
Jay Marks
The teen was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2022[/caption]

After Teddie relapsed in March 2023 he was given an operation and it was “made clear” by the consultants that they’d “tripled checked” with the surgeons that Teddie’s cancer could be removed with “clear margins”, said Jay.

“Because if it couldn’t they weren’t going to touch it. They said ‘the surgeons are really sure’.”

“After the operation, as soon as Teddie came round, he said ‘did you get it with clear margins?’ and they said ‘we can’t be sure’.

“It must not have been checked properly,” Jay said. “When he had scans four to six weeks after the op, nodules had appeared. 

“I think at that point if we’d gone to Germany, Teddie would have stood a better chance.”

£100,000 in 24 hours

The GoFundMe page set up to help the teen receive alternative treatments “went over £100,000 in the first 24 hours”, said Jay. 

“GoFundMe got in touch to say they had never seen one go up that quickly.”

All of that and more went on private testing and treatments abroad.

“I can’t sit here and say don’t listen to the NHS because overall they were amazing, but it’s frustrating that there are these treatments out there,” said Jay.

“Don’t get me wrong, the hospital was amazing, especially the nurses who go above and beyond.”

A young man with a shaved head plays a video game in a hospital room.
Jay Marks
Teddie playing video games in hospital[/caption]
Terminally ill boy sleeping in a hospital bed.
Jay Marks
He battled cancer bravely for two years[/caption]
A young man with a shaved head holds up his driving test pass certificate.
Jay Marks
Teddie even passed his driving test while he underwent chemo[/caption]

But with all other hope lost, with the help of Farleigh Hospice, in Braintree, Teddie was able to die in the comfort of his own home.

“He knew what he was going home for,” said Jay. “It was absolutely heartbreaking because you know you are saying bye to your child.

“We sat up every night. He had his family here, his aunts, his uncles and his cousins. 

‘Don’t be depressed’

“At one point, Teddie said ‘don’t be depressed, put some music on’,” she added, laughing.

Teddie had always been the one to keep the family’s spirits up, even throughout his illness.

“He was such a good boy,” said Jay. “There were days after he got diagnosed where I couldn’t get up, couldn’t function and he would come in and say to me, ‘up you get, Mum’.

“He had such strong faith, he was quite religious – even when Teddie was dying, he had all the family here and was cuddling his girl cousins and he said ‘don’t cry for me, I know where I’m going.’

“That boy was absolutely something else.”

Teddie had first been getting pain in August 2021, and by November he was “in agony” and “was up three or four nights straight”, said Jay, who took him to A&E multiple times.

However, they were sent away again and again and told to take over the counter painkillers.

A bald young man in a suit jacket and light blue shirt.
Jay Marks
He didn’t let cancer stop him from remaining positive[/caption]
Close-up photo of a young man.
Jay Marks
Teddie was even joking with his family on his death bed[/caption]
Ambulance parked outside University College Hospital entrance.
The Sun
University College London Hospital, where Teddie was treated[/caption]

Jay said Teddie was “very robust”, he was captain of Chelmsford City EJA, but even his pain threshold was being pushed to the limit.

Eventually, the family paid for a private doctor and MRI scan, then an operation which found abscesses.

The doctor sent off for a biopsy at UCLH and then a week later a phone call confirmed the worst.

“It was during lockdown so everything was a bit dodgy,” said Jay. “I got told over the phone that Teddie had cancer and was given a treatment plan.”

During his treatment Teddie refused to stop, and passed his GCSE Maths and English – the latter to an A* standard – while undergoing chemotherapy. And even passed his driving test.

But while his memory lives on, Jay is still as heartbroken now as she was a year ago.

‘You can’t prepare yourself’

“You know it’s coming but you can’t prepare yourself,” she said of her son’s death. 

“I can’t put it into words, it’s coming up to a year but I’m still devastated every day. Me and his dad, brother and sister, and his nan. There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t cry.” 

She added, of her children: “They’ll always be my babies.”

Taking up the baton left by Teddie, his mum is now campaigning herself to raise awareness about the wait times families must endure to receive grief counselling.

After filling out a form she was told by the hospice the waiting list is nine to 12 months.

Jay said: “Last week I had an email from Farleigh saying they’ve got this session thing, it’s not one to one counselling, there’s other people there. 

“There’s 10 spaces and to get back to them if I wanted a place. 

“I saw the email, 40 minutes later, by the time I got back they’d emailed me saying all the spaces had gone.”

Jay said she had another email from the hospice asking since it was a “considerable amount of time since I put my application in for counselling, have my circumstances changed?”

“They did get an email back saying ‘my circumstances haven’t changed, unfortunately my son hasn’t risen from the dead, I’m still grieving and still in need of support’. 

She continued: “It’s not going to change. I just can’t get my head round that it can take this long to sort… any grief is bad, but when you’ve lost your child, I can’t explain it. It’s unexplainable.”

Jay went on to say: “I said to my doctor, ‘they’re lucky I’m not suicidal’. If he was my only child maybe I would be suicidal but I have two other children who I need to look after. 

It’s not going to change. I just can’t get my head round that it can take this long to sort… any grief is bad, but when you’ve lost your child, I can’t explain it. It’s unexplainable.

Jay MarksMum of Teddie

“I carry the family’s grief. My daughter, her and Teddie were 10 months apart – she’s got ASD, so she’s on the spectrum, and Teddie was her comfort blanket. 

“She struggles really badly. Then my eldest son, who’s 23 now, he will just struggle silently. 

“I feel like I have to carry on because I don’t want them to see my grieving and think they’ve got to carry my grief.”

She added: “I do feel passionately that there are parents going through this and you have to wait a year. We can’t go privately. 

“My husband sold his company when Teddie got diagnosed because we were backwards and forwards to UCLH. He’s a caretaker now and I’m a support assistant in a school.”

Jay said: “I’ve lost people but nothing compares to losing your child, especially when you’ve watched your child go through what he did for two and a half years. 

“You get a lot of flashbacks, I’m sure it’s PTSD. You’re replaying stuff continuously. It’s traumatising when you hear your baby, though he was 18, in the night screaming in agony.

“It’s traumatising to remember the running from the hospital, the taking him to Germany when he was in agony.”

She described Teddie as “my best mate”, adding: “I know parents say that about their kids but he was like my right arm. 

“He was always with me, we were always together. We had the same sense of humour. We were always laughing. 

“No one could get you in tears of laughter like Teddie could. For me, I’m still completely lost.”

Michelle Kabia, Interim Chief Executive at Farleigh Hospice, said: “Ensuring that the families of our patients receive the best quality support throughout their loved ones illness and afterwards is our absolute priority.  

“Our bereavement support services are offered free of charge to anyone within mid Essex.

“As a result they are in incredibly high demand, as reflected in our current waiting lists, which we are actively working to reduce.

“We regularly stay in touch with people on the waiting list to check how they are, offer interim bereavement support options while they wait for one to one counselling, and check whether their circumstances have changed, as people may have accessed alternative support or moved out of the area.

“We welcome all feedback and are continually looking to improve our services. We would be very happy to have a further conversation with the family.”

The Sun has also approached University College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for comment

Click here to see Jay’s grief counselling petition.


Do you have a similar story? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk


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The 3 essential tasks gardeners should be doing this month to avoid £1000 fine during a hosepipe ban

GARDENERS are being warned of a potential hosepipe ban this summer, after UK temperatures soared throughout spring.

According to the Met Office, 2025 saw the sunniest spring since records began, with temperatures reaching 29 degrees in early May.

Hand holding a hose spraying water.
Alamy
Gardeners are being warned of a potential hosepipe ban this summer[/caption]

However, although Brits across the country have enjoyed revelling in the unusually balmy weather, the heat has led to a drought in the northwest of England.

The high temperatures have also led Thames Water to share a warning to customers about potential restrictions to water usage.

The chief executive of the water company, Chris Weston, said that whilst he doesn’t think they will run out of water, they may have to curb customer usage.

He added that Thames Water has “learned its lesson” after the company almost ran out of water in 2022.

“I am confident that we won’t run out of water,” he told a committee of MPs.

“I am not confident that we won’t have to restrict usage because that will depend on what the weather does and what rainfall happens between now and the summer.”

This could mean gardeners could be banned from using their hosepipes for watering the garden.

What happens during a hosepipe ban?

When a Temporary Usage Ban, or hosepipe ban is put in place by a water company, customers are not allowed to use hoses for watering flowers, washing cars, or for water fights.

Instead they are encouraged to use watering cans or buckets for any outside tasks that require water.

If you breach the ban, you could face a fine of up to £1000.

How to preserve water ahead of a hosepipe ban

To conserve water, ahead of a potential ban, there are three essential task that gardeners should do.

Firstly, you can use water butts to collect rainwater.

You can also try watering plants in the morning or late in the evening, when the water doesn’t get evaporated as quickly.

In the home, you can help to conserve water by having quicker showers, and making sure the tap is turned off when you brush your teeth.

How to keep cool in a heatwave

Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS...

Keep out of the heat if you can.

If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.

Cool yourself down.

Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.

Keep your living space cool.

Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.

When did the UK last have a hosepipe ban?

Back in June 2023, South East Water implemented a hosepipe ban that affected parts of Kent and Sussex.

The ban was lifted in July, after a rainy period of weather.

In 2022, five water companies imposed hosepipe bans on a total of 19 million people, after a long period of hot weather.

The longest hosepipe ban in the UK was in 1976, when restrictions where in place for 98 days, from June to October.

An exceptionally hot summer led to extreme drought which affected most of southern England.

During the ban, water use was limited to essential activities such as drinking, cooking and washing.

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Amazon is selling a ‘self-sufficient’ tiny home kit for $9,600 – it comes with detailed instructions for easy assembly

IF you’re stressing about your credit score preventing you from becoming a homeowner, don’t worry.

Amazon shoppers can now get their foot on the property ladder with a quick click.

Self-sufficient tiny home kit.
Amazon
Amazon shoppers can pick up a ‘self-sufficient’ tiny home kit for just $9,600[/caption]
Collage of a self-sufficient tiny home kit interior.
Amazon
Amazon users can customize the layout of their tiny home kit before purchasing[/caption]

And there’s no need for mortgage applications or real estate viewings with this home.

The Self-Sufficient Prefab Tiny Home Kit is available for just $9,600 from Amazon.

Complete with solar-ready design, this house with help you “achieve independence” and go off-grid.

This self-sufficient prefab house is designed for “remote and sustainable living”.

The solar features allow you to “harness renewable energy for daily needs”.

Designed for self-sufficient living, the house comes with provisions for solar panel integration.

‘COMPACT YET FUNCTIONAL’

This tiny home is constructed with sustainable materials and offers a “compact yet functional layout”.

So if you’re environmentally-conscious, this prefab house could be perfect for you.

As well as guaranteeing an “eco-friendly and autonomous lifestyle”, this house boasts a weather-resistant build, making it “suitable for various climates”.

The home is customizable and can be tailored to various models, so potential buyers are advised to contact manufacturers in advance.

No matter what layout you opt for, this space is said to be “compact and functional”.

There is an “efficient use of space”, helping to accommodate “essential living needs”.

And you don’t have to worry about additional expenses such as hiring a team for construction.

The home guarantees easy assembly and even comes with detailed instructions.

This straightforward construction can be completed in just five steps.

Where to buy a tiny home

THE tiny home phenomenon found new heights as an alternative living solution for consumers concerned with ballooning homebuying costs and sustainability concerns.

*If you click on a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue.

You can buy ‘tiny homes’ online in a few places, including:

You can also check out our full tiny home guides here:

MORE TINY HOMES

You can also pick up a tiny home from Amazon, with a $14,780 option featuring three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

There is also a $9,869 Amazon tiny home for those on a more limited budget.

A $8,668 versatile tiny home is also available from Amazon, and can be set up in “three to five minutes.”

And if you require more space, a two story tiny home is currently on sale from Amazon for just $16,500.

A “flat pack” two-story tiny home is available from Walmart for $22,949.

Self-sufficient tiny home kit.
Amazon
The tiny home can be constructed in just five easy steps, according to manufacturers[/caption]

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Social Security’s ‘golden age’ law change cuts payments by 30% – don’t leave it ‘too late in the game,’ expert says

THE Social Security Administration is rolling out a big change, robbing Americans of their retirement “golden age” and putting millions of seniors at risk of losing up to 30% of their benefits.

As the federal agency implements the retirement age switch-up, a Social Security expert has warned Americans approaching retirement about how the change could hit them hard.

Worried senior couple reviewing paperwork together.
The Social Security Administration is rolling out a change that will impact how millions of Americans receive benefits
Getty
Social Security Administration sign.
Experts have warned that the Social Security switch-up could catch Americans by surprise
Getty
Man in suit speaking, with a longhorn painting in the background.
Instagram/aaroncirksena
Social Security expert Aaron Cirksena spoke with The U.S. Sun about how the retirement age change will impact seniors[/caption]

Near-retirees are seeing their retirements start even later under the SSA’s move to continue implementing a change initiated over four decades ago.

The full retirement age, which signifies when recipients can start their full Social Security payments without penalty, is now reaching its highest level.

Congress made amendments to the Social Security Act in 1983 to gradually raise the retirement age, and the FRA has now increased from 65 to 67.

Americans born in 1960 or later will start to see the impact of the change this year as they turn 65 – which was previously considered the “golden age” for retirement.

In order to claim their full Social Security benefits, these near-retirees will have to wait until they turn 67, forced to work two more years than previous beneficiaries.

Those born before 1960 are not impacted by the updated FRA, still able to retire and collect their full benefits as long as they have reached the retirement age for the year they were born:

  • 1943–1954: age 66
  • 1955–1959: age 66 and a certain number of months, increasing by two months each year:
    • 1955: 66 and 2 months
    • 1956: 66 and 4 months
    • 1957: 66 and 6 months
    • 1958: 66 and 8 months
    • 1959: 66 and 10 months

On the other hand, the millions of Americans born starting in 1960 are being faced with unprecedented financial obstacles, according to Social Security expert Aaron Cirksena.

Cirksena, CEO of retirement planning company MDRN Capital, spoke exclusively with The U.S. Sun about what the Social Security change means for these beneficiaries and for the federal program’s future.

FAIR OR FOUL?

The SSA’s change to the FRA will have immediate negative impacts on millions of Americans, per the financial expert.

“As the full retirement age for Social Security shifts to 67, many Americans are realizing they’ll need to wait longer than expected to claim full benefits, often too late in the game to adjust their plans,” Cirksena told The U.S. Sun.

“While this change was baked into law back in 1983, its real impact is only now hitting millions nearing retirement.”

Over four decades ago, the proposal to raise the retirement age was aimed at adjusting for longer life expectancies.

What is full retirement age?

Full Retirement Age, or FRA, is the age at which you become eligible to receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefits without penalty, based on your lifetime earnings. 

Also referred to as “normal retirement age,” your FRA is determined by the Social Security Administration based on your birth year:

  • 1943–1954: age 66
  • 1955–1959: age 66 and a certain number of months, increasing by two months each year:
    • 1955: 66 and 2 months
    • 1956: 66 and 4 months
    • 1957: 66 and 6 months
    • 1958: 66 and 8 months
    • 1959: 66 and 10 months
  • 1960 or later: age 67

The idea was that, if people are living longer, they should also be required to work longer to ensure the sustainability of the Social Security system.

However, making Americans wait an extra two years to claim their full retirement fails to take into account that not everyone experiences aging in the same way.

Different demographics face differing health challenges and life expectancies, for example, raising concerns over the fairness of the blanket policy.

Cirksena explained that those in labor-intensive jobs or with health issues could potentially be impacted the worst by the SSA’s move to push back the retirement age to 67.

The expert argued that it “simply isn’t realistic” for these Americans to wait that long to retire, such as those in construction, healthcare, or service work.

They often have shorter life spans, rely heavily on Social Security benefits, and cannot work into their late 60s due to physical demands.

Given no choice but to continue working to receive their full benefits, many of these near-retirees will instead try and claim disability benefits, Social Security experts have predicted.

HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY

Here's how to supplement your Social Security:

Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.

Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.

  • 401(k) Plans
    • A 401(k) is a retirement account offered through employers, where contributions are tax-deferred.
    • Many employers also match employee contributions, typically between 2% and 4% of salary, making it a valuable tool for building retirement savings.
    • Maxing out your 401(k) contributions, especially if your employer offers a match, should be a priority.
  • IRAs
    • An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers another avenue for retirement savings.
    • Unlike a 401(k), an IRA isn’t tied to your employer, giving you more flexibility in your investment choices.
    • Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, and the funds grow tax-free until they are withdrawn, at which point they are taxed as income.

FUTURE SHOCK

In addition to taking into account longer life expectancies, the decision to up the FRA was aimed at addressing the Social Security program’s financial solvency issues.

The federal agency is currently facing a funding crisis, with predictions that the Social Security trust fund will run out of money for full payments by the mid 2030s.

“Unless Congress acts, current projections show a benefit cut of around 20% by 2033,” said Cirksena.

“That’s not ‘running out,’ but for many retirees, it could feel like it.”

The Social Security expert explained that delaying the retirement age was the government’s tactic to “reduce lifetime benefit payouts without slashing checks outright.”

Many Americans will now be unable to reach their FRA, forcing them to retire early and accept the benefit reduction penalty that the SSA imposes.

“Those who claim early could see their benefits reduced by as much as 30%,” said Cirksena.

For example, an individual qualifying to receive $1,000 each month in Social Security if they retired at 67 would only see a $700 monthly benefit if they were to retire at 62.

By delaying the FRA, the government reduces lifetime benefit payouts without slashing checks outright. And those who claim early could see their benefits reduced by as much as 30%. For people in labor-intensive jobs or with health issues, waiting that long simply isn’t realistic.”

Aaron CirksenaMDRN Capital CEO

On the other hand, Americans who can afford to wait until age 70 to retire would see their benefits raised by up to 24%, receiving $1,240 per month.

However, as Cirksena pointed out, delaying one’s retirement a few extra years is not always feasible, especially for those working in physically or mentally taxing fields or for Americans facing health challenges.

The SSA is eyeing to raise the FRA even higher than 67 – a change that could hit 257 million Americans by 2033 under a new plan.

Meanwhile, the federal agency has set out to make another “massive” change that could affect 400,000 daily.

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