Money & Pensions Advice Service guidance: Making the Most of your Money

Taking the time to manage your money can make a real difference.

Whatever stage of life you’re at – whether you’re saving into a pension for the first time, buying or renting a home, starting a family or planning to retire – there are always ways of making your money go further.

Find out more on the Money and Pensions Advice Service's Money Helper website at: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en​ and you can download the leaflet HERE.

Also there is a library of advice booklets that are free to download.

Hampshire: Hampshire County Council money worries

Please click on the link below to access the HCC website that provides vital information for families who may be struggling due to the cost of living crisis with lots of useful links.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Fife: Do you need help with debt?

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Monmouthshire: Finding it difficult to pay your mortgage?

Finding it hard to make your mortgage payments?

The Help to Stay scheme might be able to help.

Check if you’re eligible and find out more

Get help paying your mortgage with a Help to Stay shared equity loan | GOV.WALES

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Wiltshire: How and where you can apply for support from Household Support Fund 6

Wiltshire Council has confirmed that it will continue to work in partnership with a number of local organisations and internal departments to distribute the £2.7 million Household Support Fund 6 from UK Government. Information on how and where to apply is available on the following page of the Wiltshire Council website:

How and where you can apply for support from HSF6

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

South West: Credit advice from the Money & Pensions Service SW team

 

Credit can help you manage your money - whether you're looking to cover planned expenses or need to meet unexpected costs. The vast majority of us will use some form of credit at various points in life, but it's really important to use it in the right way. There are many different channels of credit, and they all have a similar purpose.

Click here to read more from the Money & Pensions Services South West team

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Wales: Welsh Water - Are you worried about the cost of the festive season?

 

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

National Insurance Credits for Military Spouses during overseas postings

You may be able to get National Insurance credits if you’re married to or the civil partner of a member of the Armed Forces and you go with them on an overseas posting.

Credits can help to fill gaps in your National Insurance record, for example if you were not in work when you were with your partner on an overseas posting. Credits can make sure you qualify for certain benefits including the State Pension.

Please click here for further information

Fife: Our Fife help with the cost of living

If you’re feeling worried about debt or falling behind on bills, you are not alone. High costs of energy, food and fuel mean that many people are finding it impossible to keep up.

The Staying Safe and Keeping Well Booklet is designed to empower and educate, making it an invaluable tool for residents looking to enhance their wellbeing or who may need additional support over the festive period. Click on the image 👆 to read.

From emergency contacts to local community initiatives, take a moment to explore its pages and discover the wealth of resources available to support you

There’s lots of help available at our.fife.scot/gethelp/income, including a benefit checker to make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled too.

Citizens Advice & Rights Fife Money Advice team can also work with you to help you take control of your finances.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

DWP news update, including Christmas arrangements for benefit payments and revised JobCentrePlus opening times

 

Information on DWP benefit payment dates over the festive period: How and when your benefits are paid - GOV.UK

Jobcentre festive opening times can be found here: Contact Jobcentre Plus: Christmas and New Year opening - GOV.UK

Further DWP news updates:

Top tips for jobseekers at risk of ‘fake DBS check’ recruitment scams
Press release: To coincide with the launch of the Home Office Stop! Think Fraud campaign, the Disclosure and Barring Service is providing support to job seekers for a safer employment search.

Connect to Work is the first programme under the Government’s new Get Britain Working Strategy. It is a work programme in England and Wales to help disabled people, those with health conditions and people with complex barriers to employment, to find sustainable work.

Connect to Work will be a voluntary, high-fidelity Supported Employment programme, connecting work, health and skills support across all of England and Wales: Connect to Work: Grant Guidance for England - GOV.UK

Tens of thousands more pensioners now in receipt of Pension Credit

Press release: New figures released on 28 November 2024 show an extra 42,500 households are now in receipt of Pension Credit, and therefore the Winter Fuel Payment, since the government launched its pension credit awareness campaign.

Employers that have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme
Guidance: This document lists the employers that have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme, and their status (committed, employer or leader) up to 30 November 2024.

HM Government Money & Pensions Service - Money Helper: Credit unions and other alternatives to high-cost credit

 
This Money Helper (Money & Pensions Service) ​​guide is for you if you need access to credit but you can’t use a mainstream lender and you don’t want to use a payday loan or other forms of high-cost credit. When you read it, you’ll know:

• how credit unions work and how they can help you
• how to join a credit union
• what other sources of fair and affordable credit might be available to you.​

To view this guide please click HERE

More information can be found on the Money Helper website at https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit

For the Service community, there are three MOD-endorsed credit unions - see https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/​

The impact of VAT changes on the Continuity of Education Allowance

 

In the Budget speech The Chancellor of the Exchequer has confirmed that the government will remove the VAT exemption for private schools from 1 January 2025.

For families claiming the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) this is likely to increase private school fees.

To minimise the impact of this change, the Secretary of State has directed that the CEA rate cap will be uprated, to ensure it continues to pay up to 90% of school fees for eligible claimants.

What does this mean for CEA claimants?

Wiltshire: Struggling with high energy prices and the cost of living? Warm and Safe Wiltshire may be able to help!

Please click the images to enlarge

To visit the website, please click here

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVEs

Hampshire: Forces Connect South East

Forces Connect South East

Hampshire County Council is proud to be part of Forces Connect South East

Forces Connect South East is a cross border partnership comprising Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex County Councils, Brighton and Hove, Medway Councils and Sussex NHS.

It is a two-year Ministry of Defence Armed Forces Covenant Funded Programme aimed at making it easier for servicemen and women and their families, as well as reservists and veterans, to access public sector services including healthcare, housing, schools, financial advice and support to find jobs.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Military Mortgage Advice Webinars: November to January

Click to enlarge. 

Book your place here: Webinars | Military Mortgage Advice

Are you eligible for Pension Credit?

It is estimated that up to 880,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit, and it is worth, on average, £3,900 per year, providing additional benefits such as help with Council Tax and Housing Benefit and a free TV licence for those over 75.

In addition to Pension Credit, those who qualify could also receive Winter Fuel Payment and other support like help with housing costs, help with Council Tax and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.

Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months, (ticking the backdating box on the claim form). This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is 21st December 2024.

To note, Pension Credit can also provide extra support for heating costs such as The Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payments​.

Checking entitlement is easy with this on-line calculator: Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Scotland: Forces Children Scotland Financial support for armed forces and veteran families.

We know the cost of living crisis has presented challenges for so many families across the United Kingdom.

We can provide a little financial support to cover many of life’s essentials to make a huge difference in reducing worry and stress.

From utility bills, food and clothing to bedroom furniture and much more, we can help cover most requests for support.

If you’re an armed forces or veteran family living in Scotland, we should be able to help.

There's no lengthy application process; we help cover many of life’s essentials to reduce worry and stress.

To get in touch or to start the process 👉 Financial Crisis Funding - Forces Children Scotland

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Grantham: Lincolnshire Suicide Prevention Strategy Grant Fund 2024

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Northern Ireland: NIdirect Cost of Living Information and Advice

 

Information and advice about support with the cost of living, including:
• help with energy costs
• help with your income
• help for families and children
• help for older people
• help with housing
• help with other costs
Find out more: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/cost-of-living
Jobs & Benefits Northern Ireland

Information provided by HIVE NI

Hampshire: Operation Signature Hampshire Constabulary - help protect against fraud

Click image for more information. 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub