Finance

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 solihull council debt writeoff counciltax businessrates housingbenefit finance localgovernment arrears

Solihull Council has officially written off £560,869 in outstanding debts that were deemed unrecoverable. This significant amount includes arrears from council tax, business rates, and housing benefit overpayments accumulated … Read More

Sunday, April 5, 2026 pension statepension pensionage dwp retirement benefits unitedkingdom finance policy agechange

Starting tomorrow, April 6, the state pension age in the UK will increase from 66 to 67, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This change will affect those born between April 6 and May 5, 1960, who will … Read More

Sunday, April 5, 2026 solihull debt writeoff council finance recovery localgovernment tax budget resources

Solihull Council has recently written off more than £560,000 in historic unpaid debts, highlighting ongoing challenges in debt recovery for local authorities. This decision was approved at a cabinet portfolio holder meeting … Read More

Saturday, April 4, 2026 halifax isa savings taxyear cashback investing banking finance savers deadline

Halifax has issued an urgent reminder to customers to maximise their Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowances before the end of the current tax year at 11:59 pm on April 5, 2026. By acting before the deadline, savers could … Read More

Saturday, April 4, 2026 climate flooding housing mortgage insurance uksif resilience finance property adaptation

A staggering 430,000 households across England risk becoming “climate mortgage prisoners” by 2050, trapped in flood-prone properties they cannot sell easily or refinance affordably, according to a new report by Public First … Read More

Friday, April 3, 2026 dudley council housing repairs tenancy conservative committee property finance dispute

A fierce debate unfolded at Dudley’s Housing and Assets Scrutiny Committee over proposals to sell vacant council homes deemed too costly to repair. The dispute highlighted deep divisions among council members regarding the … Read More

Thursday, April 2, 2026 natwest sainsburys nectar finance partnership creditcard savings loans loyalty digital

NatWest has announced a significant new partnership with Sainsbury’s, designed to offer Sainsbury’s customers exclusive financial products enriched by the Nectar loyalty programme. This collaboration aims to bring added value … Read More

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 statepension taxation hmrc retirees pensionincome triplelock personalallowance deferral royallondon finance

State pensioners are receiving unexpected letters from HMRC after learning that their state pension income may be subject to taxation. Many retirees on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state pension were unaware … Read More

Monday, March 30, 2026 lloyds mortgage support finance borrowers interestonly rates paymenthelp mortgagecharter crisis

Lloyds Bank, along with Halifax and Bank of Scotland, has announced comprehensive mortgage support for borrowers affected by the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US. In response to the escalating crisis, Lloyds is … Read More

Monday, March 30, 2026 dwp benefits universalcredit childpoverty families policy finance debt education welfare

Starting from 6 April, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will remove the controversial two-child benefit cap, enabling low-income families to claim universal credit for all their children. This change is expected to … Read More

Sunday, March 29, 2026 deficit nhs budget wages industrialaction savings workforce hospital finance strikes

University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust is grappling with a significant financial shortfall, reporting a £27.2 million deficit as of February—over £21 million worse than expected at this stage in the fiscal … Read More

Friday, March 27, 2026 ns&i betrayal compensation bereavement administration premiumbonds savings trust finance security

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is embroiled in a scandal involving nearly £500 million owed to bereaved families as a result of a long-standing administrative failure. This issue has come to light this week, with … Read More

Friday, March 27, 2026 pensions nationalinsurance topup martinlewis statepension dwp hmrc customerservice retirement finance

State pensioners across the UK have been increasing their pensions by thousands of pounds after a deadline last year allowed them to top up missing National Insurance contributions dating back to 2006. Personal finance expert … Read More

Friday, March 27, 2026 ns&i tax compensation inheritance scandal bereaved pensions government treasury finance

NS&I savers caught in a major compensation scandal could be hit with unexpected tax bills after nearly £500 million in missing payments to bereaved families came to light. An ongoing administrative failure prevented … Read More

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 banking regulation uk accounts closures customers legislation finance protection smallbusiness

Starting April 28, 2026, new regulations will transform how UK banks handle account closures, offering greater protection to millions of customers. This change comes in response to a dramatic rise in the number of accounts … Read More

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 pensions annuity retirement finance markets conflict middleeast gilts volatility income

State pensioners could benefit from an extra £900 each year as the ongoing US-Iran conflict stirs volatility in the financial markets. The escalating tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the USA have caused … Read More

Sunday, March 22, 2026 counciltax costofliving uk households bills inflation energy finance prices taxes

Millions of UK households are bracing for a fresh financial hit as letters arrive detailing upcoming council tax increases. Starting in April, many Brits will notice more money leaving their bank accounts as local authorities … Read More

Saturday, March 21, 2026 pensioners payments easter dwp bankholidays benefits budgeting retirees finance schedule

State pensioners should be prepared to see unexpected early payments in their bank accounts over the coming weeks due to the Easter bank holidays. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not process payments on bank … Read More

Thursday, March 19, 2026 birmingham investment finance council binsstrike economy development leadership prosperuk hs2

Former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has acknowledged the contrasting views about Birmingham’s future amid recent challenges that have strained the city’s reputation. Despite facing a severe financial crisis within the city … Read More

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 statepension pensions triplelock dwp retirement ukgovernment pensionincrease earningsgrowth inflation finance

Starting April 6, all 13 million people receiving the state pension in the UK will see an increase, thanks to the government’s Triple Lock policy. This annual rise is designed to ensure pension payments keep pace with … Read More

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 mortgage rates money lenders borrowing finance interest inflation bankofengland uk

Mortgage costs for UK households are set to increase by an average of £788 a year as major lenders raise their rates. According to Money Facts Compare, prominent banks such as Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, and … Read More

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 lloyds mortgage greenfinance scholarship sustainability brokers training homeenergy greenmortgages finance

Lloyds Bank has unveiled a pioneering initiative aimed at enhancing sustainable home financing expertise among mortgage brokers. The bank is introducing a unique, six-month scholarship program designed for industry … Read More

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 singlemother resilience supportgroup birmingham parenting prison finance empowerment intergenerationaltrauma community

At just 17, Alicia Douglas found herself nine months pregnant, living in a hostel, and facing the daunting reality that her baby’s father had been sent to prison. Alone and expecting, she began working relentlessly in … Read More

Sunday, March 15, 2026 pension uk statepension retirement pensionage demographics policy ageing finance government

Starting from April, a major change takes effect that will alter when many people can claim their UK state pension. The pension age will no longer be fixed at 66 for everyone turning that age; instead, it will gradually … Read More