April 2020

More than 1.6 million mortgage customers have applied for a mortgage payment holiday since the coronavirus crisis started, yet while the vast majority are being told their monthly payments will increase by less than £50 once they start repaying again, we've seen a few examples of people being told their payments would double, triple or even quadruple.

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live. It's an anxious and upsetting time, especially as it's now been more than a year-and-a-half since the crisis began. This guide looks at which benefits you may be able to claim – with many available alongside other Government support. You can also check the benefits you're entitled to by using our 10-minute Benefits Calculator. 

After a year and a half the furlough scheme – where employees could receive up to 80% of their wage subsidised by state funds if they couldn't work because of the pandemic or lockdown – has now closed. For your reference, we've kept information in this guide about how furlough worked whilst it was running. The guide also sets out what help is STILL available for employees, such as statutory sick pay and working-from-home tax support.

Applications for the fifth and final self-employment income support scheme (SEISS) grant have now CLOSED, marking the end of this particular Government scheme. For your reference, we've kept information in this guide about how SEISS worked. The guide also briefly runs through the measures still available if you're self-employed and continuing to struggle because of coronavirus.

Hundreds of angry customers have hit out at airport parking site Holiday Extras after it changed its usual refund policy and sent them vouchers rather than refunds for cancelled bookings.

The competition watchdog has launched an investigation into complaints that some firms are failing to  refund customers for cancellations due to coronavirus, and it's threatened to take legal action to enforce consumers' rights if needed. The watchdog says as a general rule firms MUST offer cash refunds for cancellations, and you can report firms that don't – watch Martin's interview with one of its bosses below.

Angry Ryanair passengers have complained they're going "round in circles" trying to claim cash back from the budget airline for cancelled flights – having already requested refunds and been sent vouchers instead. But some have had success by claiming from their card provider, while others have found live chat the most effective way to get a response from Ryanair. If you're stuck, here's what to try...

One in seven UK mortgages is now subject to a payment holiday, after 1.6 million mortgage breaks were offered to customers who have been impacted by Covid-19.

Major travel insurers including Axa, Churchill and Direct Line are now offering pro-rata refunds to customers who've ruled out travelling due to coronavirus and want to cancel their policy. But you'll need to request a refund to get one – and should only do this if you're certain you no longer need the cover.

The competition watchdog has received almost 21,000 complaints linked to coronavirus since early March and 80% of those it's now getting are about cancellations and refunds, with concerns that travel firms are making refunds hard to claim and pressuring customers to accept vouchers instead.