Protect your Pocket

The discovery of a major new internet bug which may have compromised millions of people's usernames and passwords is a reminder of why we all need to protect ourselves online.

Thousands of financial advice firms have been warned they face potential fines or bans after a review by the City watchdog found three-quarters were failing to keep their clients properly informed about charges.

Bailiffs are to be banned from entering homes at night and from using physical force against debtors under new laws coming into effect this weekend.

Pensioners will be able to buy top-ups of as much as £25 in extra state pension per week from autumn next year under Government plans.

Update: 12.01pm, 1 April 2014: It was confirmed to us at midday today (1 April), that this was a foolish policy after all and won't be going ahead. Mr I. M. Fibbing, senior lecturer in architecture at a red brick university, says: "We're relieved that this was just a silly joke."

The Government has confirmed it will introduce a cap on workplace pension charges from April next year, to stop savings being gobbled up by fees.

National insurance is to be simplified for people who are self-employed, Chancellor George Osborne announced in today's Budget.

Pension savers will have the option to gain immediate access to their whole savings pot at non-punitive rates from the age of 55, under a massive overhaul to the pensions system to come into force next year.

The number of people struggling to pay their council tax in England soared last year, according to debt charity StepChange.

The national minimum wage is to increase by 3% – 19p an hour – from October, the first time in six years the rise will be higher than inflation.