Universal Credit
Children in Wales in reception, year one and year two to get free school meals by April 2023 - here's all you need to know
All reception year schoolchildren in Wales will start receiving free meals from September this year, with pupils in year one and year two to get free meals by April 2023, the Welsh Government has announced. It's expected that all 200,000 primary school children in Wales will receive free school meals by 2024.
21 June 2022
More than 2.5 million people to be moved onto universal credit from today, leaving 900,000 worse off - here's all you need to know
More than 2.5 million people on legacy benefits will start to be moved over to universal credit from today in an automatic process that was previously halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government's own figures show that the move could leave 900,000 people worse off – though many others will see their circumstances improved. Here's all you need to know.
9 May 2022
Universal credit and other benefits to rise from today - how to check you're not missing out
Millions of people will see a slight increase to their benefit payments starting from this month. Benefits such as universal credit, child benefits and state pension payments will see a rise. Here’s everything you need to know.
11 April 2022
Martin Lewis: Up to 7 million missing out on benefits they're entitled to - are you?
Up to seven million people in the UK are missing out on benefits they're entitled to, according to MSE founder Martin Lewis in the latest episode of his ITV show.
24 January 2022
Autumn Budget 2021: Universal Credit cash boost confirmed for millions of workers but £20 uplift won't return
The taper rate, which is the amount Universal Credit payments are reduced by when you're in work, will fall from 63% to 55%.
27 October 2021
Campaigners call for action to fix 'absurd' universal credit flaws stopping vulnerable people getting help managing benefits
Campaigners have called on the Government to fix "absurd flaws" with the benefits system that prevent vulnerable people from getting help from family and friends to manage their Universal Credit accounts. Without this help, campaigners warn claimants ultimately risk losing their benefits.
26 May 2021
Budget 2021: Universal credit £20/week uplift to continue for a further six months
Universal credit claimants will continue to get a £20/week uplift to their payments for a further six months, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed in his Budget 2021 today.
3 March 2021
Martin Lewis: 'Big cut in universal credit for many self-employed coming on 13 November – contact your MP if hit'
MSE founder Martin Lewis has warned of the "sinkhole" waiting for many self-employed people in November, when the planned return of the universal credit "minimum income floor" rule could slash payments, as they'll be assumed to have more income than they do
27 October 2020
New pension credit rules could cost some with younger partners £7,000 a year
Pensioners who live in a couple will only be able to make a new claim for pension credit when both partners are over the state pension age, under new rules to come into effect in May
15 January 2019
Budget 2018: What you need to know, incl changes to tax, benefits, Premium Bonds & more
Read our full round-up of the Chancellor Philip Hammond's 2018 Budget
30 October 2018
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22 June 2022
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Free lateral flow tests in Wales extended until 31 July for people showing signs of Covid
24 June 2022![]()
Free lateral flow tests in Wales will continue to be available for people showing Covid symptoms up until 30 July. -
Private parking charges to be halved to £50 - here are all the details
24 June 2022![]()
Private car park operators in England, Scotland and Wales will no longer be able to set fines above £50 in the majority of circumstances, under new rules set out by the Government. -
You've got 100 days to use paper £20 and £50 notes before they become unusable - so check your pockets and down the back of sofas now
23 June 2022![]()
Time is running out to check down the back of your sofa for any soon-to-be-discontinued paper £20 and £50 notes. There are only 100 days left before they become invalid but the latest figures from the Bank of England show there are almost £15 billion-worth of notes still around. -
New Government-backed interest-free loan scheme to be rolled out across the UK from September – here’s how it works
23 June 2022![]()
Vulnerable people who have been rejected from borrowing will apply to apply for a one-off no interest loan scheme (NILs) from September. The scheme aims to reach 20,000 struggling to pay off debt, with them being able to borrow anything from £100 to £2,000 – here’s how it’ll work. -
Barclays to shut a further 15 bank branches this year - check if yours is closing and what your options are
23 June 2022![]()
Barclays has announced another round of bank branch closures, with 15 more outlets set to shut by the end of the year. The latest closures mean Barclays will close 55 branches by the end of the year. Below we list the branches disappearing and what the alternatives are if you still want face-to-face banking.
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Martin Lewis: The one thing everyone aged over 66 needs to know
17 June 2022![]()
It is a national tragedy that getting on for a million pensioners, many of whom have been paying into the system for years, are missing out on a critical boost to their income. It's called pension credit, and this year it also means you get an extra £650 to help with energy bills. -
Martin Lewis: What I asked the Chancellor to do when I spoke to him on Monday...
26 May 2022![]()
With the announcement of the Government's energy cost of living plans due out at lunchtime. I thought I'd speedily bash out a note down of what (from memory) I'd asked the Chancellor for when we spoke on Monday - and the other general suggestions I've been making. -
Martin Lewis: Got a cash ISA? You should probably ditch it
24 May 2022![]()
Press the rewind button and go way back to April 2015... Possibly on the telly in the corner of your living room, I was on-air at the time urging savers as usual to use their new tax-free cash ISA allowance – because 'money was nicer in an ISA'. But things changed in 2016. -
Martin Lewis: 'UO is just as important as UX: A tip for anyone developing their website or app'
6 May 2022![]()
I set up MoneySavingExpert.com nearly 20 years ago – when arguably the modern web was still in its infancy. With an abundance of self-belief (something I had too much of then, as I realise now) I decided not to read any books, or follow prevailing wisdom on how a site should operate – and just do it my way.
Clever ways to calculate your finances
