Ben Slater

Editor – MSE Weekly Email

Latest from Ben Slater

Gov.uk info misleads bereaved parents into thinking they're entitled to £1,000s in support – MSE calls for urgent clarification

Gov.uk info misleads bereaved parents into thinking they're entitled to £1,000s in support – MSE calls for urgent clarification

Unmarried bereaved parents have been left saddened and confused after claims for financial support were rejected or they got less than they were initially entitled to.

23 August 2023

Martin Lewis: Students in England ‘dealt a blow’ as Government plans to increase maintenance loans by just 2.8% - what you need to know

Martin Lewis: Students in England ‘dealt a blow’ as Government plans to increase maintenance loans by just 2.8% - what you need to know

Struggling students have been “dealt a blow” as loans to help with living costs will fall far short of rising inflation, based on Government plans. From September, English students will see a real term cut to maintenance loans of 8p in the £1 - a shortfall students or parents will have to make up for themselves.

20 January 2023

A-level results warning: putting off uni until next year could cost £10,000s more

A-level results warning: putting off uni until next year could cost £10,000s more

School leavers getting their A-Level results this week should be aware that deferring for a year means they'll be on the new student finance system coming in England in September 2023, and will repay their loan for a much longer period, potentially costing £10,000s more.

16 August 2022

Buying a prepaid funeral plan? You now have more protection after regulator intervenes

Buying a prepaid funeral plan? You now have more protection after regulator intervenes

From today, all prepaid funeral plans in the UK will be policed by the financial regulator – meaning you'll be protected if you buy a plan from an authorised firm and it later goes bust.

29 July 2022

Funeral plan provider Safe Hands has gone into administration – what to do now if you have a prepaid plan with Safe Hands or others

Funeral plan provider Safe Hands has gone into administration – what to do now if you have a prepaid plan with Safe Hands or others

Safe Hands, a prepaid funeral plan provider, has fallen into administration leaving thousands of customers worried about what to do next and concerns growing that other companies will follow suit. Here's what it means for you, as well as information on providers to beware buying plans from presently.

28 July 2022