Rosie Hamilton

Senior Writer

Rosie Hamilton is a Senior Writer on the MSE Money Features team. She looks after all our content related to benefits, reclaim rights, pensions, work-related rights and childcare.

Before joining MSE in 2021, Rosie was the Head of Communications at an estate agent comparison site. She has degrees from the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Her commentary and writing have been featured on BBC News, the Daily Mail and the LSE Review of Books, among many others. She's appeared as an expert commentator on BBC Hereford & Worcester, West FM and at the University of DeMontfort Business School.

When she's not researching or writing, Rosie likes to spend her spare time hiking and scouring Vinted. She also volunteers for the MSE Charity.

Latest from Rosie Hamilton

If your flight is cancelled, it's important to know you have rights – whether you're reading this at the airport, or it happened weeks ago. You're entitled to a replacement flight or a refund, and potentially up to £520 in compensation on top. Plus, a landmark court ruling has just made it easier for you to claim if your flight was delayed or cancelled due to airline staff sickness. This guide helps you figure out what you might be owed and whether you should make a claim.

17 April 2025

Whether you have a small child or a towering teen, the cost of childcare can be huge. Yet 100,000s of working parents are missing out on £1,000s of help with these costs. There are a range of schemes that can help, but some let you save more than others. Here we run you through all your childcare options and where to start.

14 April 2025

Should I switch to Universal Credit from Tax Credits or Income Support?

More than two million people remain on 'legacy benefits' including Tax Credits and income support. But, by the end of 2025, most will have switched over to the Universal Credit (UC) system – the one-stop-shop benefit that's replacing them – but changes to the UC system mean some will be better off if they switch now.

7 April 2025

The Government's confusingly named 'Tax-Free Childcare' scheme offers up to £2,000 a year per child towards childcare costs – including nurseries, childminders and even some holiday camps. But while 1.3 million families are eligible, around 800,000 aren't currently using this benefit. Read on to find out if you're eligible and how much you could save.

7 April 2025

Personal independence payment (known as PIP) provides non-means-tested help if you're aged 16 to 66 and have a health condition that makes everyday tasks difficult. It can be worth up to £9,500 a year as well as being a gateway to other forms of help – yet PIP often goes unclaimed with 100,000s thought to be missing out. Here's what you need to know.

7 April 2025

The coronavirus pandemic has made many of us realise that serious illness can hit when we least expect it. Having to take time off work can be stressful both emotionally and financially. But there is support available if you're too unwell to work. This guide looks at what you could get in sick pay and how to claim it.

7 April 2025

If you're retired and have income less than £227 a week as an individual, or £346 a week as a couple, you may be due £1,000s a year in Pension Credit. Plus, it then entitles you to a whole raft of other benefits. Yet, up to £1.5 billion of pension credit is unclaimed by up to 800,000 eligible households. Here's how to check if you qualify and how to claim.

7 April 2025

There is a potentially unbeatable opportunity everyone aged 40 to 73(ish) needs to consider. If you're missing national insurance credits, you can buy back up to six years. This can be prove very lucrative, as some are on course to make over £50,000 in boosts to their State Pension by following this guide.

7 April 2025

With the cost of living in the UK rising massively, lots of people are struggling. Luckily there's help available – and it's not just for those out of work. There's support for those earning but still struggling, plus additional help if you've got children, caring responsibilities, or a long-term health condition. Millions of people are missing out on an estimated £23 BILLION in unclaimed benefits, so it's always worth a quick check.

7 April 2025

7 April 2025

Earn more than £60,000 a year, and though you might receive full Child Benefit, you'll later have to pay some of it back via self-assessment – known as the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge. This could seem more hassle than it's worth, but there are important advantages to claiming, including one that can be worth £1,000s in future State Pension payments for your partner (or another relative who helps with childcare).

7 April 2025

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Child Benefit is a monthly payment for anyone with parental responsibilities for children under the age of 16 (or up to 20 in full-time education). It's worth claiming as it can be worth over £20,000 (or more if you've two or more children). We've full detail on how it works, how to claim, and what happens to the Child Benefit payment if you or your partner earn more than £60,000 a year.

7 April 2025

Image shows three young children - all girls - in a brightly lit classroom eating breakfast and lunch items including fruit a sandwich.

If you're on certain benefits, including Universal Credit, your child may be able to get free school meals during term time – as well as free support during the school holidays. This guide covers who's eligible, what you'll get, and how to apply. Crucially, you may need to apply for free school meals every year.

7 April 2025

If you're getting Universal Credit and you're still struggling, there is extra help you can get. Here we list 10 things to look into if you need extra financial help.

4 April 2025

About a million people who qualify for Universal Credit aren't claiming it. On this page we run through who can claim, and some frequently asked questions about who's eligible.

4 April 2025