As QR codes have become more integrated into marketing materials, Britons are being warned to “stay vigilant” against QR phishing schemes. A ‘quishing’ scam occurs when a fraudster replaces a valid QR code with a fake version that takes users to a spoofed site, which allows them to steal any information entered. The number of […]

Around 5.5 million families can expect an income boost in April as the Universal Credit payment rate rises by 6.7 percent. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the plans during November’s Autumn Statement, and the uplift could see some families receive hundreds of pounds more a year. Universal Credit is a benefit distributed by the Department of […]

Some Britons could boost their Universal Credit payments by almost £2,000 each year by carrying out one quick and easy check. When making an application for the state benefit, Britons can opt to make a joint claim with their partner or make two separate claims. The route they pick can heavily affect the amount of Universal […]

Britons are being urged to check if they or someone they know could be eligible to claim the DWP’s Pension Credit benefit. Pension Credit is one of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) most underclaimed benefits and it can be worth up to £3,500 a year. In one of a series of posts on […]

Ministers face a hefty bill to cover the costs of the increase to the state pension and other pensioner benefits, an expert has warned. OBR forecasts show spending on pensioner benefits including the state pension, Pension Credit and the Winter Fuel Payment, could increase to £172.2billion for the 2028/2029 tax year, a 36 percent increase […]

Paragon Bank has re-launched its Double Access Savings account with an interest rate of 5.05 percent, earning an “excellent” Moneyfactscompare.co.uk rating. Savers can launch the account with £1,000 and up to £500,000 can be invested overall. Commenting on the deal, Caitlyn Eastell, a spokesperson at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said: “Paragon Bank has re-launched its Double Access Savings […]

Mortgage lending is set to slump next year, as the number of arrears and repossessions increases, according to a trade association representing the UK banking and finance industry. The outlook for 2024 is one of continuing challenges in the mortgage market, but the main pressures on affordability look to be peaking now, UK Finance said. […]

Many women continued to receive cash through the older state pension system when they were entitled to more via the new state pension, it has been warned by Steve Webb. Sir Steve Webb, a pensions commentator, said the pay-outs are “shocking”. He said: “It is shocking that the Government knows that hundreds of thousands of […]

People on Personal Independence Payments (PIP) could be due £5,000 back pay after a recent rule change by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP is now urging around 284,000 existing claimants to contact them, if they think they may have been affected. In July 2019, the Supreme Court made a decision that […]

TOURISM agency VisitBritain this week forecast strong growth for UK tourism in 2024, predicting spending of £34.1billion by international visitors (up seven per cent on 2023; which is up 20 per cent on 2019). Furthermore, 39.5 million visits are forecast (up 5 per cent on the 37.8 million in 2023) – which is only 3 […]