THE UK’s MoneySavingExpert has warned that 230,000 Brits could be owed thousands in state pension money due to a government IT error.
According to Martin Lewis, women who hit state pension age before April 2016 should urgently check if they are owed money due to a series of government IT errors.
The money guru reports that widows, divorcees and women who rely on their husband’s pension contributions for some of their pension entitlement are mainly affected.
The average payment Brits have received is £6,000 but it could be lower and in some cases even higher, one divorced woman won back a £60,000 lump sum in a huge boost.
Meanwhile, pensioners across the country are awaiting confirmation that the Triple Lock, which guarantees pensions rise with the highest of average earnings, inflation or 2.5%, will continue to apply, as government officials state it would be “unwise” to commit to the scheme prior to the November 17 fiscal statement.
Read our cost of living live blog below for the latest updates…
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Cost of living help payments available from the Government
Here is a list of all the help available for Brits.
- £200 household support fund, which you can apply for on your local council’s website
- £400 energy grant, the discount for energy bills is being paid into bank accounts in instalments
- £650 cost of living payment, one half made in July and the second half in autumn
- £150 disability cost of living payment, automatically paid for those who are eligible
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When will you get the second COL payment?
Brits can expect the second instalment of the Cost of Living payment to arrive in bank accounts as soon as November.
The Department for Work and Pensions announced that the next instalment of the Cost of Living payment will roll out from 9 November onwards.
Those who received the first instalment will soon be paid £324 to help cover the rising cost of living, as inflation soars past 10%.
All Brits should have received their payment by 28 November and those receiving tax credits, will see their instalment arrive between Wednesday 23 and Wednesday 30 November.
If you are eligible for the payment, you do not need to apply, and payments are not taxed.
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Advice for Brits struggling to make ends meet
There is help available, and advice for those who are having a tough time.
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A totally free day out for the kids this Autumn
As costs soar, finding things to do with the kids this half term can be tough.
A good way to spend the day out with the little ones without spending a penny is to go leaf hunting!
As autumn kicks into gear, beautiful fallen leaves can be found everywhere and kids love them.
Challenge your little ones to find different shapes and colours. Then take home a few of their favourites and paint them different colours for an easy indoor activity.
For more free days out click here.
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20 lowest-paid jobs in 2022
It’s been a difficult year for many Brits, as the cost of living soars and bills continue to rise.
Many jobs across the country pay below what is considered a “living wage.”
Here are some of those lower-paid roles.
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Brits looking to downsize their homes as cost of living soars
A new survey has revealed that the amount of Brits looking for a smaller home has increased due to the cost of living crisis.
The Q3 Homes and Property report suggests that there has “been a marked increase in fallen through transactions,” reported the Property Industry Eye.
It is thought that more Brits are looking for smaller homes to save money on energy bills, despite interest rates for mortgages soaring.
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Top 20 highest-paid jobs in 2022
Chief executives, marketing directors and financial managers had a good 2022, according to the latest wage figures.
The UK’s top full-time earners are chief executives and senior officials, who are paid an average salary of £121,434.
Does your job feature?
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Happy Halloween! Cheap spooky hacks
Here are The Sun’s tips for ways to not splash the cash on Halloween parties and activities this year.
- Grab an Aldi pumpkin for as little as 75p
- Pumpkin carving kits retain for £1.20 at Wilko
Click here for more money savers.
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Cheapest Christmas trees to get your hands on this holiday season
Here are a few of the cheapest Christmas trees on the market right now.
- B&Q – 4ft Woodland Full looking green with PVC tips: Price: £11 – buy now
- Dunelm – 6ft Essentials Christmas Tree: Price: £22 – buy now
- Argos – Home 6ft Lapland Christmas Tree Black: Price: £25 – buy now
- Amazon – Classic Artificial Realistic Natural Branches Pine Christmas Tree Xmas Green 7ft: Price: £36.99 – buy now
- Wayfair – Artificial Spruce Christmas Tree: Price: £42.99 – buy now
Check out our full guide for more details on these amazing deals.
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Cost of living help payments available from the Government
Here is a list of all the help available for Brits.
- £200 household support fund, which you can apply for on your local council’s website
- £400 energy grant, the discount for energy bills is being paid into bank accounts in instalments
- £650 cost of living payment, one half made in July and the second half in autumn
- £150 disability cost of living payment, automatically paid for those who are eligible
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230,000 people could be owed thousands, Martin Lewis warns
The MoneySavingExpert has warned that 230,000 Brits could be owed thousands in state pension money.
Women who hit state pension age before April 2016 should urgently check if they are owed money due to a series of government IT errors.
According to the money guru, widows, divorcees and women who rely on their husband’s pension contributions for some of their pension entitlement are mainly affected.
For more details on Martin Lewis’ latest plea, click here.
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You could be owed £369 each month if you suffer from any of these conditions
Attendance allowance provides Brits struggling with certain conditions funds to help with living.
In total, you could get yourself up to £369 per month if you are struggling with illness.
The full list of health conditions that help you qualify for attendance allowance are:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
- Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Trauma to Limbs
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Heart disease
- Chest disease
- Asthma
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Peripheral vascular Disease
- Epilepsy
- Neurological Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinsons Disease
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Metabolic Disease
- Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Learning Difficulties
- Psychosis
- Psychoneurosis
- Personality Disorder
- Dementia
- Behavioural Disorder
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Renal Disorders
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Bowel and Stomach Disease
- Blood Disorders
- Haemophilia
- Multi System Disorders
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Skin Disease
- Malignant Disease
- Severely Mentally impaired
- Double Amputee
- Deaf/Blind
- Haemodialysis
- Frailty
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- AIDS
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – Malaria
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Cognitive disorder – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Terminally ill
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Halloween fiscal statement moved to November 17
The government’s fiscal statement, planned for October 31, has been delayed.
This statement will now be made on November 17, giving the new PM time to look at the nation’s finances.
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Which benefits must rise in line with inflation?
The following nine benefits are legally required to have their payments rise with the previous September’s rate of inflation each April:
Each of the above benefits are expected to rise by 10.1% from April 2023, though the government has yet to confirm that.
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The cost of groceries increases by 17% in a year
According to recent data, the average price of groceries in the UK has soared by 17% in the last year.
Prof Sir Ian Diamond, of the UK Statistics Authority, said the price of most items is “really going up with very, very few things going down.”
Adding: “The squeeze on people who buy low-cost things is hard at the moment.”
Below you can see some of the largest increases in prices, with pasta soaring by a staggering 59.9% since September 2021.
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Families aren’t eating together as costs soar
According to a new report, families aren’t sitting down together for dinner, due to the soaring cost of living.
A poll of 1,050 families who collectively earn below £25,000 a year found they worry about not having enough food at home as often as three times a week.
Lindsay Boswell, FareShare chief executive, said: “The research shows that many families are not eating together due to worries about cost and we know that the rise in the cost of living means more people will be turning to local charities this winter.
“The food we provide does not just alleviate hunger, eating meals together helps people build relationships and tackles issues such as loneliness and mental well-being.
“The money raised by Crockpot will help us to continue to support nearly 9,500 charities providing care and support in their local communities so hopefully fewer families will be worrying about putting food on the table.”
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Interest rates could rise next week
The Bank of England could be set to raise interest rates next week, by 75 basis points to 3%.
This planned hike is meant to encourage people to save, rather than spend, which in theory should help bring rampant inflation under control.
Reports suggest interest rates could hit 5% in a matter of months.
-
Cheapest Christmas trees to get your hands on this holiday season
Here are a few of the cheapest Christmas trees on the market right now.
- B&Q – 4ft Woodland Full looking green with PVC tips: Price: £11 – buy now
- Dunelm – 6ft Essentials Christmas Tree: Price: £22 – buy now
- Argos – Home 6ft Lapland Christmas Tree Black: Price: £25 – buy now
- Amazon – Classic Artificial Realistic Natural Branches Pine Christmas Tree Xmas Green 7ft: Price: £36.99 – buy now
- Wayfair – Artificial Spruce Christmas Tree: Price: £42.99 – buy now
Check out our full guide for more details on these amazing deals.
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Are you eligible for the cold weather payment?
The cold weather payment helps struggling Brits get through periods of extreme cold.
You can get up to £25 for every seven days that temperatures hit below zero.
You are eligible if you claim the following.
Depending on your specific circumstances, you may also need to meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- Have a disability or be in receipt of a pension premium
- Have a child who is disabled
- Be in receipt of child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Have a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Be in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Have a child under five living with you
Regardless of employment, Universal Credit claimants are eligible if they have a disabled child amount in their claim.
You can find out more about eligibility on the government’s website.
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In the boot! Brit makes a killing at car boot sales
Becky Chorlton runs Beckys Bazaar, her regular car boot sale, which has blown up into a popular vintage marketplace.
The 24-year-old trawls through car boot sales and unwanted junk to find some real treasures worth a fair bob.
She discovered a Red Bull biker jacket worth over £250 for just £50.
Sharing her top tips with The Sun, Becky said: “It’s always wise to plan before you go – research key information such as when it opens and join the Facebook group so you can see if it’s been called off due to factors such as weather.
“Don’t forget to bring cash and lots of bags – you need a way to carry all your bargains and reusing old bags is the way forwards!”
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How long will food stay fresh in a power cut?
If the UK experiences power cut this winter, here is what you need to know about avoiding your food from spoiling.
The Food Standards Agency suggests food can stay fresh for up to four hours in a power cut, if kept in the fridge and freezer.
During this time, limit the amount of times you open your fridge and freezer, as this lets in hot air.
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Interest rates could rise next week
The Bank of England could be set to raise interest rates next week, by 75 basis points to 3%.
This planned hike is meant to encourage people to save, rather than spend, which in theory should help bring rampant inflation under control.
Reports suggest interest rates could hit 5% in a matter of months.
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You can claim up to £369 per month for these health conditions (2/2)
Check the list below to see if you are eligible to claim any money every month to go towards disability and illness costs.
- Bowel and Stomach Disease
- Blood Disorders
- Haemophilia
- Multi System Disorders
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Skin Disease
- Malignant Disease
- Severely Mentally impaired
- Double Amputee
- Deaf/Blind
- Haemodialysis
- Frailty
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- AIDS
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – Malaria
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Cognitive disorder – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Terminally ill
- Psychoneurosis
- Personality Disorder
- Dementia
- Behavioural Disorder
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
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You can claim up to £369 per month for these health conditions (1/2)
Check the list below to see if you are eligible to claim any money every month to go towards disability and illness costs.
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
- Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Trauma to Limbs
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Heart disease
- Chest disease
- Asthma
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Peripheral vascular Disease
- Epilepsy
- Neurological Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinsons Disease
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Metabolic Disease
- Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Learning Difficulties
- Psychosis
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Renal Disorders
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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Do first time buyers pay stamp duty?
Are you thinking of buying your first home?
Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng cut stamp duty payments for first time buyers.
The UK has a new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, who has kept this policy, helping first time buyers save thousands on their new home.
