Money
Money in Britain: what banks require to open an account, how transfers and fees work, credit and debt, benefits, and where saving actually pays.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods: family payments in Scotland
Scotland pays families with young children three one‑off grants and separate food support. Here are the amounts and ages for 2026.
Scottish Child Payment: a weekly payment for families in Scotland
Scotland has a separate payment for children that the rest of the UK does not. Here are the amount, the ages covered and how to claim.
How to challenge your council tax band without it backfiring
If your housing tax looks too high, you can challenge the band. But there is a risk: it can go up as well as down. Here is when and how to do it.
Prepayment meters: when a supplier cannot force one on you
The over-75s, families with children under 2 and the seriously ill cannot be forced onto prepayment. What a supplier must do, under Ofgem's rules.
Child Trust Funds in the UK: government to ease access to savings for young disabled people
On 3 November 2026 the UK government said it will make it easier to access Child Trust Fund savings for young disabled people. At present their families have to go through a court.
Bank of England raises Bank Rate to 4%: what borrowers and businesses should check
The Bank of England raised Bank Rate from 3.75% to 4% by an 8–1 vote. Businesses should review variable-rate borrowing and the cost of new finance.
A default pension for private sector workers: what is changing
The government wants to give private sector workers a ready-made pension and new collective schemes. Here is what changes and when.
UK pension reform: government proposes a 'default pension' for 17 million workers
On 3 November 2026 the UK government proposed reforming private pensions: schemes would have to offer a 'default pension' — a lifelong income rather than just a savings pot. Here is what it means.
Child Trust Funds: easier access to savings for tens of thousands
Parents will be able to reach a child's savings directly, without court. Who is affected, how much, and when it starts.
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Pension annual allowance in the UK: how much you can save each year with tax relief
In the UK you can pay into a pension with tax relief up to a yearly cap — the annual allowance. This tax year it is £60,000. Here is who it affects and what happens if you exceed it.
Warm Home Discount 2026: £150 off your electricity bill in winter
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 off your electricity bill for low-income households and people on certain benefits. In most cases it is applied automatically, with no need to apply.
Council Tax Reduction 2026: how to cut your council tax by up to 100%
Council Tax Reduction (also called Council Tax Support) helps people on a low income cut their council tax — by up to 100%. Schemes are run by local councils, and the terms vary by area.
Lifetime ISA in 2026: the state adds 25% towards a first home or retirement
A Lifetime ISA lets you save towards a first home or retirement, with the state adding 25% on top — up to £1,000 a year. You can pay in up to £4,000 annually. Here are the rules and limits.
Cold Weather Payment for winter 2026 to 2027: £25 for each week of severe cold
The Cold Weather Payment is an automatic £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather. The season runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 and covers people on certain benefits.
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Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2026 to 2027: who gets up to £300 for heating
The Winter Fuel Payment is a heating payment for people over State Pension age. For winter 2026 to 2027 it is £100 to £300, but if your income is over £35,000, HMRC will take it back through tax.
Help to Save in 2026: the state adds 50% to savings for people on a low income
Help to Save is a government savings account for people on a low income: for every pound you put away, the state adds 50 pence. You can save up to £50 a month over four years.
Carrying £10,000 across the border: when you must declare cash
Carry £10,000 or more and you must declare it, or risk seizure and a fine. Threshold, deadlines and a £5,000 penalty.
Attendance Allowance in 2026: up to £114.60 a week for older people needing care
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested payment for people over State Pension age who need help because of illness or disability. The rates are £76.70 or £114.60 a week.
Carer’s Allowance in 2026: £86.45 a week for looking after someone
If you care unpaid for a sick or elderly relative for at least 35 hours a week, the state may pay you £86.45 a week. Here is who qualifies for Carer’s Allowance and how to keep it.
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CIS for builders: 20% and 30% deductions and how to avoid overpaying
The Construction Industry Scheme takes tax straight from builders' pay. Who is a contractor and who is a subcontractor, why unregistered workers lose 30% not 20%, and how to be paid without deductions.
Student council tax in England: when you pay nothing
Full-time students often pay no council tax at all, and working adults living with them pay less. Who is disregarded, the hours thresholds and how to claim.
Small business rate relief: up to 100% off in England
A small shop, office or workshop in England can often pay no business rates at all. Here is how Small Business Rate Relief works: who qualifies, how the threshold tapers and how to apply.
Basic bank account: who it is for and how to open one fee-free
If you cannot open a standard current account, the UK offers a basic account with no fees and no overdraft. Here is who can get one and what it does.
WaterSure: who gets a capped water bill, and the 2027 change
If you are on a meter and use a lot of water because of children or illness, your bill can be capped at the regional average. Here are the WaterSure rules now and the 2027 reform that widens the scheme.
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Train delay and cancellation refunds 2026: Delay Repay
A delay of 15 minutes or more pays back part of your fare, a cancellation the full price with no fee. We explain the Delay Repay thresholds and deadlines.
Train season ticket refund 2026: how much you get back
The refund is not pro-rata but the price minus the period used; the admin fee is up to £10. The earlier you hand it back, the more you get.
How to get an Oyster card refund 2026: balance and deposit
A balance up to £10 is refunded at a machine, more via your online account. The £5 deposit applies only to cards from before February 2020.
London Hopper fare 2026: bus changes on a single payment
For £1.75, make as many bus and tram changes as you like within an hour. We explain the Hopper rules for 2026.
Travelcard or fare cap in London 2026: which is better value
The weekly cap matches the Travelcard price, but the details decide which to choose. We compare prices and terms.
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London transport fare caps 2026: how the daily and weekly cap work
Contactless and Oyster stop charging you once you hit a daily or weekly limit — here are the 2026 figures and the rules.
Voluntary National Insurance: how to fill gaps and boost your pension
The full new State Pension needs 35 qualifying years. If your National Insurance record has gaps, you can sometimes fill them with voluntary contributions — here are the 2026/27 rates, deadlines and pitfalls.
Household Support Fund: help with food and bills via your council
The Household Support Fund is government money that local councils in England give to people in need for food, energy and essentials. £742 million is allocated for the period up to 31 March 2026.
Migration Notice: moving to Universal Credit from older benefits
If you get older benefits and receive a Migration Notice letter, you must claim Universal Credit yourself by the deadline in the letter — or your payments stop.
Deferring the UK State Pension: how it grows
If you do not take the State Pension straight away, it grows: the new State Pension rises by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer — just under 5.8% for a full year. Deferral happens automatically.
Pension Wise: a free pension guidance appointment for over-50s
Pension Wise is a free, government-backed service for people aged 50+ with a defined contribution pension. It explains your options for your pension pot and warns about scams.
Discretionary Housing Payment: extra housing help from the council
A Discretionary Housing Payment is extra help with housing costs from your local council for people whose Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element does not cover the rent.
Support for Mortgage Interest: help with your mortgage — but it is a loan
Support for Mortgage Interest helps people on certain benefits pay the interest on their mortgage. But it is not a payment — it is a loan at 3.66% a year, repaid when you sell your home.
How to claim the UK State Pension: it is not paid automatically
The UK new State Pension is up to £241.30 a week, but it is not paid automatically: you must claim it. The full rate needs about 35 qualifying National Insurance years.
Autumn Budget 2026: £100 Household Energy Payment — who gets it and when
From January 2027 up to 20 million households in England will get £100 towards their energy bills — but only in certain council tax bands. Here is who qualifies, how to get it, and why only your council will contact you.
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Guardian's Allowance: a payment for raising a child whose parents died
Guardian's Allowance is £22.95 a week for someone raising a child whose parents have died. It is paid on top of Child Benefit and is tax-free.
Property allowance: £1,000 of tax-free property income
The property allowance lets you earn up to £1,000 a year from property tax-free. If the income is £1,000 or less, you usually do not even need to tell HMRC.
Pension Wise: free pension guidance in the UK explained
Pension Wise is a free, government-backed service that explains how to take money from your pension pot. Here is who it is for, what an appointment covers and how to book.
Premium Bonds from NS&I: rate, odds and limits in 2026
Premium Bonds are government savings bonds that pay no interest but enter you into a monthly draw for tax-free prizes. Here are the prize fund rate, the odds and the limits, from NS&I and MoneyHelper.
Personal Savings Allowance: tax on your savings interest
The Personal Savings Allowance gives up to £1,000 of interest tax-free. We explain the band limits, the starting rate for savings and HMRC's role via GOV.UK.
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How to check your State Pension age in the UK
The government offers a free online tool that shows your State Pension age, your Pension Credit qualifying age and when free bus travel starts. Here is how to use it and what else to know.
National Insurance credits: who can fill gaps in their record
National Insurance credits help protect your right to the State Pension during periods of illness, unemployment or caring. Here is who gets them automatically and who must apply.
Free Wi-Fi in the UK: where to get online for free
You can get online in Britain for free even without your own plan: free Wi-Fi is available in libraries, cafes, stations and shopping centres. Where to find free internet and how to do it safely.
Free samples in the UK: where to get them and the catch
Free samples of cosmetics, food and products in Britain are no myth: brands give them out so you try and then buy. But some 'free' offers hide a postage fee or a subscription. Where to get freebies safely and how to avoid the trap.
Library of Things: borrow tools and gadgets instead of buying
Why buy a drill or a pressure washer for a couple of hours' work when you can rent one for a small fee? Britain's Library of Things lets you borrow tools and gadgets for a day or two and return them. How it works and where to find it.
End-of-day food for next to nothing: Too Good To Go and Olio
In Britain, food that shops and cafes did not sell can be had for next to nothing — or even free. Too Good To Go sells Surprise Bags at half price or less, while Olio gives surplus away to neighbours for free. Where to find the deals.
Pension Credit: the pensioner top-up hundreds of thousands miss
Pension Credit tops a pensioner's income up to £238 a week if single and £363.25 for a couple — and unlocks a free TV licence, discounts and NHS help.
Carer's Credit: how caring for someone need not shrink your future pension
If you care for someone at least 20 hours a week, Carer's Credit fills the gaps in your National Insurance record — so years of caring do not cut your future State Pension. It is not a payment but a credit.
Child Trust Fund: how to find a child's account and claim the money at 18
Children born in the UK between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011 have a Child Trust Fund. Many have forgotten it, yet the money is now available — and you can find the account free through HMRC.
ISAs in the UK: £20,000 tax-free a year and the 25% Lifetime ISA bonus
An Individual Savings Account lets you save and invest free of tax on interest and gains — up to £20,000 a year. A separate type, the Lifetime ISA, adds a 25% government bonus toward a first home or later life.
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Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: up to £233.90 a week for a work injury
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is paid to people injured or made ill at work. The amount depends on your assessed level of disablement — from £46.78 at 20% to £233.90 a week at 100%.
Free childcare in England: up to 30 hours a week for working parents
Working parents in England can get up to 30 hours of free childcare a week for children from 9 months to school age. Here is who qualifies on income and how to apply.
Parents' Learning Allowance: up to £2,024 a year for students with children
Full-time students with children in England can get the Parents' Learning Allowance — £50 to £2,024 a year towards study-related costs. It does not have to be repaid and does not reduce your benefits.
Care to Learn: up to £195 a week for childcare for young parents
Young parents under 20 who stay in school or college can have their childcare paid by Care to Learn — up to £180 a week outside London and £195 in London.
Advanced Learner Loan: adult study funding with no income or credit check
Adults studying courses at colleges in England can get an Advanced Learner Loan. It doesn't depend on income or a credit check, and you only repay it once you earn over a threshold — like a student loan.
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16 to 19 Bursary Fund: up to £1,200 a year for college students in England
Students aged 16–19 in colleges and training in England can get help with travel, meals, books and equipment. The most vulnerable can get up to £1,200 a year; others get a bursary decided by the college.
Childcare Grant: up to £199.62 a week for students with children
Full-time students with children in England can get the Childcare Grant — up to £199.62 a week for one child. It does not have to be repaid and is paid on top of normal student finance.
Disabled Students' Allowance: a grant up to £27,783 you don't repay
Students with a disability, long-term or mental health condition can get DSA — up to £27,783 a year for equipment, helpers and travel. It is not means-tested and you do not repay it.
Sure Start Maternity Grant: £500 for your first baby you don't repay
Families on certain benefits can get a one-off £500 payment for their first baby. You don't repay it and it doesn't affect other benefits. Claim from 11 weeks before the birth to 6 months after.
Breathing Space: 60 days of respite from debts and creditors
The Debt Respite Scheme in England and Wales freezes interest, charges and creditor contact for 60 days while you find a way through. You can only apply through a free debt adviser.
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What is free on your birthday in the UK: food, drinks and treats
On your birthday in Britain you can eat and drink coffee for free — dozens of cafes, restaurants and shops give a treat if you sign up to their app. Who gives what, and how not to miss out (spoiler: sign up in advance).
Do marketplace warehouses give goods away free? The truth about unclaimed parcels
Social media promises free goods from marketplace warehouses and unclaimed parcels for nothing. Where is the myth, where is the scam, and what can you really get cheaply or free.
Where to get free clothes in the UK: the ways that actually work
Shops rarely hand unsold clothes straight to shoppers. But you really can get clothes for free in Britain — through clothing banks, baby banks, school-uniform help, Smart Works and sharing apps.
Where to get free food in the UK: food banks and how to get help
Food banks in Britain give out free food parcels to last a few days, but almost always by referral (a voucher). Who can get one, what is in the parcel and how to find your nearest food bank.
Married Couple's Allowance: a tax cut for older couples in 2026
If one of you was born before 6 April 1935, your couple can cut its tax bill by up to £1,127 a year. It is not the same as Marriage Allowance.
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Where to get a free SIM card in the UK: data, calls and texts
Britain runs the National Databank — free SIM cards with data, calls and texts for people who cannot afford to stay connected. Who qualifies, how much data you get and where to collect one.
Blind Person's Allowance: £3,250 tax-free in 2026/27
If you are registered as blind or severely sight impaired, the government adds £3,250 a year to your tax-free income. Here is who qualifies, what it is worth and how to claim.
Access to cash in the UK: how to request an ATM or banking hub after a branch closes
Banks are closing branches, but under FCA rules it should stay possible to pay in and take out cash near home. Here is how to request a review through LINK and get an ATM or banking hub.
Smart meters in the UK: free, what they do and whether you must have one
Smart energy meters in the UK are installed free and send readings automatically. Here is what they do and whether you can say no.
How to check your State Pension forecast in the UK and fill the gaps
The full new State Pension in the UK is £241.30 a week and needs 35 qualifying years. Here is how to check your forecast and find gaps in your NI record.
Cycle to Work: how to get a cheaper bike through your employer in the UK
The Cycle to Work scheme lets you get a bike and kit out of pre-tax salary. Here is how it works and what the conditions are.
Grandparents’ childcare credit: protect your pension for minding grandchildren
Specified Adult Childcare credits are free pension credits for relatives who look after a child under 12 while the parent works. Here are the conditions.
New Style ESA 2026: sickness and disability benefit — rates and stages
New Style Employment and Support Allowance supports people who cannot work because of illness or disability. Here are the rates, the 13-week assessment and the two groups.
New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance: how much and who qualifies in 2026
New Style JSA is an unemployment benefit based on your National Insurance record, not your savings. Here are the rates, the duration and the conditions.
Unit pricing on shelf labels: what changed and how not to overpay
Since 6 April 2026 a unit price must be shown for loyalty-card prices and promotions too, and labels priced per 100g are no longer a lawful form. Here is where unit prices may lawfully be missing, and why the bigger pack is not always cheaper.
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A shop does not have to take your banknote — and that is the law
"But it's legal tender" is the line that does not work at a British till. Here is what legal tender actually means, why Scottish notes are not legal tender even in Scotland, what to do with a torn note, and where old paper pounds still go.
Child Benefit in the UK: how much you get per child in 2026
Child Benefit is a payment for children that almost every family in the UK can claim. The rate is higher for the eldest child and lower for the rest. Here are the amounts and when a high income means paying some back through tax.
PIP disability payment in the UK: the amounts and how it is made up
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability. It has two parts and you can get one or both. Here are the current weekly amounts and how it is paid.
Cannot pay your tax bill: how to set up an HMRC payment plan and what it checks
A payment plan for tax debt can often be set up online. What you need to apply, what HMRC will ask, why savings come into it, what companies must do first, and where a Budget Payment Plan fits.
How to challenge an HMRC penalty or decision: 30 days, reasonable excuses and review without a tribunal
You have 30 days from the decision letter to appeal. What the appeal must say, which excuses HMRC accepts and which it does not, how a review works, and whether you can hold off paying while it runs.
Gift Aid: how one tick adds a quarter for the charity — and when it becomes your debt
A charity claims 25p for every £1 you give, and higher-rate taxpayers can claim part of it back. But the four-times-your-tax rule means HMRC can ask you for the difference.
Inheritance Tax in the UK: the £325,000 threshold, the 40% rate and the seven-year rule
The 40% rate applies only above the £325,000 threshold, and leaving a home to children can lift it to £500,000. How the seven-year rule works on gifts, which gifts are exempt, and the payment deadline.
Debt collectors: what they can and cannot do
A debt does not remove your rights: intimidating or pressuring a debtor is against the law. We explain what collectors cannot do, what they can, and where to complain.
Commuting vs renting closer: what's really cheaper
It feels like commuting from the suburbs costs as much as renting closer. The figures (TfL and ONS) say otherwise: commuting is cheaper on money; moving closer saves time, not money.
Which travel pass to buy for commuting into the City
For a daily commute into the City the right pass saves hundreds a year. We compare contactless, monthly and annual Travelcards for Zones 1–6 and say which to choose.
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How to save on groceries in London and which shops to avoid
Where to buy basics cheaper, how to compare price per kilo and why a big shop at convenience stores and minimarkets costs you more.
Bought a fake? You can get your money back
Selling fakes of a known brand is a crime, and a buyer of a counterfeit can get their money back. We explain the law, how to spot a fake and where to report it.
Find your forgotten pension
Around three million UK pension pots worth £18.7 billion are classed as lost. Here is how to trace a scheme from an old job for free and why finding a pot does not mean you should transfer it immediately.
Who draws the most complaints?
Ofcom has named the providers that attracted the most complaints from April to June 2026. Here is how broadband, mobile and pay TV providers compare — and how to escalate a dispute for free after six weeks.
Where to complain about benefits
If a benefits service caused excessive delay, failed to follow procedure or treated you poorly, you may be able to take the complaint to the Independent Case Examiner after receiving the organisation's final response. The normal deadline is six months.
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A guarantee does not cancel your legal rights
A manufacturer's guarantee is enforceable and sits on top of your statutory rights, not instead of them. We explain the difference and who to claim from when goods fail.
How to cancel a recurring card payment
Recurring card payments can be stopped without the company's agreement — just tell your bank. We explain the law, how to cancel and what to do if money is still taken.
An unfair contract term does not bind you
An unfair term in a consumer contract is not binding on you — even if you signed. We explain when a term is unfair and what to do about it.
You can stop marketing calls
Nuisance marketing is not fraud, but you have a clear right to end it. We explain the free opt-out register, the 28-day rule and consent for texts.
Could that call be a trap?
About 366,000 phone numbers were exposed to potential misuse. Here is why a familiar-looking UK number proves nothing and how to report a suspicious call free of charge.
ONLYWAY NEWSLIVEJobs & Business · 06.11'Say what you pay': salaries may become compulsory in job advertsLaw · 06.11Buying online: 14 days to cancel and get a refundTravel · 06.11Urgent UK passport: the Premium and Fast Track servicesHousing · 06.11Dropped kerbs in the UK: how to get a legal vehicle crossoverLife · 06.11Free NHS sight tests: who qualifies and what about glassesLife · 06.11NHS Low Income Scheme: help with health costs on a low incomeImmigration · 06.11UK settlement: which years will count, and which will notJobs & Business · 06.11UK government plans to require pay information in job advertsMoney · 06.11Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods: family payments in ScotlandMoney · 06.11Scottish Child Payment: a weekly payment for families in ScotlandONLYWAY NEWS · appInstall the ONLYWAY NEWS appFresh UK news, classifieds, key dates and exchange rates on your home screen, one tap away. Free.NewsClassifiedsCalendarRates
A lost or late parcel: the seller is responsible, not you
Ordered online and the parcel is lost in transit or didn't arrive on time? By law you deal with the seller — and it is the seller who is responsible for the loss.
An error in your credit file: how to check for free and fix it
Your credit file affects renting, a mortgage, a phone contract. You can check it for free, and the law lets you correct errors.
Check your lender now
Six lending companies face restrictions on new business and, in some cases, receiving payments. Here are the names, dates and practical checks for existing customers.
Buying privately or from a shop: why your rights differ
Bought a used car or furniture and it turned out faulty? What you are owed depends on who you bought from — a business or a private individual.
A faulty game, app or film: what your rights are
Paid-for content — games, apps, e-books, films, in-app purchases — is also protected by consumer law. If it doesn't work as it should, you have remedies.
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Foreign income without UK tax
Qualifying new UK tax residents can shelter eligible overseas income and gains for up to four years. A claim also removes the £12,570 Personal Allowance, so compare both tax calculations first.
£303.94 for a third child
The two-child limit has ended. Families in England, Scotland and Wales can now receive a Universal Credit child element for every child — check whether a third child appears in your statement.
Pay HMRC by Friday
An employer's November payment must reach HMRC by Friday 20 November because the usual 22 November deadline falls on a Sunday. Here is who must pay, which payroll period it covers and which payment methods should arrive in time.
Are you missing £4,700?
Up to 2.6 million working-age families did not receive support they were entitled to, worth about £4,700 a year on average. It is the first new government estimate for this group in nine years. Here is what was counted and how to check for free.
How did investors lose £4m?
Investors put in £105,000 on average and one person handed over £1.1 million. The firm had regulatory authorisation, but the bonds themselves carried little protection. Here is the central trap and what to check before transferring money.
Complaining about a bank in the UK: 8 weeks for the firm, 6 months for you
The Financial Ombudsman Service handles disputes with banks and insurers free of charge, but only in time. The firm gets up to 8 weeks to respond (15 days for fraud and payments); you get 6 months from the date of the final response. The outer frame: 6 years from the event, or 3 years from when you realised.
Water meter: free to fit, three months to install — and you can change your mind
Installation is free and the deadline is three months from your application. You can switch back: Citizens Advice says 12 months, CCW says 24. If a meter cannot be fitted, you are owed an assessed charge.
A back bill for energy: the 12-month rule and when you need not pay
A supplier cannot make you pay for energy used more than 12 months ago if there was no accurate bill for that period or the direct debit was set too low. The Ofgem rule, its three conditions, the one exception, and what to do if the bill has already arrived.
Broadband down for a week: what the provider must pay you automatically
£10.34 a day without service, £32.31 for a missed engineer appointment, £6.46 a day for a delayed start. Paid automatically as a bill credit within 30 days.
Savings now protected up to £120,000: how FSCS works and why to check a firm with the FCA
Many still think the limit is £85,000. In fact the deposit limit has risen to £120,000. Here's what FSCS covers and how to check a firm is genuine.
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Student Finance England 2026/27: how much you get, who qualifies and what you repay
A Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 and a Maintenance Loan of up to £14,135 in London — but only for those with settled status and three years of residence. What the figures are for 2026/27, why the loan shrinks because of parents' income, and what 9% above £25,000 actually costs.
Movers damaged or lost your things: your rights
Hired a firm to move your home and your things were damaged or lost? By law, every service carries a built-in quality standard — and remedies if it's breached.
Buying gold or silver in Britain: what a hallmark is and how to check it
In the UK an item cannot be sold as gold, silver, platinum or palladium without an official hallmark. Here's what a hallmark contains and when it is required.
Bought online and changed your mind: your 14-day right to cancel
If you bought online, by phone or by catalogue, you usually have 14 days to cancel the order — even if the item is fine and simply didn't suit. It's a separate right, with clear rules and exceptions.
RTS meters are being switched off: how to tell if you have one, and what happens to your heating
The radio signal that flipped old meters between day and night rates is being withdrawn area by area. Fewer than 154,000 of these meters were left in January 2026
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A high-rate regular saver: why your deposits earn about half the headline
Banks advertise regular saver accounts at tempting rates — 6, 7, sometimes 8% a year. But at the end of the year people are often surprised: the interest is noticeably less than they expected from that rate on all their deposits. It is not a trick — the interest simply is not calculated on the whole sum at once. Here is the plain explanation.
Quote or estimate: why a tradesperson's figure can rise — or must not
You hire someone for home work and they give you a figure. But one word decides whether it can go up later. A quote is a firm, binding price: agree it and that is what you pay. An estimate is only a rough guess that can change. Here is the difference, what the law says, and how to avoid a bill twice what you were promised.
NS&I: Guaranteed Growth Bonds or Income Bonds — the difference and which to pick
NS&I is the UK's government-backed savings bank, and money held there is 100% secure through HM Treasury, not just up to £85,000. Two of its popular products, Guaranteed Growth Bonds and Guaranteed Income Bonds, have almost identical names but work differently: one builds up interest inside the bond, the other pays it out to you every month. Here is who each suits.
Scammed into a bank transfer: when the bank must refund you, and how much — up to £85,000
Since 7 October 2024 the UK has a strict rule: if you were tricked into transferring money to a fraudster, the bank must give it back — up to £85,000 per claim, within five business days. It is called APP reimbursement. Here is who the rule protects, the deadline to claim, what it covers and when the bank can refuse.
The Priority Services Register: who qualifies for free extra help from energy and water companies
A free list you can join because of your age, a health condition, a pregnancy — or simply because English is hard. It buys priority in an emergency, a password against doorstep scammers and bills in large print. You have to join in two places at once.
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Handing back a car on finance in the UK: your right under section 99 and the half rule
If car finance payments have become too much, the law lets you hand the car back and end the agreement early — voluntary termination. Under section 99 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 you can end a hire purchase or PCP agreement any time before the last payment. Under section 100 you pay no more than it takes to bring what you have paid up to half the total price. Here is who qualifies, how the half is worked out and what it does not cover.
Charging an EV at home: from 21 October no permission and up to £300 saved
From 21 October England has scrapped planning permission for a cross-pavement charging cable — a saving of around £300. Who it affects, how much home charging really saves, and what is still only being consulted on.
Universal Credit: what you get, and why earning cuts it by 55p
A standard allowance of £338.58 to £666.97 a month, £303.94 per child, up to 85% of childcare. Every pound earned cuts the payment by 55p — but a work allowance of £427 or £710 comes first.
Contactless on iPhone: the CMA moves to open the NFC chip to rivals
The CMA is consulting on a requirement for Apple to open its contactless chip to other businesses and to charge substantially less for access. The consultation closes on 17 November 2026.
Student loans: five plans, five thresholds and 9% of everything above
What comes out of your pay depends on your income alone, never on the size of the debt. The thresholds are £26,900 a year on Plan 1, £29,385 on Plan 2, £33,795 on Plan 4, £25,000 on Plan 5 and £21,000 on a Postgraduate Loan. You repay 9% above the threshold, or 6% on a Postgraduate Loan.
Second homes and empty properties: when Council Tax doubles or quadruples
A council can charge up to twice the normal Council Tax on a furnished home nobody lives in, and up to four times on one empty for ten years. The exceptions are few, and some of them last only 12 months.
Tax relief on uniforms and tools: £60 by default, £1,022 for pilots
HMRC gives back part of what you spend cleaning, repairing and replacing a uniform and small tools. Not as a payment but as less tax: £60 at a 20% rate is worth £12 a year. You can claim for the current tax year and the four before it.
Council Tax Reduction: how to cut your bill when money is tight
The average Band D bill in England for 2026–27 is £2,392. Every council must run a reduction scheme for households in financial need, but it is only granted on application. Here is how much you can save, what to send and what to do if you are refused.
UK interest-free government loans: £100 to £812
A washing machine, a move, a rent deposit or a funeral can be covered by an interest-free loan from the state. Who gets a Budgeting Loan, who gets a Budgeting Advance, how much, and what the money cannot be spent on.
Broadband social tariffs: £10 a month if you are on benefits
Tariffs from £10 to £24 for people on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA, JSA and Income Support. Switching is free even mid-contract. Ofcom found 5.1% of eligible households were using one as of February 2023.
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Council Tax discounts: who pays 25% or 50% less and how to claim
Council Tax is charged on the property, not the people — yet the number of adults in a home can halve the bill. Here is who qualifies for 25% and 50%, the ten categories the council does not count as adults, why an empty flat can cost four times the normal rate, and the deadlines for appealing.
UK mobile plans compared: where £8 buys what £25 does
SIM-only prices as of 19 October 2026: SMARTY, giffgaff, VOXI and 1pMobile all run on the big four's masts. Plus switching by one text, £10 social tariffs and what the networks give away.
Refunds in the UK: 14 days online, less in a shop
An online purchase can be returned with no reason given: 14 days to cancel, 14 more to send it back, 14 for the refund. In a shop that right does not exist. And when a fault appears, the first six months decide who has to prove what.
Carer's Credit: 20 hours of care a week that protect your State Pension record
The National Insurance credit pays nothing, but it fills the gaps in the record behind a £241.30-a-week State Pension. You need 20 hours of caring a week and to be 16 or over.
Tax-Free Childcare: how to get £2,000 a year towards childcare
For every £8 you pay in the government adds £2 — up to £500 per child every three months. The earnings floors, the £100,000 ceiling, the Universal Credit clash and the three-month reconfirmation.
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Debt Relief Order: up to £50,000 written off in 12 months, with no fee
Payments and interest freeze for a year, then the debt is written off, and there is no fee. But you must meet six conditions at once: under £50,000 owed, under £75 a month spare income, assets under £2,000 and no property of your own.
Section 75 and chargeback: how to get your money back in the UK
Pay by credit card and the bank answers for the trader: purchases above £100 and up to £30,000 are covered by section 75, and only part of the price needs to go on the card. Here is how chargeback differs from Section 75, how long the bank gets, and why you have exactly six months to reach the ombudsman.
DLA for children: rates from £30.30 to £194.60 and the three-month rule
The award is built from two components: care at £30.30, £76.70 or £114.60 a week, mobility at £30.30 or £80. The higher mobility rate starts at 3, the lower at 5, and DLA cannot be backdated.
Switching banks in 7 days: how the service works
The Current Account Switch Service moves a current account in 7 working days: Direct Debits, standing orders and salary are moved for you, and payments to the old account are redirected. It is free, and charges caused by an error are refunded.
EV chargepoint grants: £500 and a 2027 deadline
Renters and flat owners get 75% of the cost of installing a charging socket, up to £500. A separate scheme covers households with only on-street parking. Employers and landlords are funded too. All of it runs to 31 March 2027.
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Gold in 2026: £3,138 an ounce, 23% below the January peak, and why a bar is not an account
An ounce of gold is up more than fifteenfold since the end of 2000, yet it has lost 0.96% over the past twelve months and sits about 23% below January's record $5,405. The figures, the difference between a bar and an unallocated account, the UK tax rules, and the honest weaknesses of deposits, property and crypto.
UK trade marks: £205 a class, three months, and two months to oppose
Registering a mark at the IPO starts at £205 for one class and £60 for each one after. Examination takes two weeks, opposition runs for two months after publication, registration lasts ten years and renewal costs £245.
How to challenge your council tax band: six months, five comparables and a four-month wait
The letter on your bill reflects what the property was worth on 1 April 1991. Challenging is free, but a proposal takes up to 4 months and can be appealed, while a band review takes up to 12 and cannot.
Your bill went up mid-contract: when you can walk away without a penalty
Since 17 January 2025 a price rise must be set out in pounds and pence up front. If the provider breaks that rule, you have 30 days to leave with no exit fee.
Attendance Allowance: £76.70 or £114.60 a week and six months of needing care
A care payment for people of State Pension age. Income and savings are not counted, but you must have needed help for at least six months.
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UK food prices: the basket, the pint and the fish supper
Food inflation is 1.3%, a five-year low, but nothing got cheaper. A single adult's weekly food budget is £79.71, a pint £5.34, a fish supper £11.17. And why the official pint series stopped in January 2025.
£50,000 a day: how London's richest residents spend their money
The average British household spends £676.60 a week. A wealthy Mayfair resident contributes up to £50,000 a day to London's economy, and a visiting one £4.5m over 90 days. Where the figures come from, and how far to trust them.
Cold Weather Payment: £25 for each seven-day freeze from 1 November, paid automatically
From 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 you get £25 for each seven-day period when the average temperature in your area is zero or below. It is paid automatically, but only on four qualifying benefits.
Junior ISA: £9,000 a year tax-free, and the child gets it at 18
A children's savings account with no tax on the income. Anyone can pay in, the child takes control at 16 and can withdraw at 18, and you cannot hold one alongside a Child Trust Fund.
Universal Credit advance: same-day answer, 24 months to repay, 3-month deferral
The wait for a first Universal Credit payment can be bridged with an advance. The most you can get is your first estimated payment, you usually hear the same day, and it comes out of future payments.
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Gaps in your National Insurance record: £18.40 a week and only six years back
Gaps in a National Insurance record cut your future State Pension. Voluntary contributions can fill them, but only for the past six years and not always to your advantage. Here are the 2026/27 rules and rates.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme: £7,500 for a heat pump and who is refused
The scheme pays £7,500 towards a heat pump, £5,000 towards a biomass boiler and £2,500 towards an air-to-air heat pump. Off the gas grid there is an extra £1,500 until March 2027.
Disabled Facilities Grant: up to £30,000 from your council
A Disabled Facilities Grant pays for ramps, a stairlift, a level access shower or an extension. It does not have to be repaid and will not affect your benefits — but do not start work before approval.
Who gets carer money back?
The UK is reassessing old Carer’s Allowance overpayments caused by flawed guidance on irregular earnings. By September 2026 about 100 carers had received refunds and about 100 had debts reduced. Here is who is covered and why no separate application is needed now.
Help with funeral costs: up to £1,000 on top of the cremation, and £300 for a child’s coffin
Funeral Expenses Payment meets cremation, burial plot and moving the body, plus up to £1,000 for everything else. A separate fund for children ignores income entirely. You have 6 months to claim.
Who could access your energy data?
The UK government is consulting on rules for sharing energy usage and tariff data with authorised services when a consumer chooses to do so. These are proposals for England, Scotland and Wales, not rules already in force. Households and small businesses can respond by 8 January 2027.
Car finance payouts face February court hearing
The legal challenge to the UK car finance compensation scheme will be heard on 16–26 February 2027. Lenders do not yet have to calculate or pay compensation under the scheme. Concerned borrowers can complain to their lender directly and free of charge now.
CMA fines three firms £6m over fake deadlines and pre-ticked boxes
Wayfair pays £4.8m for false countdown timers, Appliances Direct £1.2m plus £432,000 in refunds for auto-added paid extras, and Gold’s Gym £45,000 for a hidden joining fee.
Energy bills: 40% still struggle to pay — what households can do
An Ofgem survey found 40% of respondents were keeping up with energy bills but struggling, while 4% were behind. The February–March findings were published on 14 October. Here are practical options for getting help and comparing tariffs.
PIP: £76.70 or £114.60 a week and who can claim it
Personal Independence Payment helps with the extra living costs of a long-term illness or disability. It is not means-tested, it is tax free and it is paid alongside almost every other benefit. Here are the rates, the closed list of tasks you are assessed on and how to claim.
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The Healthy Start card: money for milk and vegetables in pregnancy and under-fours
The NHS tops up a prepaid card with £4.65 or £9.30 a week for milk, fruit and vegetables. Here are the eligibility rules, how to apply, the payment limits and the full list of what the card will not buy.
Money after a partner dies: what is paid and why the first three months decide it
Bereavement Support Payment is £3,500 plus 18 payments of £350 at the higher rate. Only a claim within three months brings the full amount; after 21 months there is nothing.
DWP posts 660,000 leaflets: pensioners reminded about £4,500 a year
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a new Pension Credit push. Leaflets go to seven areas with many low-income pensioners: the top-up is worth more than £4,500 a year on average, yet around a million people who qualify do not claim it.
Council tax: four legitimate ways to cut your bill
Council tax arrives in full until you claim a discount. People living alone get 25%, all-student households pay nothing, disability moves the property a band down, and an income-based reduction can take the bill to zero. Here are all four mechanisms and who qualifies for them.
Attendance Allowance: £76.70 or £114.60 a week, and who can claim
Attendance Allowance is for people at State Pension age who need help or supervision because of illness or disability. Income and savings are irrelevant, you do not need a carer, and the rates are £76.70 or £114.60 a week. Here are the conditions, the deadlines and how to claim.
UK to regulate the heating oil market for the first time: what 1.5m homes get
The government has accepted the CMA's recommendations: supplier authorisation, a mandatory code of conduct and dispute resolution. No price cap, and no deadline yet.
Council tax in England: 63 days before you lose the right to pay in instalments
From April 2027 councils in England must send a reminder and a final notice before demanding the rest of the year's council tax in one go. At least 63 days will pass between the first missed payment and losing the right to pay in instalments.
London to Moscow parcels: RusPost checked for prices, competitors and risks
RusPost offers Russian-language shipping from the UK to Russia and CIS markets. We checked the company, priced a 2 kg parcel and reviewed its contract, insurance, sanctions exposure and alternatives. The service is convenient but not unique, and several terms need written clarification before payment.
Cost-of-living help in London: emergency payments, free home upgrades and discounts
City Hall has updated its central guide to help with living costs. Here is where to request an emergency payment, how eligible households can receive home improvements worth up to £30,000, and where to find social tariffs, emergency food and travel discounts.
Carer's Allowance in the UK: £86.45 a Week and the £204 Earnings Limit
Carer's Allowance pays for 35 hours of care a week and ignores your savings. But earning over £204 wipes out that week's payment, and the person you care for loses their severe disability premium.
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How to challenge a DWP decision: mandatory reconsideration, form SSCS1 and the tribunal
A refused benefit can be challenged twice, and both stages are free: first the DWP must look at its decision again, then the case goes to an independent tribunal. Here are the one-month deadlines, which SSCS form to use, who sits on the panel and what travel costs are paid back.
From 29 October the DWP can take benefit debt straight from your bank account — and ask a court for a driving ban
From 29 October 2026 the Department for Work and Pensions can take benefit debt directly from a bank account without a court order, and, where the debt is at least £1,000, ask a magistrates’ court to disqualify the debtor from driving for up to two years. Here are the deduction caps, the deadlines to object and the hardship safeguards.
UK sanctions Cryptomus, Heleket and VexPay: what it means for money transfers
The FCDO designated 38 new targets on 8 October 2026. They include crypto exchanges and payment platforms used for everyday transfers, plus the Moscow bank Stolichny Kredit. Here is what changes for people living in the UK.
State pension triple lock to change from April 2030: what it means for payments
On 6 October 2026 DWP published a factsheet on the triple lock reform: from April 2030 the State Pension will rise by the highest of CPI inflation, 2.5%, or the amount needed to hold its value against earnings. DWP estimates this saves around £50 billion a year by 2049/50. Until April 2030 the current rule stands.
Pension Credit in 2026: who qualifies, how much it pays and how to claim
Pension Credit tops weekly income up to £238 for a single person and £363.25 for a couple, with extra amounts of up to £118.46 a week on top. DWP estimates published on 30 October 2025 show up to 910,000 entitled families did not claim, leaving up to £2.5 billion unclaimed — around £2,600 a year each. Here are the thresholds, the extras, the savings rule and how to apply.
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Housing Benefit from 5 October: how much you can earn without losing the benefit
From 5 October 2026 five new earnings thresholds apply in Housing Benefit — from £61.41 to £119.70 a week depending on age and household. That money is ignored when the benefit is worked out. It applies to people in supported housing or in council temporary accommodation: more than 325,000 people across the UK. There is nothing to claim — councils recalculate it themselves.
Your gas and electricity debt can be written off in full: who Ofgem is clearing 2022–2024 bills for, and what you must do
While everyone was working out the new price cap, Ofgem quietly launched a scheme that writes off old energy debt — up to £500m for around 195,000 customers, in full and with no matching payment. There is no application form: your supplier finds you, which is exactly why a write-off is so easy to miss. Here are the conditions — debt billed between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2024, a £100 minimum, means-tested benefits, and one non-obvious requirement that pushes people out of the scheme.
Workplace pension and auto-enrolment: where 5% of your payslip goes, what your employer must add, and whether opting out is a good idea
Every worker in the UK aged 22 or over earning at least £10,000 a year is automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. The minimum contribution is 8% of a band of earnings: 5% from you (including government tax relief) and at least 3% paid by your employer on top of your salary. Here is what the pension line in your payslip means, how to opt out with a refund, and what happens to your pot when you change jobs or your employer goes bust.
Power cut: £100 paid automatically, up to £2,235 in a storm — what you are owed and what to do if the money never arrives
A long power cut in the UK comes with money attached, and in most cases it should be paid without you claiming. The amounts are set by Ofgem and uprated for inflation every year: £100 for a home once the restoration standard is missed, £45 for every further 12 hours, up to £2,235 in a severe storm, and an extra £100 if your power has gone off more than four times in a year. Here is who pays for what, how fast supply must be restored, and what to do if nothing lands in your account.
DWP debt recovery: from October money can be taken straight from your bank account, and debts over £1,000 can cost you your driving licence
The DWP is switching on new recovery powers: direct deductions from bank accounts without a court order and, in persistent cases, disqualification from driving for up to two years. Warning letters started on 24 June and the window to agree terms closes on 24 October 2026. It applies to people who are no longer on benefits and not in PAYE work.
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Should you fix your energy tariff in autumn 2026? Fixes undercut the price cap — and January's cap may jump another 20%
From 1 October the Ofgem cap is £1,723 a year for a typical home, and analysts expect another jump in January. The cheapest fixed tariffs are currently 3.5–4% below the cap. A no-hype guide: how a fix works, when it pays off, what to check before switching — exit fees, timings, meter readings — and when staying on the cap makes more sense.
Energy bills from 1 October: electricity at 26.32p per kWh, 0% VAT — and why you should submit a meter reading today
Ofgem's new price cap applies from today: £1,723 a year for a typical household, about £60 more than in the summer. Gas is up noticeably, electricity barely at all — VAT on it is zero from 1 October to 31 March. If you don't have a smart meter, there is one simple thing worth doing today: submit a meter reading so your September units are billed at the old rates.
UK vape tax starts 1 October: £2.20 duty per 10ml of e-liquid — what happens to prices
From 1 October 2026 the UK's new Vaping Products Duty comes into force: £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid, with or without nicotine. A £3.99 bottle will rise to about £6.60, a 100ml shortfill by £26.40 including VAT. Cigarettes go up the same day by roughly 53p a pack in a linked one-off rise.
Leaking roof, flooded basement: who pays? Insurance, the Flood Re scheme, and what the state provides after major floods
The money instalment of our weather series. Repairs after a leak or a flood cost thousands, yet you rarely pay from your own pocket: the structure is covered by buildings insurance (your landlord's, if you rent), affordable cover in risk areas is held up by the joint state-industry Flood Re scheme, and after major flooding the government activates a support package — £500 per household, £2,500 for businesses and a full council tax holiday for at least three months. Here is the whole chain: who pays, for what, and how much.
A dispute at the currency exchange: short-changed, wrong rate, no receipt — who to call and how to get your money back
A follow-up to our exchange bureau catalogue — the instruction manual for when things go wrong: notes missing from the bundle, the rate on the receipt not matching the board, the receipt that 'ran out', or a counterfeit note among your cash. Scenario by scenario: what can only be fixed at the counter, which number to dial (the consumer helpline, 0808 223 1133), when to involve the police, and how to finish the job with a formal complaint and a small claim.
ONLYWAY NEWSLIVEJobs & Business · 06.11'Say what you pay': salaries may become compulsory in job advertsLaw · 06.11Buying online: 14 days to cancel and get a refundTravel · 06.11Urgent UK passport: the Premium and Fast Track servicesHousing · 06.11Dropped kerbs in the UK: how to get a legal vehicle crossoverLife · 06.11Free NHS sight tests: who qualifies and what about glassesLife · 06.11NHS Low Income Scheme: help with health costs on a low incomeImmigration · 06.11UK settlement: which years will count, and which will notJobs & Business · 06.11UK government plans to require pay information in job advertsMoney · 06.11Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods: family payments in ScotlandMoney · 06.11Scottish Child Payment: a weekly payment for families in ScotlandONLYWAY NEWS · appInstall the ONLYWAY NEWS appFresh UK news, classifieds, key dates and exchange rates on your home screen, one tap away. Free.NewsClassifiedsCalendarRates
Currency exchange bureaux in the UK: where the fee hides behind '0% commission', how to check any bureau in a minute — and our verified catalogue
'Best rate in London, 0% commission' is the sign people lose money at most often. Here is how bureaux actually earn, which tricks turn an attractive rate into minus 10%, how to check any outlet against government registers in a minute — and the first level of our catalogue: chains verified against the registers, with banks and the Post Office in a separate list. This is how the 'ONLYWAY.NEWS verified' mark works.
The hotel never returned your deposit: where 'back in three days' is normal, where it is theft — and how to recover your £100-300
A classic story: on top of the room rate they take a deposit at check-in, promise at checkout that it will be 'back on your card in three days' — and the money never arrives. Sometimes it is an ordinary bank hold that never went anywhere. Sometimes it is your money being kept — and there are remedies: a written complaint, a chargeback within 120 days, Section 75 for credit cards, and the small claims court. Here is how to tell one from the other, step by step.
Can’t pay all your debts? Which to pay first in England — and how Breathing Space freezes interest for 60 days
Rent, council tax, energy, credit cards, buy now pay later: when money runs short, the order you pay in decides whether you keep your home and avoid bailiffs. Which debts are priority in England, what happens if you don’t pay council tax, how to deal with energy suppliers and HMRC, and how to get 60 days of Breathing Space for free.
Lifetime ISA in 2026: how to withdraw without the 25% penalty — and what the new First Time Buyer ISA means
The government adds 25% to savings for a first home — up to £1,000 a year. But withdrawing outside the rules costs 25% of the whole amount, so you lose some of your own money too. This summer the Treasury said the Lifetime ISA will be replaced by a new First Time Buyer ISA. When you can take money out penalty-free, how much an early withdrawal costs, and what existing savers should do.
'Apply to study and the government sends you £25,000 — no need to attend': how Student Finance really works
A 'scheme' is doing the rounds in chats and social media: apply for a course in England, get around £25,000 from the government into your account — and never study. Using the official GOV.UK rules, we unpack where the number comes from, what students actually get paid, why 'take the money and don't study' is criminal fraud, and how the Student Loans Company catches such applicants.
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Paid £90 for a Debt Relief Order? The government is refunding it — claim before the end of the year
The Insolvency Service issued a reminder on 28 September: thousands of people who paid the £90 Debt Relief Order fee between 2016 and 2024 but never submitted an application can get their money back. Around £450,000 remains unclaimed. Letters have been sent several times, but many contact details have changed over a decade — you can claim yourself, by email or post.
Home insurance in the UK: buildings vs contents, what a renter needs and how not to lose your payout
Buildings insurance covers the structure and is compulsory with a mortgage; contents covers what's inside — and it's the only policy that matters for a renter, because the landlord's never covers your things. Citizens Advice rules explained: new for old, the excess, rebuild cost vs market value, and where to complain.
TV Licence in 2026: who needs one, the £180 fee, who watches free — and the £1,000 fine
Netflix and YouTube need no licence — but live TV on any channel, even a foreign one over the internet, and BBC iPlayer do. From 1 April 2026 a TV Licence costs £180. The GOV.UK rules explained: house shares, students, the free licence for over-75s, instalment plans and how to cancel legally.
Two-thirds of UK fraud comes from abroad. How to get your money back from the bank: 5 business days and an £85,000 cap
On 24 September the Home Office announced an agreement with Cambodia against scam centres: more than two-thirds of the fraud affecting the UK originates overseas. ONS figures for the year to March 2026 show 3.8 million victims, up 10% on the year before. Here is where to report after 4 December 2025, and how mandatory bank reimbursement works: 13 months to claim, 5 business days to pay, an excess of up to £100 and an £85,000 cap.
Child Trust Fund: 827,000 people have not claimed their money — £2,310 on average
HMRC said on 23 September that almost 3 million Child Trust Funds have been claimed, but around 827,000 matured accounts are still untouched, worth £2,310 on average. An account was opened for everyone born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. Here is how to trace yours in five minutes, and what you can do with it at 16 and at 18.
Help to Save: the government adds 50p to every £1 you save — £300m in bonuses paid out
HMRC said on 21 September that more than £300m in Help to Save bonuses has now been paid, across 656,700 accounts and £676.7m of deposits. You can put away £1 to £50 a month and the government adds up to £1,200 over four years. The catch is the entry rule: you must be on Universal Credit and have had at least £1 of take-home pay in your last assessment period.
Bank of England holds Bank Rate at 3.75% — three of nine voted to raise it to 4%
The decision came at noon on 17 September: Bank Rate stays at 3.75% for a fourth meeting in a row. The vote was 6–3, with three members backing a rise to 4%. Inflation hit 3.1% in August and the Bank warned it is "likely to rise further over coming quarters". Nothing changes today for trackers and SVRs, but if your fix ends this autumn, do not count on cheaper deals arriving by themselves. The next decision is 5 November, with new forecasts.
£150 off your electricity bill: entitlement was fixed on 23 August, letters arrive in November — and it is not just for pensioners
The Warm Home Discount reopens in October for the 2026/27 winter. About 6 million households will get it, 96% of them automatically with no application. Universal Credit and Housing Benefit qualify, not only Pension Credit. But the electricity account must be in your name, and the qualifying date — 23 August 2026 — has already passed.
UK inflation accelerates to 3.1% as diesel jumps 14 pence in a month — a day before the rate decision
The ONS has published August data: consumer prices rose 3.1% over the year against 2.9% in July, a third consecutive rise. The cause is almost entirely fuel: motor fuels are up 23% over the year and petrol is at 161.3 pence a litre, the dearest since November 2022. A full tank of diesel costs £7.10 more than a month ago. Core inflation and services, meanwhile, did not move, and food has held at 1.3% for a third month.
Child Benefit: £27.05 a week per child — and why you should claim even if you have to pay it all back
Child Benefit is paid regardless of income: £27.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.90 for each additional one — £1,406 and £2,337 a year for one and two children. But the money is not the point: the claim automatically credits one parent with National Insurance towards the state pension until the child turns twelve, even if they opted out of payments. One warning: under a no recourse to public funds condition you must not claim.
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How to complain about a bank, energy supplier or water company in the UK — and get compensation
Complaints here run on a clock: a bank has 8 weeks to reply, a telecoms provider 6, a water company 10 working days at each of two stages. Miss the deadline or fob you off, and an ombudsman takes the case for free — with a decision the company must honour. Who covers which sector, what to put in the letter, and why big purchases belong on a credit card.
UK state pension set to pass £13,000 — and overtake the tax-free allowance for the first time
The ONS has published wage growth for May to July: 3.9% including bonuses, the weakest since 2020. It is the first of the triple lock's three numbers, and on it the full new State Pension rises from £241.30 to £250.70 a week from April 2027 — £13,037 a year. The Personal Allowance is frozen at £12,570, so a pensioner with no other income gets a tax bill for the first time: around £93.
What changes from 1 October: six things that will touch almost everyone
Energy bills rise £60 a year, but VAT on electricity goes to zero. Right-to-work checks extend to couriers and subcontractors. The tribunal time limit doubles to six months. Date by date — plus three deadlines to meet.
The Autumn Budget lands on 28 October: what is already confirmed
The Budget is set for Wednesday 28 October 2026 and will be delivered by Chancellor John Healey — his first as Chancellor. Several measures are already named: £2 single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January 2027, zero VAT on electricity from 1 October, and a 20% business rates cut for pubs from April 2027. The rest is still rumour — and that is where the biggest sums sit.
Energy price cap rises 4% from 1 October: £1,723 a year for a typical home
Ofgem lifts the cap from £1,663 to £1,723 a year — £60 more, about £5 a month. Gas is the driver, with its unit rate up almost 9%. Electricity barely moves, because VAT on it drops to zero on 1 October.
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Winter Fuel Payment 2026: who gets £100–£300, and who has to give it back
This winter’s heating payment goes to everyone born on or before 27 June 1960 who lives in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. For most people no claim is needed — the money arrives in November or December. But if your own income is above £35,000, HMRC takes it back through the tax system. Opting out: by phone until 6pm on 18 September, online until 11:59pm on 20 September.
The UK State Pension: 10 years, 35 years and an age of 67 — how it is actually counted
The full new State Pension in 2026/27 is £241.30 a week, about £12,548 a year. It is not paid to everyone and not automatically: you need at least 10 years of contributions, usually 35 for the full amount, and from April the pension age started climbing from 66 towards 67.
Changing money and sending it abroad from Britain: where the cost hides and what to check
The fee is not the biggest cost — the real money goes into a spread nobody displays. How to work out what an exchange truly costs, why you should never be billed in pounds abroad, why non-bank services carry no FSCS protection, and the honest position on transfers to Russia and Belarus.
Universal Credit: who can claim, what it pays, and why many people must not apply
The standard allowance runs from £338.58 to £666.97 a month, savings are capped at £16,000, and every £1 earned cuts the payment by 55p. But first things first: most visas carry a no recourse to public funds condition, and claiming without the right damages your visa. How to check your condition and what to do if you have no right to claim.
Council tax in 2026/27: what you pay, who pays less, and what happens if you fall behind
The average Band D bill in England is £2,392 a year. A 25% single-adult discount, 50% and full student exemptions, and the separate Council Tax Reduction scheme — none of it applies automatically, only on application. And seven days after a missed payment, the whole year becomes due.
Russia's digital rouble goes live: 12 banks, a 300,000-rouble cap and what it means from the UK
From 1 September the digital rouble has left the pilot stage: the twelve largest banks open wallets, retailers turning over 120 million roubles must accept it, and top-ups are capped at 300,000 a month. No interest, no cashback, and transfers cannot be reversed.
Digital currency explained: the pros and cons of the digital rouble, euro and pound
There is no exchange rate for a digital currency and never will be, nobody is being made to convert their money, and cash is not being abolished. Smart contracts for controlling earmarked spending, on the other hand, are real and documented. What already works in Russia, when the digital euro and pound arrive, and which fears have substance.
Food in Britain: where it is genuinely cheaper, and the money you may not be claiming
Yellow stickers on a timetable are a myth, and four of the big chains confirmed it. Meanwhile free school meals now go to every family on Universal Credit whatever their income, the old Household Support Fund has closed and been replaced, and community fridges hand out food with no voucher and no means test.
Credit history from zero, cards at 35%, and sending money home: what works differently from what you were told
A foreign credit record does not travel, and the standard advice to register to vote is simply unavailable to a large group of people — for whom there is another technique. Also: what a first card really costs, why the advertised rate is not yours, how Section 75 makes the bank liable for the seller, and what actually happens with transfers to Russia — not prohibited by law, but closed off by banks.
UK law does not require proof of address — and nine banks must open you a basic account
Checked against the rules themselves rather than the banks' websites: nine designated banks must open a basic account within 10 business days, the grounds for refusal are a closed list, and neither a poor credit file nor a missing address is on it. What to bring instead of a utility bill, where £120,000 of protection applies and where none does, and what changed on 28 April 2026.
ONLYWAY NEWSLIVEJobs & Business · 06.11'Say what you pay': salaries may become compulsory in job advertsLaw · 06.11Buying online: 14 days to cancel and get a refundTravel · 06.11Urgent UK passport: the Premium and Fast Track servicesHousing · 06.11Dropped kerbs in the UK: how to get a legal vehicle crossoverLife · 06.11Free NHS sight tests: who qualifies and what about glassesLife · 06.11NHS Low Income Scheme: help with health costs on a low incomeImmigration · 06.11UK settlement: which years will count, and which will notJobs & Business · 06.11UK government plans to require pay information in job advertsMoney · 06.11Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods: family payments in ScotlandMoney · 06.11Scottish Child Payment: a weekly payment for families in ScotlandONLYWAY NEWS · appInstall the ONLYWAY NEWS appFresh UK news, classifieds, key dates and exchange rates on your home screen, one tap away. Free.NewsClassifiedsCalendarRatesVAT on electricity goes to zero on 1 October — and the bill still goes up
VAT on domestic electricity falls from 5% to nothing, taking about £45 a year off the Ofgem cap. At the same time the cap itself rises 4%, to £1,723 a year for a typical home. Net effect: you pay more, but less than you would have.