Money Box

April brings significant changes for money including higher National Living Wage, lowered Energy Price Cap, and updates on tax-free ISAs. Also, insights on childcare support, meter readings, and stamp savings. All you need to know for financial adjustments.

More than half of adults don't have a Will according to new research from insurance company Canada Life. The main reason people say they haven't sorted one is that they don't think they have enough money to leave behind. So what types of Will are there and what do they mean? We'll be hearing from one man who says he was disinherited over changes to a Mirror Will. We also speak to a mother concerned about digital assets following the death of her son.Plus, what happens if you don't have a Will at all, where will your estate go?Felicity Hannah is joined by Nina Sperring, Partner at Price, Slater, Gawne solicitors and is a member of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners which specialises in estates and Wills and Jade Gani, Chief Executive of Circe Law and a Director of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Reporter: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm Wednesday March 27th 2024)

The podcast delves into the impact of pension freedoms introduced a decade ago, TSB's 'Flee Fund' aiding abuse survivors, and HMRC's u-turn on closing the phone helpline. It discusses the importance of informed retirement planning and digital tax services for taxpayers' needs.

Mortgage customers face rising rates, vanishing deals and latest figures have shown more people are struggling to keep up with their repayments. Mortgage arrears, hit a seven-year high in the final quarter of 2023. So what can you do if that's you? Felicity Hannah is joined by Charlotte Harrison of Skipton Building Society, Sally Mitchell from the Mortgage Mum, and Richard Lane from the debt charity Step Change - to discuss what's going on in the mortgage market and what you need to know.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producer: Neil Morrow Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 20th March, 2024)

The number of people falling victim to fraud involving cryptocurrency has more than doubled between 2020 and 2023 according to Action Fraud. The value of such fraud has also increased. Our reporter Dan Whitworth has met one such victim, an 86 year old in South Wales who lost over £70,000. Following a Money Box investigation she's now had her lost life savings refunded. We've been reporting on difficulties people are having moving from working tax credits to Universal Credit. We hear from a listener who runs an annual skinny dipping event to raise money for charity, she's been told by her work coach that all her fundraising will be considered personal income for the purposes of Universal Credit. In a week that some lenders increase interest rates, figures from the Bank of England show an increase in arrears on mortgage accounts. We hear how people are coping with their mortgage costs and what you can do if you're struggling to pay them. Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Beatrice Pickup(First broadcast Saturday 16th March 2024)

New arrangements for childcare payments come into force in April in England. How will the new arrangements affect parents? Are they going to be better or worse off?The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced extended support for parents of pre-school children in 2023. But many parents say the payments are still too low or that there aren’t enough places available. Felicity Hannah is joined by Ellen Broome of the children's charity Coram, and Jonathan Broadbery, Director of Policy at the National Day Nurseries Association.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Will Harris and Neil Morrow Editor: Beatrice Pickup

The podcast discusses the impact of frozen tax thresholds on income tax, the confusion caused by debt collection letters, and the investigation into car finance agreements. Listeners learn about potential compensation for motorists with disputed finance deals and the implications of a postage stamp price rise.

As Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presents his Spring Budget, Money Box Live sifts through the details - and the impact on all our finances.Expectations included a 2p cut in National Insurance contributions but will that look like on your payslip? Money Box reporter Dan Whitworth answers those key questions.Felicity Hannah is joined by Sarah Coles, Head of Personal Finance at Hargreaves Lansdown; Simon Gammon, Managing Partner at the mortgage broker Knight Frank Finance, and Dawn Register, Tax Partner at the accountancy firm BDO.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Craig Henderson, and Kath Paddison Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Eimear Devlin Editor: Sarah Rogers(This episode was first aired on Wednesday the 6th of March at 3pm on Radio 4)

Money Box gets a special look at a new exhibition at the Bank of England Museum about the future of money. Paul Lewis picks up a gold bar, sees the new King Charles money, and finds out more about the consultation for a new digital pound. The pensioners getting in touch to ask why they’re soon to start paying tax on their pensions. We'll discuss that with the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group.And, there are calls this week for the government to slow down the speed at which its moving existing benefits claimants onto Universal Credit. The Child Poverty Action Group says it is seeing cases of people struggling to claim, or missing the deadline as they are unsure what’s required of them. The Department for Work and Pensions told us the vast majority of Tax Credit claimants have successfully moved to Universal Credit, and that there is a range of support available to help people move. Presenter:: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 2nd March 2024)

Hannah, a pupil at Trinity Academy Cathedral School, and Seagull, an expert, discuss teaching children about credit cards, pensions, and budgeting. The podcast explores the importance of financial education in schools, practical exercises on expense prioritization, and the role of parents and teachers in teaching financial literacy to teenagers.