Benefit Overpayments and Travel Money

--:--
Nearly 10,000 people have needed free debt advice because of accidental overpayments by the Department for Work and Pensions in the past 12 months. That's according to figures from Money Wellness, a debt advice company which is funded by the government's Money and Pension Service. It says because most of its clients are low income households these debts can have significant knock-on impacts on the rest of their finances. The DWP says its staff work hard to support customers, and it's important to explore ways to reduce fraud and error so it can support the most vulnerable in society. What will the new Pensions Bill announced by the Labour government in the King's Speech mean for your finances? We'll discuss plans to bring small pension pots, which people get after short term jobs, together.Campaigners are calling for bereavement support payments to be extended for longer and for the amount given to families to rise with inflation. At the moment parents under pension age whose partner dies are entitled to bereavement benefits - as much £3,500 followed by 18 monthly payments of up to £350. The charity Widowed and Young would like those payments to be in place for longer. The Department for Work and Pensions told us that it knows losing a loved one is devastating and that it's committed to supporting those most in need through the welfare system. And what's the best way to pay while you’re on holiday abroad?Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Dan Whitworth, Sarah Rogers and Jo Krasner
Researchers: Immie Rhodes
Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 27th July 2024)
24 Aug English United Kingdom Business

Other recent episodes

Household Support Fund and Gambling with Credit

Hundreds of millions of pounds has been made available from the government for local authorities across the UK to spend on those most in need of financial help. Known as the Household Support Fund it's made up of £421 million for councils in England with another £79 million for devolved…
5 Oct 26 min

Money Box Live: Cheaper Childcare?

Working parents and carers of children aged 9 months or over are now entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare a week during term time.50 hours of nursery can cost around £14,000 a year, so it's a welcome relief for many. There had been warnings that parents would struggle to…
2 Oct 29 min

Winter Fuel Payment and Using Cash

Many pensioners in England and Wales will lose Winter Fuel Payments this year. This annual payment had been universal and worth £200 or £300 pounds a year, depending on your age. From this winter it will be restricted to pensioners receiving Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits. The reason for…
28 Sep 26 min

Money Box Live: Chasing a Dream

Not every dream job has an obvious route to success, so how do you make your passion project pay without falling behind on your bills?Visa research shows that around 45% of Gen Zs (people born between the late1990s and the early 2010) have a side hustle, but it's not just…
28 Aug 28 min

Money Box Live: Your Power of Attorney Questions

Felicity Hannah looks at giving someone Lasting Power of Attorney - that's the authority to manage your financial affairs in the event that you couldn't. What are they, how do they work and how much do they cost? This programme is dedicated to answering your questions. On the panel we…
21 Aug 31 min