Latest Articles By Simon Collyer

WINTER HELP - Struggling Claimants can get a Budgeting Advance and can be used to go toward emergency household costs. However, this is a loan and has to be paid back from benefits that have been cut effectively since the ending of the twenty po...

PERSONAL DEBT - Feeling you are struggling, you are not alone. Average personal debt in the UK has more than doubled in the last 12 months to over £25,000 per person, new data has revealed.  The exclusive figures have been reported in money.co.u...

TAX RETURNS - This year, nearly three thousand people submitted their tax return on Christmas Day, according to HMRC, ahead of the self-assessment deadline on January 31st. The peak time was between 12:00 and 12:59, with 227 people submitting th...

DEBT - Personal debt more than doubles in 12 months 2021 debt index from money.co.uk shows the average Brit will end the year with total debts of more than £25,000. Ouch! Personal finances continue to suffer under the strain of COVID-19, with the ong...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR - to all our readers and viewers.  Christmas is a difficult time on a low income. Hopefully next year will be better. We wish you the very best.  ABC Comment, have your say below:

DWP CORPORATE ABBREVIATIONS - You will find these useful especially if you start claiming state pensions.It is hard to know what payment is what.  A A/CC: Account A/N: Above Named AA: Age Addition AA: Administrative Assistant AAs: Administrative...

CASH BOOST - Families claiming Universal Credit will be in for a DWP cash boost to hit their accounts by Christmas, the government has confirmed. The extra money is the first sign of changes which will bring an annual increase of one thousand, o...

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING - With just over a week to go, here is a handy guide to help you with your last minute preparations  Super Saturday is the last Saturday before Christmas and the final opportunity for millions of Brits to do their festive shop...

FAILURE TO PAY MINIMUM WAGES - This is the thin end of the wedge. The reality is that many companies pay workers in cash and frequently below the minimum wage, in particular in the take-a-way food delivery business. It's common in practice. It has be...

UNIVERSAL CREDIT CUTS - Do you want to fight the cuts says Unite.  The chancellor has announced that in the coming weeks the taper rate will be reduced to 55p, which would mean that workers would take home 8p more of an extra pound earned....