Money Box

Latest Episodes:

How changes at the top of government could affect your money Aug 06, 2022

Show notes

It's been quite the week in politics and on this week's Money Box we'll take a look at what it could mean for your personal finances. One of the biggest challenges the next PM will face is the economy and the many households feeling the squeeze. It's thought some of the candidates favour tax cuts, but there's also pressure to increase taxes to control government borrowing. Heather Self a tax expert at Blick Rothenberg and Tom Selby from the investment company AJ Bell will discuss.

According to a new report, out on Monday, more people are falling behind with at least one household bill as the cost of living rises. Money Box has been given an early look at the Coronavirus Financial Impact Tracker, which suggests one-in-six households are now ‘in serious financial difficulty' compared to one-in-ten in October. Debt is also climbing - particularly among people who were already struggling. We'll speak to Professor Sharon Collard from the University of Bristol, who is one of the authors of the financial impact report which is funded by the Aberdeen Financial Fairness Trust. Plus advice from the debt charity Stepchange.

Also, if you ignore a current account for too long - can your bank really take your money? And how hard is it to get it back? Our reporter Dan Whitworth investigates.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 9th July, 2022)

The Cost of Cancer Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

Getting a cancer diagnosis can be a scary and fraught time, before you even begin to consider the financial pressures. Affording time out of work, the cost of getting to appointments, or even the price of drugs in different parts of the country can present issues for many.

Ruth Alexander is joined by a panel of experts to hear caller experiences of the costs of cancer.

Panel: Ceinwen Giles - Shine Richard Pugh - Macmillan

Producer: Drew Hyndman and Amber Mehmood Editor: Beatrice Pickup

What do National Insurance changes mean for you? Jul 30, 2022

Show notes

From 6th July, everyone in work will see a cut in the taxes they pay. It's because the level of pay at which National Insurance begins will be raised. Two million people on part-time low pay will not pay any national insurance at all. Ministers say it's a tax cut of 330 pounds per year for a typical employee, but that is not the whole picture. The rate of national insurance rose three months ago. So this cut is in a tax that is already costing millions of workers more. We'll hear from families in Stockport on how their income is being squeezed and speak to the Minister responsible for tax policy Lucy Frazer, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

If you are a victim of crime it is most likely that your money is stolen through fraud. New figures out this week showed the amount stolen and the number of victims rose substantially last year - as they have every year that the figures have been collected. We'll get reaction from Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Matt Parr.

A new act banning ground rents for most new residential leases in England and Wales came into force this week. It's part of the government’s Leasehold Reform plans. We'll find out more about the new rules from a legal specialist in leasehold. Plus, why has a much anticipated code of practice designed to regulate the private parking sector been withdrawn?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast at 12pm, Saturday 2nd July, 2022)

Fraud Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

Fraudsters are always trying to get at our money, and the pandemic has changed their tactics and their access to our data.

Felicity Hannah and our expert panel discuss the latest fraud figures, how to protect yourself, what your rights are, and what to do if you're targeted by scammers.

Reporter: Dan Whitworth

Producer: Drew Hyndman

Editor: Justin Bones and Elisabeth Mahy

Energy firm introduces late payment charges Jul 23, 2022

Show notes

Scottish Power has introduced late payments fees for its five million customers saying the move "brings us in line with other suppliers" and reflect the costs of collecting debt. The change comes at a time when consumers are facing record high energy prices with some estimates suggesting millions more households face the real prospect of falling into fuel poverty this winter.

An employment tribunal rules that a man suffering from long covid is protected by the Equality Act. It means employers have to make "reasonable adjustments" in the workplace to help sufferers and could have far reaching legal implications for the estimated two million people thought to be living with long covid.

We look into a listener's question about only paying for the energy she actually uses - instead of relying to estimated average payments across the year.

And the Universities Minister confirms in Parliament a roll out date of 2025 for Alternative Student Finance aimed at helping muslim students with sharia compliant loans. It comes after the scheme was first talked about during David Cameron's time as Prime Minister nearly a decade ago.

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 25th June, 2022)

Self Publishing Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Do you want to write a book? How would you go about publishing one? Many people now look away from traditional publishing and towards self publishing. Whether it's doing it all yourself or using hybrid publishers, which offer publishing services for a cost, it can be a risky and potentially expensive option for would be authors.

Felicity Hannah is joined by our panel of experts to discuss self publishing and to hear experiences, comments and questions from callers.

Panel:

Nicola Solomon - Chief Executive - Society of Authors

Adam Croft - Author of The Rutland Crime series.

Producer: Paul Waters and Drew Hyndman

Editor: Beatrice Pickup and Justin Bones

Single Parents Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Single parents often face particular financial hardships, especially with the economy facing severe challenges and prices rising so fast. A single parent with no support can find it harder to get work, more expensive to find childcare and difficult to provide the basics needed for family life. In today's Money Box Live, Adam Shaw hears from listeners about the challenges and options available to single parent families. We also hear from Victoria Benson, the Chief Executive of Gingerbread, the national charity which works with single parent families, and from Claire Reindorp, CEO of the Young Women’s Trust.

Producers: Paul Waters and Drew Hyndman

Energy costs: your questions answered Jul 09, 2022

Show notes

This week, energy analysts Cornwall Insight predicted that the already record breaking price for energy will rise further and the annual cost for a typical household would be £2880, which is £900 more than it is now. The Chancellor has promised more help but the questions we've received recently show that many listeners are still not clear about exactly what they will get and when. Our reporter Dan Whitworth finds investigates how it will work for people who live in park homes or pay their utility bill direct to their landlord.

Some vulnerable people are being excluded from using their own money to shop online, as a result of new procedures imposed across the banking industry in March. We speak to UK Finance about what the banks are doing to make new anti-fraud features usable by people who are disabled, getting old, or don't have a mobile phone signal.

New figures from HMRC have revealed that 61% of eligible families are not claiming tax-free childcare, missing out on billions of pounds in savings. It comes as the Social Market Foundation announces a cross-party commission, that will work to analyse the impact of poor childcare provision on wages and poverty. We speak to John Penrose, the conservative MP, who will be part of the commission.

Also, who gets what from the hundred pounds it now costs us to fill up a reasonably sized car?

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12noon, Saturday 11th June, 2022)

The costs of being disabled Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

85% of families with disabled children use more energy, from electric hoists to extra heating and powered wheelchairs. Going without these can mean a significant decline in the standard of living and health for disabled people and their families. With energy costs soaring, how are disabled people coping? What support is available? We have tips on how can you save money on energy, food and other necessities as prices soar.

Adam Shaw is joined by Emma Tracey from the Access All podcast as they discuss the cost of living for disabled people.

Panel:

James Taylor - Director of Strategy - Scope

Helen Undy - Chief Executive - Money and Mental Health

Listen to the Access All podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p02r6yqw

Producer: Drew Hyndman

Editor: Emma Rippon

Cost of Living Special Jul 02, 2022

Show notes

Every time we buy food, put fuel in our car, or get an energy bill the cost of living hits us where it hurts - in our pocket. Prices are rising faster than at any time in the last 40 years and that is not predicted to get any better until well into next year. However, does the standard measure of prices rising overall by 9% a year reflect the reality of households? We'll hear from Jill Leyland of the Royal Statistical Society and from Michael Hardie of the Office for National Statistics about this.

We'll also speak to families who find themselves unable to afford essential costs. Our reporter Elisabeth Mahy visits Oakham in Rutland to see a beautician with two children, who is finding her money won’t stretch as far as she needs.

New data from the market research company NielsenIQ explores how our supermarket shopping habits are changing.

And we’ll hear from some online advice groups about what, if anything, we can change to reduce the impact of the cost of living crisis.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Elisabeth Mahy Researchers: Sandra Hardial and Amber Mehmood Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12noon, Saturday 4th June, 2022)

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