Money Box

Electricity and gas suppliers say they're offering hundreds of millions of pounds of additional support for customers this winter. Energy prices will rise again on New Year's Day and the latest figures from the regulator Ofgem show customers already owe suppliers a record £3.7bn in unpaid bills. We'll look at what help customers might be able to get if they're struggling to pay their bills.On Thursday the Bank of England kept the Bank Rate unchanged at 4.75%. We'll ask a mortgage broker what buyers can expect in 2025? As a deadline approaches for government funded childcare hours for some working parents – how does it work and how can they apply?We'll look back at some of the help given to Money Box listeners this year and hear music from the Barton Road Choir.Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Emma Smith and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast at 12pm Saturday 21st December 2024)

Almost half of us are making money from side hustles according to the comparison site, Finder.But how do they work, what do you need to do if you have one and when do you need to tell the tax office?We will be meeting those using their hobbies to boost their bank balances this Christmas as well as clearing up the rules around selling on online platforms.Joining Felicity Hannah is Helen Thornley from the Association of Tax Technicians and Vicks Rodwell of IPSE, the association for self-employed people. Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Neil Morrow Production Coordinator: Emma Smith Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday 18th December 2024)

Some councils in England are offering vouchers or money directly to pensioners who've lost out on the Winter Fuel Payment this year. The money is being offered as part of the Household Support Fund, which is money given by the government to local councils to use to help residents who're struggling with essential bills, like energy and food costs. Winter Fuel Payment can be £200 or £300, but this year it's means tested, meaning millions of people will no longer get it. Money Box has found that some pensioners may still be able to get help with their energy bills via their council, if they've just missed on qualifying but are still struggling. The government says over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment and that its drive to boost Pension Credit take up has seen applications more than double with over 40,000 more pensioners now receiving it.The law relating to how couples split their assets and provide for each other and any children after divorce was last changed in England and Wales more than fifty years ago. On Wednesday the Law Commission which advises the government on how well laws are working will publish its findings on whether the current rules deliver fair and consistent outcomes. If it finds problems it will make suggestions for how they might be solved. We'll discuss what those options might be.And, we often talk about how hard it is for young people to afford buy their first home - but how easy is to manage finances once you get on the property ladder?Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researchers: Emma Smith and Jo Krasner(First broadcast 12noon Saturday 14th December 2024)

The British public is expected to donate close to £3bn to good causes over the festive season according to research from the Charities Aid Foundation.If you are giving this year, how can you make sure all of your money gets to your favourite charity or if the charity is even real? We'll be considering the different ways to give and giving advice on how to avoid scams as well as hearing from some charities about how they're faring.Felicity Hannah is joined by David Holdsworth, CEO of the Charities Commission for England and Wales and Philippa Cornish, Head of Charities at the Charities Aid Foundation.She also chats to best friends and super fundraisers Hughie and Freddie, who have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Children's hospitals.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers and Catherine Lund Researcher: Emma Smith Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm on Wednesday the 11th of December 2024)