Money Box

We'll take a closer look at what the Autumn Statement means for your personal finances. On Wednesday the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, made announcements about tax, pensions and benefits. With his top takeaways, Paul Lewis talks tax cuts and the unfreezing of the local housing allowance.A listener went into a filling station to put just enough petrol in her car to leave her enough money to buy food for the family dinner. Then, the petrol station ringfenced the cost of a full tank and although she spent a fraction of that, the rest was not released for two days. Why did that happen and what can she do?And the new global report from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners which says reports of financial abuse of vulnerable clients is increasing. Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Sandra Hardial Researcher: Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast, 12noon Saturday 25th November 2023)

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt has opened the red briefcase once again to deliver the Autumn Statement in the Commons.But what does it mean for you and your money? Felicity Hannah will be looking at how today's announcements impact your personal finances - from pensions, to taxes and benefits.Joining her to answer your questions and comments are, Alice Haine, Personal Finance Analyst at BestInvest, Dawn Register, Partner at the accountancy firm BDO and Sangita Chawla, Managing Director for Standard Life.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Paul Ruddick Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(This episode was first broadcast at 3pm, Wednesday the 22nd November, 2023).

The number of reported scams involving QR codes has nearly quadrupled in less than three years according to figures seen by Money Box. The data was revealed by City of London Police and gathered from reports made to Action Fraud. The Charted Institute of Trading Standards is warning those reports are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. We'll hear the story of one woman who was scammed after using a QR code in a car park.The government's cost of living support payments to help people on low incomes cope with rising bills have not been enough to meet the scale of the problem. That's the warning from Parliament's Work and Pensions Committee which this week called on the government to consider widening the eligibility for future payments. The Department for Work and Pensions says the payments have provided a significant financial boost to millions of households and are just one part of the record £94 billion support package - which includes a 10.1% rise to benefits earlier this year and a more than £2 billion Household Support Fund to help with the cost of household essentials.A young disabled man was denied access to a high interest savings account - after his parents, who have a court order to deal with his finances, tried to open the account. How common is this and what can you do? And what can you expect from the Autumn Statement?Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Joanna Morris and Jo Krasner Producer: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 18th November 2023)

Experts discuss challenges and options for saving for children's future, including choosing the right accounts and affordability. They also emphasize the importance of teaching children about money and involving them in the saving process. The podcast explores the impact of a savings scheme on a school community and highlights the need for financial education for young people. It also discusses ways to encourage children to save and incentivize savings.

As the number of homeowners behind on their mortgage jumps we look at a scheme in Wales trying to help people stay in their homes.Also on the programme we speak to experts who weigh up the pros and cons of deferring your state pension and hear about the complications one woman had in getting the money she was owed.We'll tell you if you're eligible for the winter fuel payment and, as the cost of living continues to bite, we visit a baby bank in Perth and Kinross to meet the volunteers who run it to speak to them about the increasing demand for help in providing everything from nappies to milk powder to wipes and toys.

This week we are talking all things love and money and what co-habiting, marriage and divorce mean for your finances.Do you split the bills evenly or have a complicated spreadsheet to work out who pays what? It comes as recent research published by the University of Bristol revealed 100,000 couples divorce in England and Wales every year - but only a third of them use the legal system to sort out their finances - the majority negotiate their own arrangements or in the worst cases, reach no settlement at all.So, Felicity Hannah will cover everything from how to have those tricky money conversations with each other to how couples split their finances. This week to answer your questions and comments, we're joined by Laura Suter, Head of Personal Finance at AJ Bell and Nigel Shepherd, specialist family lawyer and consultant with Mills & Reeve.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: Sarah Rogers Editor: Dan Whitworth (This episode was first broadcast on Wednesday the 8th of November).

This podcast discusses the reimbursement records of individual banks for fraud victims, the taxation of savings interest, and the release of figures by the payment systems regulator. It also explores the findings of a report on fraud refunds and savings tax, the fight against fraud in the tech sector, unequal asset division in divorces, and the financial vulnerability of women after divorce.

This podcast discusses the increasing housing costs in Lancaster and the impact on individuals. Strategies for managing mortgage costs and finding affordable housing are explored. The options available for families to help first-time buyers are discussed. Various housing costs, challenges, and government schemes are also examined. They conclude with a discussion on the Chancellor's support for the housing market and future predictions.

Learn about the alarming increase in people turning to loan sharks for basic necessities, the work of the England Illegal Money Lending Team, and the availability of legal and low-cost borrowing options. Discover the reasons behind the rising cost of car insurance and potential tax implications for pensioners. Get practical tips on saving money on car insurance, including planning ahead and choosing the right policy. Plus, a special upcoming episode on housing and how listeners can share their experiences.

More than £500m was stolen by fraudsters in the first half of 2023, according to figures from UK Finance. This is less than the same period in 2022, but Authorised Push Payment (APP) scams, where people are tricked into transferring money to thieves, are on the rise.We ask what can be done to fight back against the fraudsters, both on a personal and industry-wide level?Joining Felicity Hannah are Ben Donaldson, Director of Economic Crime at UK Finance, TSB’s Manager of Fraud Operations, Paul Davis and Kathryn Westmore, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Financial Crime and Security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank.Plus Dan Whitworth goes behind the scenes at TSB’s Fraud Prevention Centre in Sunderland. And we hear from case studies who’ve lost money, managed to get it back – but been left devastated by being scammed.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Reporter: Dan Whitworth Producers: Sam Clack and Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle(First broadcast 3pm, Wednesday 25th October, 2023)