Latest Articles By Simon Collyer

CAIRO –  A record 12.4 million Syrians - nearly 60 percent of the population - are now food insecure, according to alarming new national data from the UN World Food Programme (WFP).  In just over one year, an additional 4.5 million Syrians...

PENSIONS - News that changes to state pension regulations may be announced in the Spring Budget have caused some concern. The personal finance experts at money.co.uk have commented on how consumers can ensure they are prepared for any upcoming c...

RENTERS - will continue to be supported during the ongoing national lockdown restrictions, with an extension to the ban on bailiff evictions. Renters will continue to be supported during the ongoing national lockdown restrictions, with an extension t...

MEXICO CITY -- Diconsa has launched a program to offer financial services to low-income, rural Mexican families through its nationwide network of 22,500 rural stores. The program, supported by a $3.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Fo...

PENSIONS - The Bill, now an Act, will bolster protections for savers and further the government’s green agenda by supporting progress towards net zero.         Image: Minister for Pensions, Guy Opperman, said: This is a histo...

FINANCIAL - The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released its latest Financial Lives survey (FLS), looking at consumers’ financial situations, the financial products they choose and their experiences of engaging with financial services firm...

CHINESE NEW YEAR - Celebrations will take place on Friday 12 February as people throughout the County mark the Chinese New Year and welcome in the Year of the Ox.  But while celebrations are going on it is important to take some s...

SLAM THE SCAM - In the US scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to file fraudulent unemployment claims, often using someone else’s identity. Scammers may even use the identity of someone who is receiving or applying for Supplemen...

UNIVERSAL CREDIT UPLIFT - A cross-party group of MPs has urged the UK government to maintain the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and extend it to legacy benefits “in order to avoid a two-tier social security system.” The All-Party Parliamentary G...

BUDGETING LOANS - We enquired to our Member of Parliament and DWP Minister, how it is that some people can have two budgeting advances on Universal Credit while others only have one.  The allowance is up to £348 for a single person but if you ha...