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BBC Radio 4

Money Box

Some bereaved listeners whose relatives had money put away with National Savings and Investments are facing weeks and months of delay in getting their own money. It comes as NS&I works to track down the accounts of tens of thousands of people who had died, after it admitted keeping nearly half a billion pounds in its coffers that should have been passed to their estates. The state-owned bank has apologised and says its working hard on its plan to ensure those affected are paid what is owed to them, along with returning the processing of current and new bereavement claims to their normal time-frame.

The cost of borrowing has been held steady by the Bank of England. On Thursday its Monetary Policy Committee held the Bank Rate at 3.75%. How is that affecting mortgage deals?

And, how can young people, who’re out of work, find a job? Dan Whitworth reports on a scheme run by the charity Spear to address barriers to work. It comes as University College London publishes research which finds being out of work and education between ages 16 and 24 has long-term consequences for people’s employment and finances in midlife. 

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Jo Krasner
Researcher: Catherine Lund
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson

(First broadcast 12pm, Saturday 2nd May 2026)

NS&I Delays and Youth Unemployment

A huge amount is about to change for anyone who rents their home or who owns a rental property in England. 

The Renters' Rights Act comes into force on May 1 and there's a lot in it, from ending so-called 'no fault' evictions to limits on rent increases. It will make a big difference to 11 million private renters and their 2.3 million landlords. After all, for tenants it involves their homes while for landlords it concerns their financial security.

Felicity Hannah is joined by Rachael Williamson, director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing; Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association; and Tarun Bhakta, policy manager at the housing charity Shelter.

Together they address listeners' questions on how the new law will affect different aspects of the rental market, including tenancies, evictions and how anti-discrimination measures will work.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producer: James Graham
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Sarah Wadeson

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 29nd April 2026)

Renters and Landlords: Your Questions Answered

In just a few days time the biggest shake up to renters rights in a generation will come into force in England. It will mean no more than one rent increase a year, an end to bidding wars an end to no fault evictions. The Renters' Rights Act will significantly change the current system not just for 11 million private renters in England but also their 2.3 million landlords. How will it work in practice?

There's a call for urgent reform of recently introduced fraud regulations to better protect victims of push payment scams - when people are tricked, groomed or manipulated into transferring money to criminals. National Trading Standards says a 13 month time limit on how long people have to tell their banks they've been scammed means some victims aren't being refunded because it often takes much longer than that before they even realise their money's been stolen. The Payment Systems Regulator, which introduced the rules, says they provide a minimum standard for banks to meet. UK Finance says only a small number of cases ever fall outside the 13 month deadline and victims can always complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

We'll ask if you should fix your energy bill now.

And, how a disabled man lost £5,000 he'd raised for a new wheelchair after paying it into the wrong bank account.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Niamh McDermott
Researcher: Jo Krasner
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson

(First broadcast 12pm on Saturday 25th April 2026)

Renters Rights, Energy Fixing and the £5k Typo

Are you worried about whether the global disruption could affect your global travel plans? Whether you've booked a foreign trip, are planning a staycation or simply unsure of what to do, this is the programme for you.

Holidays may not be the most important thing in the world, especially when you consider what's happening in Iran that's causing all the uncertainty, but that doesn't mean they don't matter and they are definitely a big expense. 

Maybe you're wondering if a jet fuel shortage could ground your flights or don't really know if you have the right insurance cover. With the inflation rate rising, perhaps you’re worried about the pressure on your holiday budget.

Felicity Hannah is joined by Emma Brennan from ABTA, the trade association for travel agents and tour operators, and Lisa Minot, head of travel at the Sun newspaper to answer your questions.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producer: James Graham
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Sarah Wadeson

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 22nd April 2026)

Money Box Live: Your Summer Holidays

Are we at the start of a deepening cost of living crisis as nearly half of all adults fear they might not be able afford their energy bills?

And from next year, councils in England will be banned from demanding householders pay their council tax in full if they are only late with one payment.

HMRC warns of scammers as it begins taking back Winter Fuel Payment from more than two million higher income pensioners.

Also, the rise of the poly worker. Why young people are fixing their sights on a portfolio career.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Niamh McDermott
Researcher: Jo Krasner
Editor: Rob Cave
Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson

(First broadcast Saturday 18th April 2026)

Energy Bill Fear and Council Tax Arrears

The conflict in Iran has very grave human costs for the Middle East. But it also has economic costs and they are being felt around the world and here in the UK.

Just this week the Resolution Foundation think tank said higher energy bills could mean typical British households are £480 worse off this year. From heat pumps to pensions and solar panels to savings - what changes have you made because of the changing world?

Felicity Hannah is joined by Ian Preston from the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol, Ellen Fraser from the energy consultancy Baringa and Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producer: James Graham
Editor: Rob Cave
Senior News Editor: Sarah Wadeson

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 15th April 2026)
Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Money Box Live: How to Handle Global Shocks

The National Union of Headteachers says the government "must step in" to help teachers in England and Wales who have retired but are facing long delays before their pension is paid. The Teachers' Pension Scheme is one of the biggest in the country with two million members. The Department for Education which has overall responsibility for the scheme says it’s working closely with Capita who administrate the pensions to monitor performance and address any emerging issues. Capita has apologised and says it's working closely with the government to ensure cases are progressed correctly and in line with scheme rules.

In the last month average two year fixed mortgage rates have jumped from around 4.8% to 5.9% and there are around 1 in 6 fewer mortgages deals available to house buyers and people whose fixed mortgages are running out. How is that affecting the housing market?

Mortgage rates going up is bad news but when interest rates rise savers, who far outnumber people with mortgages, many see it as better news. What are the best offers out there?

And what does the lifting of the two-child benefit cap mean for families? 

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Hannah Mullane and Jo Krasner
Researcher: Catherine Lund
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Henry Jones

(First broadcast on Radio 4 at 12pm on Saturday 11th April 2026)

Teacher's Pension Delays and Best Savings Rates

The Employment Rights Act has been called the most significant change to workers rights in a generation, so what does it mean for your money?

The new law will introduce a raft of new rules for employees and employers over the next 18 months. From April 6th statutory sick pay has been enhanced and will be available from the first day of illness. Also, fathers will have a right to paternity leave on joining a workplace, rather than after six months' service.

In January protection from unfair dismissal will become a right after six months of being in a job, instead of two years, and there will be a clamp down on zero hours jobs with workers given the right to request 'guaranteed hours'.

Felicity Hannah is joined by John Palmer a senior adviser at the conciliation service ACAS and Kaajal Nathwani, an employment lawyer at Osborne & Wise. Felicity also speaks to the employment rights minister Kate Dearden.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producers: James Graham 
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Henry Jones

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 8th April 2026)

Money Box Live: Changes to Rights at Work

Making Tax Digital for income tax is HMRC's biggest shake-up of self assessment for decades, but are you ready? 

The new system will involve filing quarterly updates as well as a final return via third party software. This year it'll affect 860,000 sole traders and landlords with a turnover of £50,000. In the coming years the threshold will fall, bringing a total of nearly three million people into the new system.

Felicity Hannah is joined by Jonathan Athow, HMRC's director general for strategy and policy, to take listeners' questions about how it all works and what they need to do to prepare. We also hear from Emma Rawson, from the Association of Tax Technicians, a professional body for tax advisers.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah
Producers: James Graham and Rob Cave
Editor: Jess Quayle
Senior News Editor: Henry Jones

(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 1st April 2026)

Money Box Live: Making Tax Digital Guide

The cost of filling up your car has risen every day over the past three weeks as the conflict continues in the Middle East. Diesel is now averaging £1.78 per litre - a price last seen on Christmas Day 2022, 10 months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Petrol is up 17p and has just tipped over £1.50 per litre. Those figures are UK averages from the RAC. What can you do to bring down the cost?

The boss of government-backed bank NS&I has been replaced after a lost funds scandal, affecting thousands and delaying bereaved families’ access to relatives’ money.

Bosses from Capita apologise again as MPs question them about the long delays facing retired civil servants awaiting pension payments. 

And if you're a regular Money Box listener we'd hope you to know your ISA from your IHT, but do you know the difference between your gross and net salary? Or how to work out how much interest you'd pay on a loan? A group of financial firms and charities is calling for the introduction of an exam which measures how much young people know about basic financial products and services. How might it work?

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporters: Dan Whitworth, Bisi Adebayo and Luke Jarmyn
Researcher: Jo Krasner
Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast at 12pm on Radio 4 on 28th March 2026)

Energy Bill Fear and Council Tax Arrears

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