Money Box

BBC Radio 4

The latest news from the world of personal finance plus advice for those trying to make the most of their money.

  1. 11 HR AGO

    Energy Bill Fear and Council Tax Arrears

    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)

    25 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    Money Box Live: How to Handle Global Shocks

    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

    28 min

  3. 9 MAY

    Teacher's Pension Delays and Best Savings Rates

    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)

    25 min

  4. 6 MAY

    Money Box Live: Changes to Rights at Work

    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)

    28 min

  5. 2 MAY

    Pension Age Rise and April Tax Changes

    Millions of people in their sixties will now wait up a year longer before they can claim their state pension. From Easter Monday the current state pension age of 66 will gradually increase over the next two years until it reaches 67 affecting everyone born on 6th April 1960 or later. How will it work for those affected? Rent arrears, council tax debt and unpaid utility bills are the main reason more than 400,000 people in Britain are homeless. A new report by the Centre for Homelessness Impact published next week sets out ways to reduce or even end homelessness. What does it recommend? Millions of drivers are in line for hundreds of pounds of compensation for mis-sold finance deals. We'll have 5 top tips on who gets what and how to claim. And there are some tax changes from Monday as well, we'll round up what's happening to dividends and inheritance tax. Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporters: Dan Whitworth and Sarah Rogers Researchers: Catherine Lund and Jo Krasner Editor: Jess Quayle (First broadcast 12pm on Saturday 4th April 2026)

    25 min

  6. 29 APR

    Money Box Live: Making Tax Digital Guide

    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)

    28 min

  7. 25 APR

    Petrol Price Rises and NS&I

    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)

    25 min

  8. 18 APR

    Heating Oil Guide and Banknotes

    The government has promised more than £52mn to help people in the UK hit by huge rises in the price of heating oil. Around 1.5 million households in rural areas and particularly in Northern Ireland rely on heating oil for their central heating and the price has more than doubled since the Middle East conflict began. The help will be targeted at vulnerable households but how will it work in practice? As the Bank of England decides to hold rates at 3.75%, figures show almost 1,000 mortgage deals have disappeared off the market since the start of last week. How do thieves persuade sensible people to part with thousands of pounds? It's a question many of you have been asking, especially after the item on the programme a fortnight ago about civil servant Sara. She put $250 into what she thought was a cryptocurrency investment but ended up having £337,000 stolen. We'll ask a criminologist about the tricks and tactics that thieves use. And, which animal did you decide should be on the Bank of England's new banknotes? Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Sarah Rogers and Jo Krasner Researcher: Luke Jarmyn Editor: Jess Quayle Senior News Editor: Sara Wadeson (First broadcast 12pm Saturday 21st March 2026)

    25 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

The latest news from the world of personal finance plus advice for those trying to make the most of their money.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2026
  • Episodes
    720
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2026
  • Show Website
    Money Box

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