Research

Our 2021 Debt Need Survey looked at the need for debt advice in the UK. These reports provide estimates of the percentage of people needing debt advice in each Westminster parliamentary constituency and lower-tier local authority. Our Need for Debt Advice measure is new, and we have published an explanation of how it is calculated. The percentages shown in each report are the proportion...

How can the Money and Pensions Service help connect individuals with their pensions? The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) was tasked by government to create and run a MaPS Dashboard. This aims to help individuals to access their pensions information online, securely and all in one place, and enhances the service MaPS offers to help people with their pensions and plan their financial...

To help support UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing goal of two million more children and young people receiving a meaningful financial education by 2030, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) facilitated a workshop with subject matter experts to explore how the financial capability of 4, 5 and 6 year olds and their carers can be measured. We know that children start to learn vital money...

Many people who need help with their money are unaware of, unable or unwilling to receive support. Evidence suggests that people can be effectively reached and engaged with money help through other familiar channels and systems. Our Savings and Credit Pathfinders Programme aimed to design and explore ways to do this in practice and at scale, funding twelve projects across three...

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) launched the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing in January 2020. The months following the launch brought the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to have a historic impact on the UK economy and people’s personal finances. To help analyse the pandemic’s impact on UK financial wellbeing, MaPS reviewed existing evidence in five separate rapid evidence...

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) assumed the delivery functions of both Pension Wise and The Pensions Advisory Service in 2019. This report provides quarterly data for MaPS’ pensions guidance services for Q4 2020/21 (and follows our first quarterly data report). This data is being published in advance of quarterly reporting commencing in 2021/22.    Download data on Q1 2018/19 to...

Existing evidence shows that when seeking help with money questions offline, young people value one-to-one advice from trusted intermediaries. However, online, young people use multiple platforms to seek money guidance. The internet appeals to young people as a source of advice. Yet, despite its many advantages, the online world can be overwhelming and confusing, and locating reliable,...

In 2019/20, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) ran a collaborative improvement project working with supply chain partners to transform the way MaPS – funded debt relief order (DRO) units process DRO applications. In running this project, MaPS, alongside Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice County Durham, were able to: significantly improve customer satisfactionreduce the...

Influencing creditor support for people in financial difficulty We have an ongoing strategic objective to influence more consistent creditor support for those with debt problems. A supportive approach to debt recovery provides a range of benefits for any organisation collecting debts. Creditors that work in partnership with the debt advice sector tend to achieve fairer outcomes, better...

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) assumed the delivery functions of both Pension Wise and The Pensions Advisory Service in 2019. This report provides quarterly data for MaPS’ pensions guidance services for Q1 2018/19 to Q3 2020/21 (year to date). This data is being published in advance of quarterly reporting commencing in 2021/22. Download report

Need for debt advice 2021: estimates for UK constituencies and local authorities

Pensions Dashboard user research

Measuring 4, 5 and 6 year olds’ financial capability: summary of workshop discussion

The Savings and Credit Pathfinders Programme – evaluation report

The impact of Covid-19 on financial wellbeing

Pension guidance data – second quarterly report

Young people and money: a review of young people’s use of online information and advice

Transforming debt relief order administration

Working collaboratively with debt advice agencies: a strategic toolkit for creditors

Pension guidance data – first quarterly report

Managing money in uncertain times