News

Richard Smith, Industry Lead at the Industry Delivery Group (IDG), provides an update on activity relating to the industry working groups, looking at expressions of interest, resourcing, data scope, research with pension providers and schemes, and the latest stage of the Pension Schemes Bill. I joined the pensions dashboards programme in mid-November 2019 as Industry Lead with...

Scams training open to community services such as firefighters, GP practice staff and librarians Frontline workers in Wales such as carers and emergency services staff will receive training to help protect people from financial scammers, as part of support offered by the Money and Pensions Service. Public education about financial scams is crucial, when 50% of adults in Wales (1.3m) do...

New trials to see housing, mental health and ex-offender support workers trained as ‘money supporters’ New trials are looking to build on evidence that training frontline support workers in money guidance can help the UK’s most vulnerable people to address and avoid financial problems such as going into debt. Funded and coordinated by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), the trials...

Commenting on the Government announcement about Breathing Space, Craig Simmons, Head of Debt Policy and Strategy at the Money and Pensions Service said: “Having worked on the policy behind Breathing Space, it’s great to see it coming into effect in 2021. We welcome the fact that many people will benefit from 60 days without contact from their creditors. In this time, they can get debt...

Around nine million people in the UK are over-indebted, and supply of debt advice is struggling to keep up with the demand. To respond to this rapidly changing marketplace, services need to find new and innovative ways to serve customers. While face-to-face debt advice services remain crucial, people are increasingly using online channels for a range of services and experiences....

The appointment follows a robust recruitment process and is effective immediately The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is today announcing the appointment of Caroline Siarkiewicz as Chief Executive. Caroline has been acting CEO since June 2019, during which time the organisation has developed and published its UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing. Caroline takes up the helm of MaPS at...

The Pension Wise 2018/19 Service Evaluation Report, published in partnership with Ipsos Mori, is a very positive endorsement of the service and its delivery partners. Since launching in 2015/16, Pension Wise has increased transaction volumes over two and a half times, whilst maintaining excellent satisfaction and advocacy levels and the many positive impacts on the knowledge and...

49% year-on-year increase in customers arranging appointments   95% of appointment customers and 87% of digital customers say they would recommend the service to others More than twofold increase in Pension Wise transactions since the service began Rising numbers of people accessed guidance offered by Pension Wise in 2018/19, with a 49% increase in...

Commenting on the incoming changes to overdraft charges, Money Expert at the Money and Pensions Service, Andrew Johnson, said: “Don’t panic if you get a letter from your bank about new overdraft charges. If you only dip into it occasionally you may not end up paying more because daily and monthly fixed fees are ending. However if you’re in your overdraft for most of the month or you’re...

The UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing establishes five agendas for change and sets goals to be achieved by 2030. One of these is two million more children and young people (CYP) getting a meaningful financial education by 2030. To support this goal, the Money and Pensions Service has conducted a nationally representative survey of the financial knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of...

Pensions dashboards: moving forward with working groups

Frontline workers in Wales to join the fight against financial scammers

Frontline first responders could help the UK’s most vulnerable avoid spiralling into debt

Media comment: introduction of Breathing Space

Evolving the future of debt advice

Caroline Siarkiewicz announced as Chief Executive of the Money and Pensions Service

Pension Wise service evaluation 2018/19: Experiences and outcomes of customers

Empowering Savers: Pension Wise appointments see 49% increase in 18/19

Media comment: changes to overdraft charges

UK Children and Young People’s Survey – Financial Capability 2019

Managing money in uncertain times