News

Debt Insight Manager Paul Das shares what we know about people using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products, shares our concerns about what is currently offered by some providers and discusses how this product could fit within the regulated credit landscape. BNPL in the UK There are various estimates of the size of BNPL usage in the UK, but what all analysts and market commentators agree...

Caroline Siarkiewicz, Chief Executive of the Money and Pensions Service said: “Research from our Debt Need Survey, which measures how many people need debt advice in the UK, has shown that four in ten people (38%) who had used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products in the last six months are in need of full debt advice. A further third (35%) are at risk of falling into problem debt, and only a...

Lab pilots: Nationwide Building Society project We know that making a habit of saving money is crucial to developing long-term financial wellbeing. Yet over 10 million working aged people in the UK do not save regularly – with 2 million people not having any savings at all. Without this savings buffer, people could be left vulnerable to unexpected costs and unmanageable debt,...

This report covers the approach that MaPS took to its 2021 Debt Need Survey, working with research agency Alligator. The report goes into detail on how we executed each aspect of the project from questionnaire development, interviewing and data processing. Insights from the survey were used to produce this blog on who needs debt advice in 2022. More details on our new Need For...

Understanding how to embed and scale effective financial education professional learning Evidence shows that learning and experiences in childhood are important influences on being able to manage and make the most of money in life. As such, teachers (alongside parents) play a key role in providing opportunities for young people to engage and learn about money, shaping their financial...

57% of those who have experienced a recent mental health problem say thinking about their financial situation makes them anxiousEven 26% of people who have not experienced a recent mental health problem report the same concern, yet one in five do not seek helpThe Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) encourages people to seek free guidance from MoneyHelper for money worries this Mental Health...

People with mental health problems are four times as likely to be behind on priority bills1 than people who do notThis Mental Health Awareness Week, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) and Rethink Mental Illness are urging healthcare practitioners to refer patients receiving mental health crisis treatment into the Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space (MHCBS) schemeMHCBS places an immediate...

UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing Following listening events in Scotland and across the UK, The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) launched the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing at the start of 2020. The Strategy is designed to bring partners together to transform the country’s financial wellbeing in a decade. Since then, MaPS has been coordinating proposals for a Delivery Plan for...

Current and former employees of P&O are urged not to make any quick decisions about their pension following recent media reports. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) are raising their concerns given the heightened risk of pension transfers following recent redundancies. The FCA and TPR warn that transferring out...

What is the survey? The Financial Wellbeing Survey 2021 is a nationally representative survey of over 10,000 adults living in the UK. The questionnaire covers the building blocks required for people to feel financially resilient, confident, and empowered. These include: Current and longer-term financial wellbeingDay-to-day behaviours like managing credit, active saving and keeping track...

Buy Now Pay Later – the customers and MaPS’ Concerns

Media comment: HM Treasury proposals to regulate Buy Now, Pay Later agreements

Developing saving habits through prize-linked savings accounts

2021 Debt Need Survey Technical Report

Financial education Professional Learning for Teachers in Wales: pathfinder evaluation

More than half of people with mental health problems feel anxious when thinking about money

Healthcare practitioners urged to support clients to access Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space from debt enforcement action

Delivery Plan for Scotland

FCA, TPR and MaPS joint statement on P&O defined benefit pension schemes

Financial Wellbeing Survey 2021

Managing money in uncertain times