Better Debt Advice

Overview We at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) want to understand the effect that the closure of face-to-face public services during the Covid-19 pandemic has on the accessibility and delivery of debt advice in the UK. While we know the temporary removal of common “triggers” for debt advice at the start of the pandemic led to a drop in demand for debt advice services, anecdotally...

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has announced the launch of its ‘MaPS Standards’. The MaPS Standards have been developed by a wide range of subject matter experts. Through a considered and collaborative process, they set out the core principles for the effective delivery, quality and performance requirements of MaPS’ Debt Advice, Pensions Guidance and Money Guidance...

What impact has Covid-19 had on financial wellbeing? Our head of insight Nick Watkins explores on how the pandemic has affected the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing goals for financial education, saving, credit use, debt advice and pensions. When we launched the UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing in January 2020, we had no idea that the first Covid-19 cases would be detected in the...

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...

Money problems can cause mental health problems, and mental health problems can cause money problems. This Mental Health Awareness Week policy, insights and external engagement director Sarah Porretta shares four of the ways that the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) helps customers caught in this spiral, and how your organisation can help us reach more people. Money and mental health...

Pilot will help people in England access Mental Health Crisis Breathing SpaceIt will join up healthcare services with the debt advice sectorIt forms part of the £94.6m in debt advice funding from the Money and Pensions Service in 2021/22 The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has launched an innovative new pilot to help people in mental health crisis avoid worsening debt problems, as part...

This Debt Awareness Week, Craig Simmons, head of debt policy and strategy at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), provides an update on MaPS activity to drive forward better debt advice. On the verge of a new financial year, organisations across the UK are no doubt deep in thought about their budgets for the year ahead. While entirely true for the debt advice...

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...

Following the publication of the Woolard Review: A review of change and innovation in the unsecured credit market, MaPS Chief Executive Caroline Siarkiewicz commented: “The proposals to bring Buy Now Pay Later under regulatory scrutiny would provide further protection for people to avoid the potentially harmful consequences of this form of borrowing which can result in people spiralling...

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...

Call for evidence on access to debt advice during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Money and Pensions Service announces its ‘MaPS Standards’

The 3 D’s of Covid

The impact of Covid-19 on financial wellbeing

Four ways MaPS helps customers with money and mental health problems

New £2.4m pilot for people in mental health crisis to help avoid spiralling debt

Debt advice budget update

Transforming debt relief order administration

Media comment: Buy Now Pay Later/Woolard Review

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

Managing money in uncertain times