debt

Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) Chief Executive Caroline Siarkiewicz looks back at our work in 2021 and goals for the coming year. I’m sure we will all agree that 2021 has been a challenging year both for individuals and organisations. In light of those challenges, I am particularly proud of the work that we have done with our partners and...

Through the current commissioning process for England, MaPS’ core objective is to make free of charge debt advice available to more people who need it and ensuring the needs of people in vulnerable circumstances are met, whilst achieving best value for money. Our modelling shows that more and more people will need this expert debt advice over the months and years ahead, including as a...

Caroline Siarkiewicz, Chief Executive of the Money and Pensions Service said: “This latest ruling from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is a welcome development for those who are struggling with debt. This type of advertising has the potential to refer people to a debt solution that may not be suitable for their circumstances and lead to further problems down the line. “We know...

The Money and Pensions Service provides an update on debt advice commissioning following completion of a key stage of the procurement process As well as providing money and pensions guidance through the MoneyHelper and Pension Wise brands, the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is the largest single funder of debt advice provision in England, working with a number of providers to do so....

The Money and Pensions Service reminds people of the support available to people who are worried about money due to changes in their day to day expenses. Caroline Siarkiewicz, Chief Executive of the Money and Pensions Service said: “We know that many people are worrying about money right now. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in demand for our services, with 1.2 million more...

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...

The pandemic has changed the personal finances of millions of people across the UK. Paul Das, debt insight manager at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), explains how we have adapted the way we measure the need for debt advice to address the changing landscape of problem debt in the UK. We can all...

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...

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...

2021: Looking back, looking forward

Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) statement: update on debt advice commissioning

Media comment: ASA ruling

Media statement: debt advice commissioning update

Media comment: support for money worries

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

Who will need debt advice in the future?

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

The 3 D’s of Covid

The impact of Covid-19 on financial wellbeing

Managing money in uncertain times