Listen to the podcast. It’s helpful!

I’ve been saying to people that if they don’t see the automatic payment in their account they should speak to their local benefits office. Some people don’t qualify even though they are on certain benefits but you know what it’s like…there are often computer glitches with these things so it’s worth checking to see if there’s been a problem with your payment.

Check out the full article here.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11445909/MISS-MONEYSAVER-helps-cost-living-crunch.html

Do you have any good ideas to add to help us all prepare for the threatened blackouts this winter?

Honestly I really wonder if we will have them but the fact that it’s UK Power UK that is warning of them makes me feel we should at least be prepared.

Times are incredibly tough but there’s no way I can imagine getting rid of our cats – I’d rather not eat myself than give them up. But is there any specific help available? Every penny counts at the moment.

One thing I suggest you do is use one of the benefit calculators online. Turn2Us.org.uk has a really good one as does entitltedto.co.uk.

Also, there is a list (though not all in one place) of all the benefits there are on the government site Gov.uk. The information is across lots of sections on the site but if you put ‘benefits’ in the search bar you will find a lot.

Of course here at MoneyMagpie.com we try to keep on top of the latest benefits, so do look at our Benefits and Debt Assistance section here https://www.moneymagpie.com/manage_your_money_categories/benefits-and-debt-assistance

Finally do speak to one of the debt advice charities like StepChange, Community Money Advice, Christians Against Poverty or Citizen’s Advice as their advisors are really good on benefits and what you could claim.