Pension Credit tops up weekly income for people over State Pension age. This guide explains the 2026/27 amounts, who can claim in Great Britain, how savings count, how to apply and what else it can open the door to.
\nPension Credit is a benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and have a low income. It is separate from the State Pension itself. You can qualify even if you have some savings or own your home.
\nIt has two parts. Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a set level. Savings Credit is a smaller extra payment that only some people can get, explained below.
\n\nThe rules on this page apply to people living in England, Scotland or Wales who have reached State Pension age. If you have a partner, they must be included in the claim. You qualify if you both have reached State Pension age, or if one of you gets Housing Benefit and is over State Pension age.
\nNorthern Ireland has separate arrangements, so it is not covered here. The guide also does not apply to people below State Pension age.
\nYour income includes State Pension, other pensions, earnings, self-employment income and most social security benefits, such as Carer's Allowance. Some payments are not counted, including Attendance Allowance, Child Benefit, Personal Independence Payment, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and Winter Fuel Payment.
\nSavings and investments of £10,000 or less do not affect eligibility. Above that, every £500 counts as £1 a week of income. For example, £11,000 of savings counts as £2 a week.
\nGOV.UK says Pension Credit can open access to other help. This includes Housing Benefit for renters, Support for Mortgage Interest for owners, Council Tax Reduction, a free TV licence for people aged 75 or over, help with NHS costs, the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments. Which of these apply depends on your circumstances.
\nThere are three ways to apply. You can call 0800 99 1234, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Relay UK users can dial 18001 then 0800 99 1234. You can apply online, though you need to have already applied for your State Pension. You can also use a paper form sent to a Freepost address.
\nYou can apply up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age. After that you can apply at any time, but a claim can only be backdated by 3 months. This means a first payment may include up to 3 months of Pension Credit if you were eligible then.
\nMany people find it useful to have these to hand: National Insurance numbers for you and any partner, details of income, savings and investments, and bank account details.
\nFree, impartial guidance on benefits and money is available from Citizens Advice and from MoneyHelper. A friend or family member can also make the phone call for you.
\nRates, limits and rules change, and the figures above were checked on 13 October 2026. It can be worth confirming the details on the official GOV.UK pages linked below before making a claim.
\nViatris agreed to buy Pacira for $36.50 a share in cash, about $1.65B, a ~44.8% premium to its last close. Pacira's non-opioid pain drugs Exparel and Zilretta bring ~$746M of trailing revenue. Close targeted by end-2026 via tender offer.
\n\n\nIf you are unhappy with a bank, lender or payment firm, there is a set route: complain to the firm first, then the free Financial Ombudsman Service. This guide explains the time limits and award limits.
\nThe first step is to complain to the financial business itself. The Financial Ombudsman Service says you should explain what went wrong and say how you would like it put right. Keeping a record of calls, emails and letters can help.
\nThe business then investigates and should send you a final response. That response should explain the outcome and how to take the complaint further if you remain unhappy.
\nThe second step is to bring the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. You can do this if you are unhappy with the final response, or if the business has not replied within its time limit.
\nA late complaint can still be looked at in some cases. The Ombudsman lists exceptional circumstances that stopped you complaining on time, such as serious ill health or bereavement. A late referral can also go ahead if the business agrees to it, and a business cannot change its mind once it has agreed. A final response that does not set out the 6 month right to refer is not treated as valid, so the deadline may not apply.
\nThe Ombudsman can ask a business to put things right. There is a limit on the money it can award. The limit is set for each referral date and depends on when the problem happened.
\n\nThe Ombudsman can recommend that a business pays more than the limit if it thinks that is fair, but the business does not have to accept that recommendation.
\nWhere interest is added to an award, the Ombudsman says that from 1 January 2026 it typically asks businesses to use a time-weighted average of the Bank of England base rate plus one percentage point. Before 1 January 2026 it typically asked for 8% simple interest a year.
\nThe Ombudsman says its service is free and easy to use, and you do not need to pay a lawyer or a claims management company to represent you.
\n\nTime limits and award limits change, and a firm's final response will set out your own deadline. It is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below before relying on any date or figure here.
\nUnitedHealth posted Q3 adjusted EPS of $4.69 vs $2.92 a year ago on $112.7B revenue, and lifted its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to at least $20.50. The medical care ratio improved to 88.4% from 89.9%, though Medicare Advantage membership is still shrinking.
\n\n\nThe energy price cap limits the rates suppliers can charge on standard variable tariffs. This guide explains what the cap covers, the figures Ofgem set for 1 October to 31 December 2026, who is not covered, and when the next level is due.
\nThe price cap is set by Ofgem, the energy regulator. It is the most a supplier can charge for each unit of energy and for the daily standing charge. It is a limit on rates, not on your total bill. If you use more energy, your bill is higher, even when the rates stay the same.
\nOfgem reviews the cap every three months. The current period runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026, and Ofgem announced it on 26 August 2026.
\nFor a typical household that pays by Direct Debit and uses both gas and electricity, Ofgem says the cap rose by 4 percent. Its press release gives the annual figure as £1,723, which is £60 a year more than the previous level of £1,663. A typical bill is only an illustration. Your own bill depends on how much energy you use.
\nOfgem also publishes the average unit rates and standing charges for Direct Debit customers. These are averages across England, Scotland and Wales, so they do not show differences between regions.
\n\nOfgem says the government has removed VAT from domestic electricity, which is normally charged at 5 percent, from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Gas keeps its 5 percent VAT, and the gas figures above include it. Ofgem says that without the electricity VAT change the rise would have been about £45 higher. It also says gas bills rise by 8 percent, while the rise for homes without gas is less than 1 percent.
\nOfgem says that around 22 million households are on default tariffs that the cap covers.
\nOfgem says it will announce the levels for 1 January to 31 March 2027 on 25 November 2026. Until then, the figures above stay in place for the current period.
\nPeople who struggle to pay energy bills can speak to their supplier and to Citizens Advice, which gives free and impartial help. This is general information, not personal advice, and it does not suggest what any reader should do.
\nRates and rules change every quarter. It can be worth checking the official Ofgem pages linked below, and your own bill, before relying on any figure here.
\nTeradyne agreed to invest $300M in FormFactor for 2,234,887 new shares, a minority stake, alongside a test collaboration covering HPC, advanced packaging, HBM and silicon photonics. Close is expected in Q4 FY2026, subject to conditions. Shares rose after the news.
\n\n\nGift Aid lets a charity claim an extra 25p from HMRC for every £1 you give, at no extra cost to you. This guide explains who it covers, what you sign, and how higher rate taxpayers can claim relief.
\nGift Aid is a scheme that lets charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) reclaim tax on donations from individuals. As of 13 October 2026, GOV.UK says the charity can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give, and that it will not cost the donor anything extra.
\nFor example, a £100 donation can be worth £125 to the charity once Gift Aid is added. The extra money comes from HMRC, not from you.
\n\nIt does not apply if you have not paid enough tax in the year. Donations from limited companies cannot be claimed under Gift Aid, and neither can gifts of shares, charity vouchers or Payroll Giving.
\nThe charity does not get the money automatically. GOV.UK explains that the tax you have paid in the tax year must be at least as much as the charity claims on your gifts. Your donations should also be no more than 4 times the tax you have paid in that year. The tax can be Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax.
\nIf you stop paying enough tax, you need to tell the charities you give to. If a charity reclaims more tax than you have paid, HMRC may ask you to pay the difference. It can be worth checking that you pay enough tax before signing a declaration.
\nBefore a charity can claim, you usually sign a Gift Aid declaration. The charity provides the form. You need a separate declaration for each charity. One declaration can cover a single gift, current and future gifts, and gifts you made in the last 4 years.
\nMany charities offer this at the point of giving, for example by a tick box online or a form in a collection envelope. Keeping a record of what you signed and what you gave can make later checks simpler.
\nThe charity claims basic rate tax on the gift. GOV.UK says that higher rate taxpayers can reclaim the difference between the tax they paid and the tax the charity recovered. One way is through a Self Assessment tax return. Another is by asking HMRC to amend a tax code.
\nGOV.UK gives this example: a £100 donation becomes £125 with Gift Aid, and a 40% taxpayer can reclaim £25, which is 20% of £125. If you are in Scotland, your income tax bands and rates can differ from the rest of the UK, so it can be worth checking which rates apply to you on the official pages.
\nSome special cases can qualify, such as sponsored challenges, charity events and auctions, and some church collections. The rules for these are more detailed, and the charity decides whether it can claim.
\nGift Aid rules, limits and rates can change. Please confirm the details on the official pages linked below before relying on this guide. If you are unsure how it applies to you, HMRC or Citizens Advice can explain it for free. This guide is general information, not personal advice.
\nCitigroup earned $5.2B, or $2.85 a share, in Q3, up from $1.86 a year ago, on revenue of $23.8B (+8%). Services revenue rose 15% and Wealth 15%. RoTCE hit 11.5%, but profit fell about 10% from Q2. Prior year had a goodwill charge.
\n\n\nIn England most working-age adults pay a flat charge for each NHS prescription item, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not charge. This guide explains who is exempt, what the charge is, and how a prepayment certificate works.
\nThis guide is general information for people who get NHS prescriptions dispensed in England. It does not cover dental or eye costs, or private prescriptions, which are priced differently. It is not advice for your own situation.
\nThe figures below are the ones published by the NHS and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) as of 13 October 2026, the date they were checked.
\nThe NHS says the current prescription charge in England is £9.90 per item. The charge applies to each medicine on a prescription, so a prescription with three medicines means three charges.
\nSome items are always free, including contraceptives and medicines given to hospital inpatients.
\n\nNHSBSA lists several groups who are entitled to free NHS prescriptions in England.
\nNHSBSA says New Style Jobseeker's Allowance and New Style Employment and Support Allowance do not give automatic entitlement, but people on them may be able to get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
\n\nA prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) is a way of paying in advance for NHS prescriptions in England. Once you hold one, you do not pay the per-item charge for the period it covers. NHSBSA gives the price as £32.05 for a 3 month certificate and £114.50 for a 12 month certificate.
\nThe NHS says a PPC may be cheaper if you expect to pay for many prescriptions. As a simple sum, £114.50 is about 11.6 items at £9.90, and £32.05 is about 3.2 items. So a 12 month certificate costs less than paying item by item once more than 11 items are needed in the year, and a 3 month certificate once more than 3 items are needed in the period. Your own numbers will vary.
\nA 12 month PPC can be paid in 10 monthly Direct Debit instalments, or paid in full by card or at a pharmacy. Some pharmacies sell PPCs, and you can also buy one online through NHSBSA.
\nThe NHS says you can only get a refund if you were given an FP57 refund receipt at the time you paid. You take it, with evidence of your entitlement, to a community pharmacy within three months of paying.
\nThe NHS says prescriptions are free in Scotland and Wales. The Northern Ireland government's nidirect site says prescriptions are free in Northern Ireland, with no eligibility test. The rules in this guide about charges and PPCs apply to England.
\nCharges, prices and exemption rules can change, so it can be worth confirming them on the official pages linked below. If a bill is hard to afford, the NHS Low Income Scheme and Citizens Advice can explain what help may exist.
\nJ&J raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $11.05-$11.15 as Q3 sales rose 5.9% to $25.4B, led by Innovative Medicine (+7.7%). Adjusted EPS of $2.59 fell 7.5%; reported EPS was $0.09 on a talc settlement charge. Stelara erosion is still a drag.
\n\n\nGoldman Sachs earned $17.01 a share in Q3, up from $12.25 a year ago, on net revenue of $18.68B, up 23%. Global Banking & Markets revenue rose 32% and investment banking fees 21%. It bought back $3.0B of stock, with annualised ROE at 18.7%.
\n\n\nPeople buying a home in Scotland pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, and in Wales Land Transaction Tax. This guide sets out the rates, bands and extra charges for second homes, as checked on official pages on 13 October 2026.
\nThis guide is general information for people buying residential property in Scotland or Wales. It does not cover England and Northern Ireland, where Stamp Duty Land Tax applies, or commercial property. It is not advice for your own purchase.
\nThe figures below were checked on Revenue Scotland and Welsh Government pages on 13 October 2026. Property tax rates can be changed in a Budget, so the date matters.
\nScotland and Wales each set their own tax on property purchases. In Scotland it is called Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and is run by Revenue Scotland. In Wales it is Land Transaction Tax (LTT), which replaced Stamp Duty Land Tax from 1 April 2018 and is collected by the Welsh Revenue Authority.
\nBoth taxes are charged in slices, a bit like Income Tax. Each rate applies only to the part of the price inside that band, not to the whole price.
\nFirst-time buyers relief raises the 0% band to £175,000. Revenue Scotland says this reduces the tax by up to £600.
\nIf you buy an additional home, the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) can apply. It is 8% of the price for contracts entered into on or after 5 December 2024, and it applies only if the price is £40,000 or more. An earlier 6% rate can still apply to some older contracts. A repayment may be possible if the previous main home is sold within 36 months of buying the new one.
\n\nThese rates apply to dates from 10 October 2022. The Welsh Government page does not mention a separate first-time buyer relief.
\nIf you already own one or more homes when you buy another, you may need to pay the higher residential rates. The Welsh Government says that if you are replacing your main home, the higher rates may not apply. Companies buying residential property must pay them, and trusts may have to.
\nThese apply to dates from 11 December 2024. They do not apply where contracts were exchanged before that date.
\n\nIn Wales, the buyer works out and reports the tax themselves, and the return and payment are due 30 days after completion. In Scotland, the tax is reported on an LBTT return, and any ADS goes on the same return and is paid at the same time. Many buyers have a solicitor or conveyancer handle this, and it can be worth asking who will file the return.
\nBuyers in England and Northern Ireland pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, which has different bands and reliefs. Anyone moving between the nations should check the rules for the place where the property is.
\nRates, bands and reliefs change, and some depend on your own circumstances. It is worth confirming the figures on the official pages linked below. Free guidance on buying a home is available from MoneyHelper.
\nCapital Gains Tax is charged on the profit when you sell something that has gone up in value. This guide explains what it applies to, the 2026/27 allowance and rates, what is exempt, and when gains must be reported to HMRC.
\nThis guide is general information for UK residents who sell or give away things that may have risen in value, such as shares outside an ISA, a second property or cryptoassets. It does not cover non-residents, trusts or company sales, which have extra rules. It is not advice for your own situation, and Capital Gains Tax applies across the whole UK, so the rules are the same in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
\nThe figures are for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026.
\nCapital Gains Tax (CGT) is a tax on the profit, or gain, when you sell or otherwise dispose of something that has increased in value. You pay tax on the gain, not on the whole sale price. GOV.UK gives the example of a painting bought for £5,000 and sold for £25,000, which gives a gain of £20,000. Disposing includes selling, giving away, swapping, or getting compensation such as an insurance payout.
\nInherited assets are generally covered by Inheritance Tax at the time. CGT only comes into play if the person who inherits them later sells or gives them away.
\n\nGOV.UK says the rates changed on 6 April 2026 and apply to gains made from that date. Where your gains sit in the basic rate band depends on your taxable income plus your gains, after the £3,000 allowance is taken off. You add up the gains for the tax year, take off any allowable losses, and the allowance is applied to what is left. If your total gains are below the allowance, you do not pay CGT.
\nGOV.UK says you generally pay no CGT when you sell your home if you have only one home, have lived in it as your main home for all the time you owned it, have not let part of it out (a lodger does not count as letting), have not used part of it only for business, the grounds are under 5,000 square metres, and you did not buy it just to make a gain. If these all apply, the relief is automatic. Married couples and civil partners can count only one main home at a time. If any of them do not apply, some tax may be due.
\nAllowable costs are covered in the asset-specific GOV.UK pages, such as those for shares, property and cryptoassets. Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper offer free, impartial information if you are unsure how CGT applies to you.
\nRates, allowances and deadlines change, and your own circumstances can change the answer. Please confirm the details on the official GOV.UK pages linked below before making any decisions.
\nWells Fargo earned $5.95B, or $1.87 a share, in Q3, up from $1.66 a year ago. It bought back $2.5B of stock and ROTCE rose to 16.3%. Loans and deposits grew about 11%, but revenue of $21.87B reportedly came in below forecasts.
\n\n\nJPMorgan earned $15.3B, or $5.57 a share, in Q3, up from $5.07 a year ago. Trading revenue rose 15% and investment banking fees 14%. Reports say EPS and revenue still came in a bit under analyst forecasts.
\n\n\nA smart meter sends your gas and electricity readings to your supplier automatically. This guide explains what one does, what it costs, when you can say no, what to do about faults, and where to complain.
\nA smart meter sends your electricity and gas readings to your energy supplier automatically. That means bills are based on actual use rather than estimates, and you do not need to send readings yourself. It usually comes with an in-home display, a small screen that shows how much energy you are using.
\nA smart meter does not save money by itself. Any saving depends on what you do with the information, or on whether you choose a tariff that needs a smart meter. Some flexible tariffs, such as those where energy is cheaper at quieter times, are only open to people with one.
\nCitizens Advice says you do not have to accept a smart meter if you do not want one. The main trade-off is that some cheaper tariffs may in future be offered only to people who have one.
\nThere is a middle option. You can ask your supplier to fit a smart meter with its extra functions switched off. It then works like your old meter and sends no readings to the supplier. Suppliers may not all offer this, so it is worth asking.
\nThere are exceptions. If an old gas meter is unsafe it may have to be replaced, and you might not be able to refuse a smart meter in that case. Older radio teleswitch (RTS) meters rely on a radio signal that has been switched off, and Ofgem says support for them has ended, so your supplier will contact you about replacing them.
\nGOV.UK says you have control over who can access the energy use data from your smart meter, other than for regulated purposes such as billing. Ofgem says suppliers can use your data to offer new products or services only if you have given permission.
\nIf a smart meter stops recording or sending readings, Ofgem points to Citizens Advice for troubleshooting steps. For complaints, GOV.UK says to contact your supplier first, which has 8 weeks to investigate and resolve the problem. If you are still unhappy, you can take the complaint to the Energy Ombudsman. Citizens Advice also runs a consumer helpline if a supplier insists on replacing a meter you want to keep.
\n\nRules, compensation amounts and supplier offers change. Please confirm the details on the official pages linked below, or with your supplier, before you book or refuse an installation.
\nSelf-employed people can pay two kinds of National Insurance, Class 2 and Class 4. This guide explains the 2026/27 rates and limits, how they are usually paid, and how they link to a State Pension record.
\nIt is for sole traders and partners in the UK who work for themselves and file a Self Assessment tax return. It does not cover employees, who pay Class 1 through their wages, or limited company directors paid through payroll. Special rules apply to a few groups, such as examiners and invigilators, who pay Special Class 4 and cannot use Self Assessment.
\n\nClass 4 is charged on your profits, not your sales. Your profits are your self-employed income minus allowable expenses. If your profits for the year are £12,570 or less, you do not pay Class 4.
\nAbove that level, you pay 6% on the slice of profit between £12,570 and £50,270. On any profit above £50,270, the rate falls to 2%.
\nAs an example, a person with profits of £30,000 would pay 6% on the £17,430 above £12,570. That comes to about £1,045.80. This is only an illustration of how the bands work, not a forecast for any real person.
\nClass 2 works differently. If your profits are £7,105 or more, GOV.UK says Class 2 is counted as paid, and you do not pay it. This is done to protect your National Insurance record.
\nIf your profits are under £7,105, nothing is due. However, you can choose to pay voluntary Class 2 contributions. For 2026/27 the rate is £3.65 a week.
\nNational Insurance years count towards the State Pension. GOV.UK says you need 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension, and 35 qualifying years for the full rate if your record began after April 2016. Some people need more than 35 if they were contracted out before 2016.
\nMost people pay Class 2 and Class 4 through Self Assessment. You must register with HMRC when you become self-employed. The tax is worked out from your tax return, so it is usually paid at the same time as your Income Tax. If you do not use Self Assessment, voluntary Class 2 can be paid separately.
\nDeadlines for returns and payments are covered in our Self Assessment guide, and are set by HMRC.
\nThe National Insurance rates above apply across the UK. Income Tax bands differ in Scotland, but Class 4 does not change there.
\nRates, limits and rules change, often at the start of a tax year. It is worth confirming every figure on the official pages linked below before relying on it, and asking HMRC or a free adviser such as MoneyHelper if your situation is unclear.
\nWSJ reports Amazon is in talks to buy Decart, an AI software startup, for around $7B, versus a ~$4B valuation in May. Decart's tools help AI run across different chips. No deal is signed and Amazon hasn't commented. A test of AWS's chip strategy.
\n\n\nStamp Duty Land Tax is paid when you buy a home in England or Northern Ireland. This guide explains the standard rates, first-time buyer relief, the extra charge on additional homes, and when the tax must be paid.
\nStamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax paid by the buyer when they buy a residential property or land above a certain price. GOV.UK says it applies in England and Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales have their own taxes instead: Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland and Land Transaction Tax in Wales. Their rates and bands are different, so this guide does not cover them.
\nSDLT is charged in slices, like Income Tax. Each rate applies only to the part of the price that falls inside that band, not to the whole price.
\nThese are the rates shown on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026 for a purchase where the home is the buyer's only residential property.
\nExample: on a £300,000 home, the first £125,000 is taxed at 0%. The next £125,000 at 2% is £2,500. The last £50,000 at 5% is £2,500. The total is £5,000.
\nGOV.UK says first-time buyer relief is available only if you and anyone you are buying with are all first-time buyers. If the price is £500,000 or less, the first £300,000 is taxed at 0% and the part from £300,001 to £500,000 at 5%. If the price is over £500,000, the relief cannot be claimed and the standard rates apply to the whole purchase.
\nExample: a first-time buyer paying £400,000 would pay 5% on £100,000, which is £5,000, with nothing due on the first £300,000.
\nGOV.UK says you usually pay 5% on top of the standard rates if you own another residential property. The extra 5% does not apply if the new home replaces your main residence and you sold the old one within 36 months of completing the new purchase. If you did not sell in time, a refund may be possible.
\nExample: on a £300,000 additional home, the standard £5,000 plus 5% of £300,000 (£15,000) comes to £20,000.
\nGOV.UK says people who were not present in the UK for at least 183 days in the 12 months before the purchase usually pay a further 2% when buying residential property in England or Northern Ireland. Some exemptions exist.
\nFor a new lease, tax is charged on the lease premium using the rates above. If the net present value of the rent is above £125,000, a further 1% applies to the part over £125,000. This does not apply to assigned (existing) leases.
\nGOV.UK says the return and payment are due within 14 days of completion. Late filing or payment can lead to penalties and interest. If a solicitor or conveyancer handles the purchase, they usually file and pay for the buyer, often on completion day. HMRC provides a free SDLT calculator online.
\n\n\nRates, thresholds and reliefs can change, and individual cases have special rules. It is worth confirming the figures on the official pages linked below, or with the HMRC calculator, before relying on any number here.
\nNikkei Asia reports Apple cut October component orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by at least 15%, citing higher memory costs and a $100 price rise. Reuters couldn't verify it and Apple hasn't commented. Worth watching Q4 guidance.
\n\n\nPremium Bonds from NS&I pay prizes instead of interest. This guide explains who can hold them, the minimum and maximum amounts, how winners are picked, how prizes are paid and how they are taxed.
\nPremium Bonds are a savings product from National Savings and Investments (NS&I). NS&I says it is backed by HM Treasury. Unlike most savings products, Premium Bonds do not earn interest. Instead, each £1 Bond that is eligible goes into a monthly prize draw.
\nNS&I says you can cash in all or part of your Bonds at any time. Your original money is not what is drawn: the prizes come from a prize fund, and the Bonds you hold stay yours.
\nAnyone aged 16 or over with a UK bank account can hold Premium Bonds, as set out on the NS&I product page. A parent or guardian can buy Bonds for a child under 16. Until the child's 16th birthday, the parent or guardian named on the application looks after the Bonds. At 16 the child manages their own. A child cannot hold more than £50,000 in total.
\nNS&I says someone buying Bonds for another person's child cannot look after those Bonds or have them repaid to themselves.
\nNS&I says winning numbers are picked by its random-number generator, which it calls ERNIE. NS&I also says every £1 Bond entered into the draw has the same odds of winning. That means holding more Bonds gives more chances, but no holding is guaranteed to win anything in a given month.
\nThe prize fund rate and the odds are variable. NS&I changes them from time to time, and the figures shown on different NS&I pages were not consistent when this guide was checked. For that reason this guide does not quote them. The current figures are on the NS&I Premium Bonds page.
\nPrizes can be paid into a bank account, reinvested into more Bonds, or sent as a cheque. NS&I says payments to a bank account should arrive by the seventh working day of the month. Cheques can take until the end of the month, and NS&I says they expire after three months.
\nNS&I runs a prize checker that shows prizes from the current month and the previous six draws, as well as older prizes that have not been claimed. NS&I says it tells winners by text or email. Larger prizes need a claim form, according to NS&I.
\nRules, the prize fund rate and the odds can change. Confirm the current details on the official NS&I pages linked below before buying, cashing in or relying on any figure in this guide.
\nOption Care Health agreed to be taken private by CD&R (about 51%) and McKesson (about 49%) at $32.05 a share, a ~37% premium and ~$5.8B enterprise value. Close is expected in H1 2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
\n\n\nIf you have paid too much Income Tax, HMRC may owe you a refund. This guide explains why overpayments happen, what a P800 letter is, and how refunds are now claimed and paid.
\nThis is general information for people in the UK who pay tax through a job or a pension. It is not about Self Assessment, where any overpayment is adjusted automatically, and it is not advice for your own situation. Details were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026.
\nOverpaying usually happens through PAYE, the system that takes tax from pay or pensions as you go. GOV.UK lists some common reasons.
\nAfter the tax year ends on 5 April, HMRC checks whether you paid too much or too little. If you were employed or get a pension, it may send a tax calculation letter called a P800. GOV.UK says these are sent between June and March of the following tax year. The letter explains how to get a refund or pay tax you owe.
\nPeople who file a Self Assessment return do not get a P800, because their bill is adjusted automatically.
\nHMRC has said that for most people, refunds are no longer sent automatically by cheque. Instead, the person who is owed money has to make a claim. GOV.UK describes these routes.
\nIf your P800 says a cheque will be sent, you do not need to claim. GOV.UK says HMRC posts it automatically within 14 days of the date on the letter.
\n\nThe same HMRC update says that last year more than 730,000 refunds went unclaimed, with an average value of £855. That is one reason many people check their HMRC app or Personal Tax Account, where a Claim button appears under Pay As You Earn if a refund is due. Keeping your postal address up to date also matters, as letters go there.
\nAgents and accountants cannot claim repayments for clients, because of security checks. Only the person owed the money can complete the claim.
\nGOV.UK has an online tool to claim a refund. It covers overpaid tax on pay from a job, job expenses such as working from home or work clothing, a redundancy payment, savings interest and some other cases. Pension tax refunds and National Insurance refunds have separate routes.
\nGOV.UK says you can contact HMRC and explain which figures you think are incorrect and what they should be.
\nIncome Tax on earnings has different bands in Scotland, which can change how much tax is due. The P800 process and refund routes described here are run by HMRC across the UK.
\n\nRules, timings and routes change. It is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below before relying on anything here. Free help is available from Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper.
\nOmron agreed to buy Interlogic, parent of US industrial PC maker OnLogic, for $675M in cash, with closing expected around Jan 2027. It pairs OnLogic's computers with Omron's sensing and robotics. A shift toward software-led factory automation; approvals still pending. $6645.T
\n\n\nA Child Trust Fund is a tax-free savings account opened for children born in a set period. This guide explains who had one, how to trace it through HMRC, and what changes when the child turns 16 and 18.
\nThis guide is general information for people born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, and for the parents or guardians of children in that group. It does not cover Junior ISAs, which are separate accounts for children born at other times. It is not advice for your own situation.
\nThe figures and dates below were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026. The £9,000 limit applies to the 2026/27 tax year.
\nGOV.UK explains that the Child Trust Fund scheme closed in 2011, so no new accounts can be opened. Accounts that already exist can still be paid into. The money belongs to the child, and income and profits in the account are not taxed. GOV.UK also says the account does not affect benefits.
\n\nMany families lose track of which company holds the account. GOV.UK says you can ask HMRC to find it if you are 16 or over and looking for your own fund, or if you are a parent or guardian of a child under 18. The service cannot be used to find a Junior ISA.
\nThe online form asks for these details. It has to be finished in one go, because it cannot be saved and returned to later.
\nHMRC then sends a letter giving the provider's details and where the account was first opened. It does not say how much money is in the account, so you contact the provider for that.
\nGOV.UK says online applications usually get a reply by letter within 3 weeks. Postal applications take longer. If you have heard nothing after 6 weeks, GOV.UK says to write to HMRC and include your reference number if you have one.
\nGOV.UK also lists other free ways to trace a provider, such as the Share Foundation's finder. If you already know the provider, you can contact them directly.
\nGOV.UK says the child can take control of the account at 16, but cannot take money out until 18. At 18 the fund matures and the child automatically takes over the account. No more money can be added after that.
\nAt that point the child can either withdraw the money or move it into an adult ISA, after which the Child Trust Fund closes. Until one of those happens, the money stays in an account that no one else can access.
\nIf the child lacks the mental capacity to manage the account, GOV.UK says a parent, or a close friend or relative, must apply for a financial deputyship order from the Court of Protection before the account matures. In Scotland the application goes to the Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland. In Northern Ireland it goes to the Office of Care and Protection.
\nA child cannot hold both a Child Trust Fund and a Junior ISA at the same time. GOV.UK says that if a Junior ISA is opened, its provider can be asked to transfer the Child Trust Fund into it. Whether that suits a family depends on the details of each account.
\nRules, limits and processes can change, so it can be worth confirming the details on the official GOV.UK pages linked below before you apply or move any money.
\nMorgan Stanley named eBay its Top Pick on Oct 12, keeping Overweight and lifting its target to $132 from $127. It estimates live commerce drove over 40% of eBay's 2026 GMV growth. Shares rose roughly 3-5% intraday. Wells Fargo stays Underweight.
\n\n\nBreathing Space gives people with problem debt in England or Wales a short pause from creditor action while they get debt advice. This guide explains how long it lasts, what it covers, and what it does not do.
\nThis guide is general information for people who live in England or Wales and are struggling with debts. It does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland, because the GOV.UK pages checked for this guide cover England and Wales only. It is not advice for your own situation, and we checked the details on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026.
\nGOV.UK describes Breathing Space as temporary protection from your creditors while you get debt advice and make a plan. It is not a way of making debts go away. The debts are still owed when it ends.
\nThe official adviser guidance adds that Breathing Space is not a payment holiday. Ongoing living costs and priority bills still need to be paid. GOV.UK also says you still need to make your debt repayments.
\nThere are two versions. The standard version lasts up to 60 days. It ends automatically unless it is cancelled earlier, and advisers must carry out a review between days 25 and 35.
\nThe mental health crisis version is for someone receiving mental health crisis treatment, which must be certified by an Approved Mental Health Professional. It lasts for as long as the crisis treatment continues, plus 30 days. Someone else, such as a carer or representative, can ask for it on the person's behalf if they cannot speak to an adviser themselves.
\n\nYou apply through a debt adviser, who submits the request if it is appropriate. You must live, or usually live, in England or Wales. You cannot apply if you already have a debt relief order, an individual voluntary arrangement, or an interim order, or if you are an undischarged bankrupt. You also cannot already be in the scheme, and you cannot use the standard version if you used it in the last 12 months. That 12 month rule does not apply to the mental health crisis version.
\nThe adviser guidance says most personal debts qualify, but some do not. Examples include:
\nCouncil tax is treated in a particular way: the guidance says council tax not yet due is excluded, but it can qualify once all the instalments for the year have fallen due. An adviser can say what applies to your debts.
\nThe debts have not been written off or reduced. Creditors can start enforcement again and charge interest and fees from the end date, but they cannot normally charge interest or fees that built up during the break unless a court allows it. After a mental health crisis Breathing Space, a person can apply for the standard version if they need it.
\nGOV.UK lists other ways of dealing with debt, including a debt management plan, an individual voluntary arrangement, a debt relief order and bankruptcy. In Scotland, a Debt Payment Programme can be arranged through the Debt Arrangement Scheme. Free, impartial debt advice is available, and MoneyHelper has a debt advice locator to find a free adviser online, by phone or in person. Citizens Advice and StepChange also offer free help. Some advisers may charge a fee, so it can be worth checking before you start.
\nRules and lists of excluded debts can change, so it is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below, or with a free debt adviser, before relying on this guide.
\nGermany's transport minister says Berlin will push for EU-wide approval of Tesla's FSD, and Tesla has offered to rename it "Tesla Assisted Driving." But the member-state vote has slipped to December at the earliest, and approval needs 15 of 27 states.
\n\n\nMany people change jobs and lose track of an old workplace or personal pension. This guide explains what the free government Pension Tracing Service does, what it cannot do, and how to use it.
\nThis guide is general information for anyone in the UK who thinks they may have an old workplace or personal pension but no longer has the provider's details. It is not advice for your own situation. It does not cover the State Pension itself, apart from a short note below.
\nThe Pension Tracing Service is run by the Department for Work and Pensions. GOV.UK says it helps you find contact details for your own workplace or personal pension scheme, or for someone else's scheme if you have their permission.
\nIt is a way to find who to contact, nothing more. GOV.UK says it will not tell you whether you have a pension, or what the pension is worth. You then need to contact the scheme or provider yourself to ask about your membership and any value.
\n\nGOV.UK says you need the name of an employer or a pension provider. The service works from names, so it helps to build a list before you search.
\nIf the search finds a match, you get contact details. You can then write or call to ask whether you have a pension there, and what you would need to provide to prove who you are. If nothing is found, one option is to look for other clues, such as an old payslip, a P60 or a letter naming an insurer, and search again under that name. Former colleagues who were in the same scheme may also remember its name.
\nThe Pension Tracing Service is separate from the State Pension. GOV.UK has a different service for checking your State Pension forecast. It shows how much you could get, when you could get it, and whether you can increase it, for example by paying to fill gaps. You can use it online, through the HMRC app, by post with form BR19, or by phone through the Future Pension Centre. The post and phone routes apply if you are more than 30 days from State Pension age. It is not available if you already receive your State Pension or have deferred claiming it. GOV.UK warns that a forecast is not fixed and can change, for example if State Pension age changes.
\n\nPhone numbers, opening hours and rules can change. It is worth confirming everything on the official pages linked below before you rely on it. Free guidance on pensions is also available from MoneyHelper, the government-backed service.
\nBofA upgraded Salesforce two notches to Buy from Underperform on Oct 12 and lifted its target to $285 from $160. Its case: AI agents deepen lock-in rather than replace software platforms. Shares rose about 3% premarket. AI revenue is still small.
\n\n\nFuneral Expenses Payment is a government payment that can help people on certain benefits with funeral costs. This guide explains who may qualify, what it covers, the deadline and how it differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
\nThis guide is general information for people arranging a funeral in England or Wales who receive a low-income benefit. It also points to the separate schemes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is not advice for your own situation, and it is not for people who are not on a qualifying benefit, who may want to look at other ways of covering costs.
\nThe details below were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026, in the 2026/27 tax year.
\nFuneral Expenses Payment, sometimes called a Funeral Payment, gives partial help with the cost of a funeral. GOV.UK says it usually will not cover the full cost. The amount depends on other money available, such as insurance or the estate of the person who died.
\nGOV.UK says you, or your partner, must get one of these benefits:
\nA Support for Mortgage Interest loan may also make you eligible. You can claim while a claim for one of these benefits is still waiting for a decision.
\nGOV.UK adds that if a close relative, such as a sibling or parent, is working or not on a qualifying benefit, you might not get a payment. The funeral must be arranged in the UK, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
\n\nGOV.UK does not set one fixed cap for burial or cremation fees. These are paid based on your circumstances.
\nIf you have already paid for the funeral, the money goes to your bank, building society or credit union account. If you have not paid yet, it goes directly to the funeral organiser, such as the funeral director.
\nThe payment is not a loan, but GOV.UK says it is deducted from any money you receive from the estate of the person who died. A house or personal items left to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner are not counted as part of the estate for this.
\nYou must apply within 6 months of the funeral, even if you are still waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit. You can claim by phone through the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), or by post using form SF200. You can claim before the funeral if you have an invoice or signed contract from the funeral director. An estimate is not accepted. If you get Universal Credit, GOV.UK says you will not get a decision until after your next payment. If you disagree with a decision, you can appeal.
\nIn Scotland, Funeral Support Payment has replaced Funeral Expenses Payment and is claimed through mygov.scot. Mygov.scot says you cannot receive it if you have already had funeral support from another UK scheme. Northern Ireland has its own Funeral Payment, run by the Department for Communities. NI Direct says it covers similar costs, up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses, and must be claimed within six months of the funeral. The exact rules in these two places can differ from those above, so use their own pages.
\n\nRules, amounts and phone lines can change. It is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below. Free help is available from Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper, and the Tell Us Once service can report a death to several government departments at once.
\nMicron fell about 4% on Oct 12 after China's CXMT said it made progress on a denser 4F² DRAM cell and plans a server product before end-2026. SK Hynix and Samsung also slid. Yield and volume are unconfirmed, so it is a timeline claim.
\n\n\nProbate is the legal right to deal with the money, property and possessions of someone who has died. This guide explains when it may be needed, who can apply, the application fees and how Inheritance Tax fits in.
\nThis guide is general information for people dealing with the estate of someone who has died, where probate is applied for in England and Wales. It does not cover Scotland or Northern Ireland, which have different probate rules. It is not advice for your own situation, and it does not cover the law on wills in detail.
\nThe figures below were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026, during the 2026/27 tax year.
\nGOV.UK describes probate as the legal right to deal with a person's property, money and possessions after they die. It says people are advised not to make financial plans, or put property on the market, until probate is granted.
\nProbate is not always required. GOV.UK says you may not need it if the person who died only had savings, or if shares, money or property were owned jointly and pass automatically to the surviving owners. Each bank or other financial organisation has its own rules, so many people ask each one what it needs.
\nGOV.UK says that before applying, you check whether Inheritance Tax is payable and work out the value of the estate. Even if no tax is due, you need an estimate of the value for the application. You can apply online or by post.
\nIf the estate owes Inheritance Tax, GOV.UK says its value must be reported within one year using form IHT400, and you cannot apply for probate until that is done. You will normally need to start paying the Inheritance Tax before probate is granted.
\n\nGOV.UK gives the Inheritance Tax threshold as £325,000. Normally no tax is due if the estate is below it, or if anything above it goes to a spouse, civil partner, charity or community amateur sports club. The threshold can rise to £500,000 if a home is passed to children or grandchildren, and an unused threshold can be added to a surviving partner's threshold. An estate may still need to be reported to HMRC even when no tax is due.
\nGOV.UK says a person can challenge a probate application before it is granted by entering a caveat, for example where there is a dispute about who can apply or whether a will exists.
\nScotland and Northern Ireland have different probate rules, and the GOV.UK page points to the Scottish courts website and NI Direct for details. The fees in this guide are not for those countries.
\n\nRules and fees change. It is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below. Free help is available from MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice, and the Tell Us Once service can report a death to several government departments at once.
\nCouche-Tard agreed to buy 52 Irving Oil retail sites (50 in Quebec, 2 in eastern Ontario) plus 18 commercial cardlock sites. It already runs the retail sites under an alliance. Price undisclosed; Competition Act review applies. $ATD.TO
\n\n\nMaking Tax Digital for Income Tax began for some sole traders and landlords in April 2026. This guide explains who has to use it, the income thresholds and start dates, the quarterly update deadlines and the penalty rules.
\nThis guide is general information for sole traders and landlords in the UK who file a Self Assessment return. It does not apply to people whose only income is from employment, dividends or pensions, or to partnerships, which will join later on a timeline still to be set. It is not advice for your own situation.
\nMaking Tax Digital is run by HMRC and applies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The figures below cover the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026.
\nInstead of one yearly return, people in the scheme keep digital records of their self-employment and property income and expenses, send HMRC short updates during the year, and then finish with their tax return. GOV.UK says each update contains totals for each income and expense category. Individual receipts or invoices are not sent.
\nYou must use it if you are registered for Self Assessment, have self-employment or property income, and your qualifying income is above the threshold for the relevant tax year. GOV.UK sets out three steps:
\nGOV.UK says HMRC checks your Self Assessment return for the earlier year and writes to you if you are above the threshold. People who are exempt, for example because of digital exclusion, do not use it but still file a Self Assessment return.
\n\nGOV.UK describes qualifying income as your total self-employment and property income before expenses, also called turnover. Your share of jointly owned property income counts. Employment income, dividends, State Pension and private pensions do not count. Because expenses are not taken off, someone with a smaller profit can still be over a threshold.
\nGOV.UK gives these deadlines for the standard update periods, which follow the tax year. People can also choose calendar periods ending a few days earlier, with the same deadlines.
\nEach update covers the year so far, and one must be sent even if there was no income or expense in that period. The tax return still has to be filed after the final update. For anyone already in the scheme, the update for 6 April to 5 October 2026 is due by 7 November 2026.
\nGOV.UK says no penalty points are given for late quarterly updates in the 2026/27 tax year, although late tax returns still can earn points. From 2027/28, each missed deadline earns one point, and reaching 4 points leads to a £200 penalty. GOV.UK says points can expire after 24 months, or be cleared by meeting the deadlines for 12 months once the threshold is reached.
\nHMRC has free guidance on GOV.UK, including the sign-up and penalty pages linked below. Many people use software that works with Making Tax Digital, but the guidance does not require any particular product, and this guide does not rank or recommend any.
\nDates, thresholds and penalty rules can change, so it can be worth confirming them on the official pages linked below, or in the letter HMRC sends, before relying on this summary.
\nSTERIS agreed to buy surgical products maker Xodus Medical for $2.1B at closing, about $1.8B net of an expected $300M tax benefit, plus up to $150M of earnout. Xodus is guided to ~$245M 2026 revenue. Debt-funded; close targeted by year-end.
\n\n\nSome people earn a little extra from odd jobs, selling their time or renting out property. This guide explains the two £1,000 allowances, when you do not need to tell HMRC, and when the rules stop applying.
\nThis guide is general information for people in the UK with small amounts of income from casual work, self-employment or letting property. It does not cover income from a company or partnership you are involved in, or income from your employer, which are treated differently. It is not advice for your own situation.
\nThe rules are the same across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, because they are UK-wide HMRC rules. The figures below apply in the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and were checked on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026.
\nGOV.UK says you can get up to £1,000 each tax year in tax-free allowances on certain income. There are two separate ones, so a person with both kinds of income can get £1,000 for each.
\nGOV.UK says that if your gross income from the activity is £1,000 or less, you generally do not need to tell HMRC or declare it on a tax return. It is still sensible to keep records of what you received, because the allowance only works if the income really is within the limit. Sole traders must keep records of business income and expenses for Self Assessment.
\nIf your gross income is over £1,000, there are two ways to work out your taxable profit. One is to deduct the full £1,000 allowance from your income. This is called partial relief. The other is to ignore the allowance and deduct your actual allowable expenses instead.
\nGOV.UK explains that you cannot use the allowance on top of expenses for the same income. Many people find it is worth comparing both ways. If real expenses are higher than £1,000, claiming expenses can leave less profit to tax.
\nGOV.UK says you cannot use the allowances in a tax year if you have trading or property income from any of these:
\nThere are extra limits on the property allowance. It cannot be used against income covered by the Rent a Room Scheme. It also cannot be used if you claim the tax reducer for finance costs, such as residential mortgage interest. You also cannot use it to create a loss.
\nGOV.UK lists several reasons you may need to register for Self Assessment. One is gross trading income over £1,000. If your gross income for a tax year is over £1,000, the page says to register by 5 October in the following tax year. For 2025/26 income, that deadline was 5 October 2026, and GOV.UK says that telling HMRC after the deadline could lead to a penalty.
\nGOV.UK also says to contact HMRC if your gross trading or property income is more than £1,000 but not more than £2,500, or if you are unsure whether you can use the allowances.
\nGOV.UK says that, for Self Assessment, records should be kept for at least 5 years after the 31 January submission deadline of the relevant tax year.
\n\nRules, allowances and deadlines can change, and your own circumstances matter. It can be worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below before deciding what to do. Free help is available from Citizens Advice, and HMRC can be contacted directly.
\nGE HealthCare agreed to buy SOFIE Biosciences from Trilantic for $945M in cash, adding 15 US sites and 21 cyclotrons that make PET imaging agents. It says the deal should add to adjusted EPS in year one. Close expected in H1 2027.
\n\n\nThe Rent a Room Scheme lets people who let furnished space in their own home earn some rental income tax free. This guide explains the limit, the shared limit, when it applies automatically and when a tax return is needed.
\nThis is general information for people who let a furnished room, or part of their home, to a lodger. It covers the tax side only. It does not apply if you let out a whole property you do not live in, and GOV.UK says the scheme cannot be used for homes converted into separate flats. It is not advice for your own situation.
\nThe figures below were read on GOV.UK on 13 October 2026.
\nThe Rent a Room Scheme is a tax relief run by HMRC. If you let furnished accommodation in your home, you may be able to earn up to a set amount each year without paying Income Tax on it. GOV.UK says you can let as much of your home as you want.
\n\nGOV.UK says you can opt in at any time if you are a resident landlord, whether or not you own your home, or if you run a bed and breakfast or guest house. You count as a resident landlord if you let out part of a property that is your only or main home.
\nIf your income from the letting is below the limit, the tax exemption applies automatically. GOV.UK says you do not need to do anything in that case.
\nIf your income is above the limit, you must complete a tax return. There are two routes, as GOV.UK describes them.
\nGOV.UK points to HMRC helpsheet HS223 for how to fill in the form and when opting out makes sense. Many people compare the two routes before deciding, since they work in different ways.
\nGOV.UK says that if you only occasionally rent out part of your home, for example through short-term rental apps, it is worth checking whether you need to tell HMRC about the income. The page links to an HMRC checker for this.
\nGOV.UK also suggests getting references from a possible lodger and following them up before signing anything.
\nThe GOV.UK pages give one limit and do not set out separate figures for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Other rules that affect lodgers, such as housing law, can differ between nations, so it can be worth checking the official pages for where you live.
\n\nTax limits and rules can change. It is worth confirming the figures on the official pages linked below before relying on anything here. Free help is available from Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper.
\nViatris agreed to buy Pacira for $36.50 a share in cash, about $1.65B, adding non-opioid pain drugs Exparel and Zilretta. Pacira jumped roughly 44%; Viatris slipped nearly 2%. Close is targeted by end-2026.
\n\n\nIf your phone or broadband provider raises the price during your contract, you may be able to leave without a fee. This guide explains the 30 day notice rule, the exceptions, and how to complain if a provider refuses.
\nThis guide is general information for people in England with a phone, mobile, broadband or TV contract. It does not cover business contracts, and the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be set out differently, so check the Citizens Advice pages for those nations. It is not advice for your own situation.
\nThe details below were read on Citizens Advice pages on 12 October 2026.
\nCitizens Advice says that if your terms do not say the provider can raise the price each year, the provider should give you 30 days' notice before a rise. During those 30 days you have a legal right to cancel the contract without paying a fee.
\nMany people find it helpful to look at the date on the notice and note down the last day of the 30 day period, because the right to cancel without a fee applies within that window.
\n\nCitizens Advice lists three cases where this fee-free exit does not apply.
\nIn those cases you probably cannot cancel without a fee unless another exception applies.
\nCitizens Advice explains that the wording of annual rises depends on when your contract started.
\nThe Citizens Advice page does not give a formula or cap for inflation based rises, so your own contract is the place to look for how the rise is worked out.
\nCitizens Advice says you can contact your provider by phone, post, email or webchat. Keeping a record of every attempt, such as screenshots and call logs, can help if there is a disagreement later.
\nAfter you cancel, it can be worth checking when your service ends and whether any equipment must be returned. Your provider's terms will explain this.
\nCitizens Advice suggests complaining to the provider first, using the complaints process on its website. If you have had no response after 6 weeks, or you still disagree with the answer, you can use an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme. This is an independent body that looks at both sides and aims to reach a fair decision.
\nProviders must belong to an ADR scheme. You can check which one yours uses on the Ofcom website. For a bill dispute, Citizens Advice says to keep your account number, copies of the bill and your reasons, and to save any webchat log or proof of postage.
\nFree help is available from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133, or through their online form.
\nRules and rates change, and your own contract terms matter. It is worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below before deciding anything.
\nBristol Myers said admilparant met the primary goal in its Phase 3 ALOFT-IPF trial at 60 mg, but the 120 mg dose slowed lung decline without a statistically significant gain. Shares fell about 3% Monday. Size of the benefit was not disclosed.
\n\n\nA Junior ISA is a tax-free savings account for a child. This guide explains the 2026/27 limit, who can open and pay into one, the two types, when a child gets control, and how it links to Child Trust Funds.
\nA Junior ISA is a long-term, tax-free savings account for children. The money in it belongs to the child, not to the adult who opens or manages it.
\nThere are two types. In a cash Junior ISA, the interest is not taxed. In a stocks and shares Junior ISA, growth and dividends are not taxed. A child can have one or both types at the same time.
\n\nThe £9,000 limit is for the whole tax year and covers all of a child's Junior ISAs added together. GOV.UK gives this example: if £2,000 goes into a cash Junior ISA between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2027, only £7,000 more can go into a stocks and shares Junior ISA in that same year.
\nThe limit applies to the child's accounts, not to each person paying in. GOV.UK says anyone can pay money into a Junior ISA, so relatives and friends can add to it as long as the total stays within the limit.
\nAt 16, the child can take control of the account, which means they can manage it themselves. However, they cannot withdraw the money until they are 18. GOV.UK says there are some exceptions, and it points to a separate page about what happens if a child is terminally ill or dies.
\nBecause the money belongs to the child, it is not a way of saving that an adult can take back later. Many families find it helpful to talk about this before opening an account.
\nChild Trust Funds were an earlier scheme for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. A child cannot hold a Child Trust Fund and a Junior ISA at the same time. Someone who wants to move can ask the Child Trust Fund provider to transfer the money into a Junior ISA.
\nMoney can still be paid into an existing Child Trust Fund, up to £9,000 a year per child. As with a Junior ISA, the child takes control at 16 and can take the money out at 18.
\nHMRC runs a free online service for this. It can be used by anyone aged 16 or over looking for their own fund, or by a parent or guardian looking for the fund of a child under 18. It cannot find Junior ISAs and it does not tell you how much is in an account.
\nFor a child's fund, HMRC asks for the child's full name, address and date of birth, plus any previous names. For your own fund, you need your National Insurance number. Online applications usually get a letter from HMRC within 3 weeks.
\nIf you already know the provider, you can contact them directly. GOV.UK also mentions a free alternative, the Share Foundation's find-a-CTF service.
\nLimits, rules and rates can change from one tax year to the next. It is worth confirming the current position on the official pages linked below before opening an account or paying money in. This guide is general information, not personal advice.
\nMeta launched Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, saying they match top rivals on its own tests. The API is priced at $4 per million input and $20 per million output tokens. Shares rose over 3% on Monday. Benchmarks are Meta's own, not independently checked.
\n\n\nA lasting power of attorney lets you choose someone to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. This guide explains the two types, how to make and register one, what it costs and how long it takes.
\nThis is general information for adults in England and Wales who want to understand how a lasting power of attorney (LPA) works. It does not apply in Scotland or Northern Ireland, which use different arrangements, and it is not advice for your own situation. Figures were checked on GOV.UK on 12 October 2026.
\nAn LPA is a legal document. It lets you, called the donor, appoint one or more people, called attorneys, to help you make decisions or to make decisions for you. It matters if you have an accident or illness and cannot make decisions yourself. GOV.UK says the donor must be 18 or over and have mental capacity when the LPA is made.
\nGOV.UK describes two separate types. You can make one or both.
\nGOV.UK sets out three steps. First, choose your attorney or attorneys. Second, fill in the forms to appoint them. Third, register the LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian. An LPA cannot be used until it is registered.
\nThe GOV.UK forms page says that the LP1F (property and financial affairs) and LP1H (health and welfare) forms are used both to make and to register the LPA. If an LPA was made on certain older forms, a separate registration form is needed.
\nThe fee to apply to register an LPA is £92. GOV.UK says this rose from £82 on 17 November 2025. The Office of the Public Guardian says payment is due when you apply, and that fees cannot be refunded.
\n\nThe Office of the Public Guardian describes two kinds of help. If the donor receives certain means-tested benefits when the application is made, the fee can be waived completely (an exemption). If the donor's income before tax is less than £12,000 a year, they pay half the fee (a remission). For Universal Credit, the donor is assessed for a remission, not an exemption. The full criteria are in the LPA120 form and its guidance.
\nBecause an LPA must be made while the donor still has mental capacity, it is something many people consider before they need it. If someone has already lost capacity, a different route through the Court of Protection may be needed. This guide does not cover that process.
\nRules, forms and fees change. It can be worth checking the official pages linked below, or contacting the Office of the Public Guardian on 0300 456 0300, before filling in any forms. MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice also offer free guidance.
\nStarbucks said it is not buying Chipotle, after an FT report last week said it was weighing a takeover. Chipotle fell over 4% as the deal premium faded, while Starbucks edged up. The stock now rests on its own results.
\n\n\nEmployees who become a parent through birth, adoption or surrogacy can take up to 2 weeks of Paternity Leave. This guide explains who qualifies for leave and Statutory Paternity Pay, the 2026/27 weekly rate, and the notice employers need.
\nThis guide is general information about Paternity Leave and Statutory Paternity Pay for employees in Great Britain. GOV.UK says Northern Ireland has different rules, and points readers there to the NI Direct website. It is not advice for any one person's situation.
\nIt does not cover self-employed people, who are not employees and so do not get statutory paternity pay from an employer. It also does not cover Shared Parental Leave, which is a separate scheme. Figures were checked on GOV.UK on 12 October 2026 and are for the 2026/27 tax year.
\n\nGOV.UK describes two separate things: Paternity Leave, which is time off, and Paternity Pay, which is money paid while you are away. You can qualify for leave without qualifying for pay.
\nThe person taking leave must be the baby's father, the mother's husband or partner (including a same-sex partner), the child's adopter or adopter's partner, or the intended parent in a surrogacy arrangement. They must be taking time off to look after the child.
\nFor leave, you must be an employee and give the correct notice. GOV.UK says you can qualify from your first day of employment.
\nFor pay, there are extra tests.
\nGOV.UK says Statutory Paternity Pay is £194.32 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. The rates and thresholds page for employers says this rate applies from 6 April 2026. It is paid in the same way as your wages, with tax and National Insurance taken off.
\nSome employers pay more than the statutory amount as part of a contract or policy. This guide only covers the statutory minimum, so it can be worth reading your own contract or staff handbook.
\nGOV.UK says you must tell your employer the baby's due date at least 15 weeks before the baby is expected. You also say when you want leave to start, such as the day of the birth or the week after, and whether you want 1 or 2 weeks. You do not need an exact date; a general plan such as the day of birth is acceptable.
\nThe online form, previously called SC3, can be sent to your employer, or you can use your employer's own form. You do not need to give proof of the pregnancy or birth. To change the start date, GOV.UK says to give at least 28 days' notice. If the baby is due before 25 July 2026 and you had been employed for less than 26 weeks in the qualifying week, the 15 weeks' notice is not needed.
\nIf you do not qualify for pay, GOV.UK says your employer must tell you within 28 days, and explain why, using form SPP1. People who are unsure what to do next can get free help from Citizens Advice.
\n\nRates, dates and rules change, and the details can differ for adoption and in Northern Ireland. It is worth confirming everything on the official pages linked below before relying on this guide.
\nThe Information reports IREN signed a multiyear AI cloud deal with Anthropic. Neither company has confirmed it, and no price or capacity was given. Shares rose 4-5% early, then pared gains. If real, it names a big buyer.
\n\n\nStatutory redundancy pay is a legal minimum for many employees who lose their job through redundancy. This guide explains who qualifies, how the amount is calculated, the 2026/27 weekly cap and the notice periods.
\nThis guide is for employees in Great Britain who have been told they are being made redundant, or who want to understand how the rules work. It does not cover self-employed people, agency workers who are not employees, or people who left for other reasons, such as being dismissed for misconduct. Northern Ireland has its own figures, covered below.
\nGOV.UK says you are normally entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you are an employee and have worked for your current employer for 2 years or more. You are not entitled if your employer offers you suitable alternative work and you refuse it without good reason. Some groups are excluded, including members of the armed forces and the police, Crown servants, and apprentices who are not employees at the end of their training.
\nYour contract or your employer may offer more than the legal minimum. Statutory pay is the floor, not the ceiling.
\nThe pay depends on your age, your length of service and your weekly pay. For each full year you worked for your employer, you get:
\nOnly up to 20 years of service count. Your weekly pay is your average weekly pay over the 12 weeks before the day you received your redundancy notice. For redundancies on or after 6 April 2026, a week's pay is capped at £751 when doing the sum, even if you earned more. That makes the most anyone can get £22,530 (20 years at one and a half weeks, at £751 a week).
\n\nSeparate from redundancy pay, you are entitled to a minimum period of notice. GOV.UK sets the statutory minimum as:
\nYour contract can give you longer notice, but not shorter than these minimums.
\nGOV.UK says there are no specific consultation rules for fewer than 20 redundancies at the same workplace. When 20 or more are proposed, collective rules apply: the employer must consult a trade union or elected employee representative, starting at least 30 days before dismissals take effect for 20 to 99 redundancies, and at least 45 days before for 100 or more. If an employer does not consult properly, you can make a claim to an employment tribunal.
\nThe GOV.UK pages cover Great Britain. Northern Ireland sets its own limits. NI Direct currently shows a weekly pay cap of £783 and a maximum of £23,490, but it does not state the date those figures took effect, so check it before relying on them.
\n\nAcas, Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper offer free, impartial information if you are facing redundancy. If money becomes tight, StepChange and Citizens Advice can talk through debt options at no cost.
\nRates and limits are reviewed each year and individual cases vary. Please confirm the details on the official pages linked below before making any decisions.
\nBloomberg reports GTCR and Elliott are in advanced talks to acquire CCC, the claims software provider for auto insurers and repairers. A deal could come as soon as this week but isn't agreed. Shares jumped roughly 9-11% on the news.
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