AND NOW TO FINANCES

Many people either view retirement age with a sense of trepidation or a sigh of relief. In effect the working life is now over and some people may find this a thrilling prospect while others view not working anymore with a sense of unease. Your point of view may be dependant on how well you have financially planned for your retirement, but in most cases the possibilities when reaching retirement age are endless

If you are over 60 and on a low income there are a number of benefits that you can apply for. Your eligibility for these benefits will be based on a means test, and if successful you may receive funding towards council tax and housing costs. The means test will be different from the tests that would have taken place before you were 60, so even if you were refused these benefits before the age of 60 you may now be eligible to receive the benefits.

If you are looking for alternative grants and funding for senior citizens you can try your local council’s social fund. They may be able to offer community care grants to help with the purchase of household items such as beds, cookers, removal costs and travel costs. They may also be able to help with crisis loans and budgeting loans. The eligibility for these loans and grants will depend on your circumstances and income.

Common benefits that apply to senior citizens will be free television licences and help with health costs including free prescriptions and eye tests. There are also a number of concessions that apply to senior citizens such as reduced prices on adult education classes and discounts on many leisure and entertainment activities. Grants and funding for senior citizens may not be something that you think about when you are imaging your retirement years. However, when it comes to planning financially for your retirement, these benefits can make a large difference towards an adequate standard of living, and a decent source of income.

A credit card for those who don't like credit cards

With a BREAD Prepaid MasterCard® Card you can enjoy all the benefits of a MasterCard® card with no credit check, no interest payments and no surprises. Your BREAD Card makes it easy to pay for whatever you want. Use it for everyday purchases wherever the MasterCard® Acceptance Mark is displayed: Thousands of ATM’s across the world Shop safely and securely on the internet Make flight or train reservations Book hotel rooms Overseas transactions Buy groceries & petrol Share money with friends and family abroad Top up your mobile phone •NO CREDIT CHECKS •PAY-AS-YOU-GO •TOP IT UP WITH CASH •AVOID OVERDRAFT FEES The BREAD Card is available to anyone with a valid international digital passport or a UK driving licence and a UK delivery address*

A dream for a great many people is to move to a hot country and spend the retirement years in a home abroad. For home owners who have paid off their mortgage at retirement this is not an unobtainable dream. Thanks to communication options and cheap, frequent flights, the world really has become a global village. There are certainly great savings to be made by selling, renting out, or releasing some equity on a family home and buying abroad. You can buy a lot more for your money in many European countries than you can in the UK, and facilities and amenities are equivalent if not better than some in the UK. The cost of living will usually be lower in countries such as Spain, Malta and Greece, and buying an apartment should be less expensive than in the UK. As with any property purchase it is important to seek sound financial and legal advice; never jump at the lowest offer.

Holidays

State Pensions At the moment the state pension age for women is 60 and for men it is 65. Men cannot claim for their state pension until they have reached 65 but may be able to claim for other benefits after the age of 60. From 6 April 2020, the State Pension age for women will be the same as that for men (65). Women's State Pension age will start to change gradually from 2010. State retirement pensions are based on your national insurance contributions but you do not have to stop working in order to claim a retirement pension. You can also defer the pension if you are working and take a lump sum or higher increase of pension at a later date. The state retirement pension is paid in addition to a basic pension, which is a set pension rate, and both are dependant on factors such as national insurance contributions, spouse’s contributions, and dependants. Additional pensions may also take the form of graduated pensions, pension credit, savings credit, or extra pensions paid on top of your basic pension. If you are over 80 you will receive a pension regardless of any national insurance contributions. For your full pension rate and advice on the different types of pensions you should contact an advisor at your local Citizens Advice Bureau or check with .......www.direct.gov.uk

JS Insurance is part of Jade Stanley Ltd and is one of the leading providers of travel and other insurance products for UK and EU Residents.. We also offer travel insurance for persons aged between 65 and 75 years with pre existing medical conditions

Top Pet Insurance-and animal charity

Scottish Bond and Child Bond Scottish Friendly, one of the UK's leading friendly societies, provides savings plans that allow you to make the most of your tax-free allowance. The Government lets you invest up to £25 a month tax-free with a friendly society, even if you already have an ISA. You can save for a rainy day via our Scottish Bond or start building for your child's future through our Child Bond. Simply click on the links below for more information on our tax-free savings plans. Scottish Friendly has roots stretching back to 1862 and today operates as a financial services group dedicated to the efficient provision of a wide range of financial products and services. As a mutual organisation, we have no shareholders, so profits are distributed among our with profits policyholders in the form of bonuses.

Simple loans with simple repayments Cash loans from £50 to £500 based on your ability to repay now – not on your previous credit history. Affordable fixed repayments - no hidden charges or interest. Click here to apply online. ... Provident Financial.....

Payment Protection Insurance Payment Protection Insurance (P.P.I.) is a policy that is usually sold alongside a loan, mortgage or credit card to cover payments if you fall sick and are unable to meet your repayments. The reality is that these policies are ridiculously expensive and are often useless if you ever need to make a claim. The Financial Services Authority (F.S.A.) has recently fined a number of high street banks and loan companies because they have mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance, and therefore there is a good chance that if you have taken out a P.P.I. policy you could get your money back. . You may have taken out Payment Protection Insurance under a different name. It is also called Accident, Sickness and Unemployment Cover; Loan Protection Cover; Redundancy Protection; and Mortgage Payment Cover. Thousands of people have already made a claim and a typical claim means that you may get back several thousand pounds. Many people with a Payment Protection Policy are unaware they have it or that it was included with their loan. A PPI policy can add between 13% to 56% (Citizens Advice Bureau research) or more to your repayments and we can help you claim to get your money back. Time Limits apply to when you can make a valid Claim, so don’t miss out on claiming back your money.

We are all expecting a shock in our energy bills after such a harsh winter.To switch suppliers or not? - at least look into it and make sure you are getting the best rates............................................................................What does uSwitch.com do? uSwitch.com is a free, impartial online comparison and switching service that helps consumers compare prices on gas, electricity, home telephone, digital tv and broadband providers. Our aim is to help customers take advantage of the best tariffs and services on offer from every supplier. The company has developed a series of calculators that evaluate a number of key factors including price, location, service and payment method, and advises consumers on the best deal to suit their needs. uSwitch.com is not a supplier but acts as an independent advisor, giving consumers an impartial view of what’s on offer. Who uses uSwitch.com?.......Anybody who wants to compare prices and save money on their household bills ........... ..........................................