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NS&I will 'reunite' bereaved families with cash and pay compensation in some cases,

I am a keen gardener, and water my garden a lot in the hot summers we are now experiencing. We don't want to be worrying about how much we use.

As the Isa deadline approaches, savers are scrambling to make the most of their £20,000 annual allowance by seeking out the best deals.

I help Britons who want to retire to Portugal - these are the questions I get asked most

My husband passed away in November last year. He held three separate pensions with Prudential (now part of M&G) totalling more than £400,000.

On the surface, the Isa is very simple. It's a savings product into which you can put cash and investments up to the value of £20,000 each tax year.

Can you claim? Benefits for older people

ASK STEVE WEBB A PENSION QUESTION

Will letting employers keep final salary pension surpluses endanger savers' funds? STEVE
Is this not highly risky in terms of the future security of the pension plan? The Pension Schemes Bill seems heavily loaded in favour of the employer. The facility to share some portion of a surplus with the pensioners appears to be left to the plan's trustees to dictate, but in reality many plan trustees are effectively powerless and the employer has full control. I know that's not the theory of how trustees and employers work but sadly it's the reality in many cases. I know, I'm a pensioner in one such plan.

Former Pensions Minister Steve is This is Money's Agony Uncle. Here's where you can check out all his previous columns to see if any involve issues affecting you.

This is Money's star agony uncle Steve Webb receives many questions on private pensions. We've compiled his columns on 15 frequently raised topics.

Steve receives more questions about the state pension than anything else, and we've compiled his columns on the most frequently raised topics here.

Reverend Philip Stamp was sure he remembered saving into a pension during his days before the priesthood, when he worked at a brewery in the 1970s.

All your burning questions about pensions answered: SIR STEVE WEBB'S ultimate guide to
MORE PENSIONS NEWS AND TIPS

Half our house is owned in a trust by my husband's children from his first marriage: How

With Sir Keir Starmer hosting an emergency Cobra meeting on the economic fallout of the Iran war, investors ramped up bets that a rate hike next month will be followed by three more by Christmas.

Until last week, there was still a chance that the Middle East crisis might be short-lived. President Donald Trump had claimed it could last 'four or five weeks'.

What's the best way to set up a pension if you're self employed

An Isa and pension have their own tax rules and benefits but if you know how to use them together they can help slash your tax bill and increase your wealth.

The Bank of England opted to hold interest rates at 3.75 per cent in March, with traders now betting on rate rises later this year.

Could the triple lock be scrapped... and should it be? Industry veteran HENRY TAPPER gives

Torsten Bell insisted the policy reflected Labour's desire to increase the payments 'slightly' relative to average earnings.

There might only be two working age people to support every one pensioner if births continue to fall, compared with four to one in the population in 1970.

Warning sounded over Britain's midlife pensions crisis - but it's not too late to build a
Five million British workers are suffering a midlife pensions crisis which could leave them facing hardship in retirement, new research reveals. The generation now in midlife lost out because they joined the workforce between two pension eras that benefited their older and younger colleagues, says L&G.

There's still time to turn round retirement for those falling behind on pension saving,
Life can feel like a constant balancing act in your 40s or 50s. Work is often at full tilt and for many family needs and demands can be coming from all sides. There's rarely much spare headspace and pension planning often ends up in the 'too difficult' pile. But a comfortable retirement doesn't just happen.

TSB warns customers over new 'friendship fraud' scam targeting older and vulnerable people

In February 2025, at the age of just 40, my husband was diagnosed with a rare lung disorder called obliterans bronchiolitis.

A Judicial Review hears Rachel Reeves broke a government promise 'by deciding not to consult in the manner required' over her plans to hit family enterprises with death duties.

Hands off our pension pots! Steve Webb and Paul Johnson warn Labour to stop meddling

The seven-year gifting rule is one of the best-known inheritance tax rules. But beware a little-known - and potentially very expensive - quirk in the fine print.

If you're leaving it until the last minute to open a cash Isa, you may need to act before March 26 - a full ten days before the deadline.

Labour 'deceiving savers in pension row with Lords'

If you are trying to build or protect a retirement nest egg, it can feel like your savings are endlessly under siege.

The race to offer the best cash Isa interest rate has intensified. Which are the real best deals and which ones should you leave to one side? We examine the offers in more detail.

ROS ALTMANN: Government is seizing 'Henry VIII' powers to dictate how pension savers'

Inheritance tax is an expensive problem for an increasing number of families and the situation is about to get worse. The good news is there are two very easy ways to avoid inheritance tax.

It takes a lifetime to grow your pension savings, and getting it wrong can have serious consequences come retirement. Which mistakes are you at risk of making?

Only 6% of Premium Bonds prizes in the past year went to account holders holding less than
Less than 1 per cent of Premium Bonds prizes handed out between February 2025 and January 2026 were won by savers with a holding of less than £1,000. Even those with pots ten times the size do not stand to have much better odds of winning a prize.

Premium bond holders are set for a great year - and I've seen the proof. This is what's
Documents hidden away in the Chancellor's Spring Statement revealed that the Government has asked National Savings & Investments (NS&I) to bring in more money - and that's good news if you have premium bonds.

I met the couple who turned £100 into £1MILLION without being high earners and discovered

If you are one of the two million people celebrating your 55th birthday over the next couple of years, then beware - there's a most peculiar quirk in pension rules that you must get your head around.

My father carried on living in the house for 14 years, before sadly passing away on 24 December 2025.

I'm trustee for my toddler grandson: I'm not taking a penny, but will I lose my benefits?

Experts warn a sustained rise in gas prices is likely to wipe out the recently announced cut to the energy price cap.

The run-up to the end of the tax year - April 5 - is always a crucial time to ensure long-term savings and investments are set up as tax-efficiently as possible.

I have a 15-year gap in my pension... now I'm doing everything I can to make back that

Now is the most lucrative time to switch current accounts in years. Banks are offering sweeteners of up to £500 if you change your account to one of theirs.

I recently switched energy supplier from SSE to Octopus as it offers an attractive tariff for homes like mine that use heat pumps.

Another major change to state pensions is being made NEXT MONTH. Here is everything you

Could we add our children's names to our deeds and put the house equally in all four of our names now? After seven years, would this gift then be free of inheritance tax?

It's game on for savers as a new tussle to offer the best-buy cash Isa rate kicks off ahead of tax-year end.

I'm 40 and have £175,000 in my pension - if I stop contributing, will it be worth half a

Britain has a national debt problem. Britain's mass affluent families have an inheritance tax problem. And there's one solution staring us in the face

It's a simple but extraordinarily powerful force that anyone saving or going into debt should understand, says Tom Stevenson of Fidelity International.

Nationwide customers should put £500 into one of these accounts NOW to qualify for any

For the first time in years, providers are offering higher savings rates the longer you fix. That means it's time to reassess our love affair with one-year bonds and consider longer fixes instead.

National Savings and Investments will cut the Premium Bonds prize rate from 3.6% to 3.3% from the April 2026 draw.

The best public sector pension schemes revealed

Steve Webb joins Georgie Frost and Simon Lambert to talk all things pensions as he celebrates ten years as our columnist. Plus, car deals, giving away money and bumper bank offers.

Did you miss out on thousands of pounds in state pension scandal uncovered by Steve Webb and This is Money and Steve Webb. Here's how to find out.

How we live on less than £250 a week: The budgeting tricks from the Britons living on the

Some 1.2million people survive on the state pension with little or no other savings - and they are among the 13.1million who rely on it to support their income.

My husband worked for the Department for Work and Pensions for over 30 years but died nearly three years ago. I applied for his civil service pension.

How long will YOU live beyond 66? Four fifths are too pessimistic and it could harm their

I have recently received just under £20,000 from my late mother's will and would like to pass it on, can I do so and avoid an inheritance tax liability myself?

Single people need to save a lot harder to achieve the same lifestyle, and lean more on private savings because they only have one state pension.

MPs lambast Capita bosses over civil service pensions chaos: Enormous case backlog blamed

A meltdown at the civil service pension scheme has worsened since we revealed last week that some members had been left without any retirement income for months.

A former prison officer whose retirement dreams were nearly thwarted by the civil service pension scandal has finally received his pension cash.

State pension age: What is the retirement age in the UK?

Do you have a money question for one of our star experts and columnists? They all have a wealth of experience and knowledge they are keen to share.

Around £511bn is invested in stocks and shares Isas and £360bn in cash Isas - but these figures are likely to have ballooned since the data was collected.

Are your neighbours on a better pension than you? We reveal the typical payout in EVERY

EXCLUSIVE

The NHS offers full funding for people who need to live in a care home or have home carer visits - so long as they meet the criteria for what is called continuing healthcare.

The key to getting the best interest on your savings is about knowing what kind of saver you are.

Just 40% of savers understand what to do with pensions at retirement: Five questions you

When Rod Peers retired in November, he was eager to start this new chapter in his life by purchasing a three-bedroom property with his partner.

The increase is part of HMRC's aims to increase revenue from underreported and misvalued estates.

Families rush to set up trusts to cut inheritance tax: How they work and why the wealthy

Only half of us receive the full new state pension. But there's one really easy thing that you can do to make sure that you get as much as possible.

My son, an only child, died on May 31, 2025. His employer is refusing to discuss his estimated £36,000 death-in-service payout.

You really CAN turn just £6 a day into £1million. You may not believe me, but follow these

Where is the best place to invest your pension? Holly Mackay, of Boring Money, has tried out all the major providers and shares the seven rated as her best buys for 2026.

Savers who use a Lifetime Isa to build their retirement pot will bear the brunt of changes being considered by the Government to the Lifetime Isa.

Warm Home Discount is extended beyond 2026: Here's who is eligible for £150 energy bill

The High Court has ordered an urgent two-day judicial review of the Chancellor's plans to hit family-owned enterprises with death duties.

Campaigners and Labour MPs voiced fury after Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden announced that a review had confirmed payouts are not required.

Why must I fill in a self-assessment tax form when other people are let off?

Fathima Faleel (pictured) came from a culture where pensions weren't mentioned. Now she faces a desperate race to save enough for her future.

It is the first time NS&I has changed the interest rates on these savings accounts since March 2025.

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HOW TO RETIRE IN RICHES
 

How to invest your pension in drawdown

Late in working life, pension savers typically see their pots shifted out of stock markets and all or part way into bonds. Here's what you need to know about pension lifestyling...

Investors can rack up big losses early on and never make them up if they aren't careful. People who persist in taking an income can pile up future problems.

How to squeeze the most out of your work pension
Modern work pensions are essentially cheap investment products provided and subsidised by employers - so it's worth exploring what they can do for you. Auto enrolment into work pensions takes the hassle out of saving for retirement, but you could be missing a trick by not looking any further than that.

What free help will your work pension offer when you decide to retire?
Turning your pension funds into an income that can replace your salary is among the most important financial moves you will make in your life. Here, we look at what you can expect from your work scheme as you get closer to retirement, and round up expert advice on how to maximise your income.

How to work out and pay inheritance tax: You get just SIX MONTHS to stump up death duties

Government plans to slap inheritance taxon pensions are already galvanising families into action to protect estates before rules change in just over a year's time.

If you are new to investing, and feel lukewarm at the prospect, one easy and potentially lower cost option open to people with a work pension is to top up investments already held in their retirement fund.

How do I apply for NHS CHC to cover my care bills?
James Urquhart-Burton, head of continuing healthcare claims at Winston Solicitors and an expert in care funding, explains how to make an application for yourself, or a loved one. It's never too late to ask for an assessment of eligibility, but you will have to be proactive, he says.

How do you appeal if your application for NHS CHC is refused?
Getting your or a loved one's care fees fully funded can be a struggle, and many families feel their cases are wrongly rejected. James James Urquhart-Burton, head of continuing healthcare claims at Winston Solicitors, lays out the potential grounds for objecting to an NHS refusal and how to appeal.

Will you inherit any state pension from your husband or wife?

PIP is tax free and is not affected by your income or savings, or most other benefits. We explain the rules, how to apply, and where you can turn for help below.

Pension credit boosts your weekly income and opens the door to a lot of additional help with housing costs, heating, council tax, TV licences and other bills.

Ten ways to avoid inheritance tax legally

The 40% inheritance tax rate is drastically high - but only applies if you have amassed enough assets for your loved ones to become liable on some chunk of them.

Appointing someone you trust, usually a family member or friend, as attorney to take over your affairs if you fall ill is a relatively straightforward business. Here's how it works.

How to turn your pension into retirement income: A five-step guide to sorting it out

Everyone is allowed to save for retirement out of untaxed income up to a pretty generous level every year, including the highest earners. So how does it work?

Savers collect a string of pension pots during their working lives but many never bother merging any of them. It is not always advisable because you can lose valuable benefits - here's what to weigh up.

How do I find a good accountant? Five top tips from a tax expert

There are many tax traps for the unwary when it comes to pensions. It's especially important to find out about them if you don't get financial advice when you access your fund.

It will be little consolation for the loss of your health, but there are ways to use your pension pot to relieve money troubles should you find yourself in this sad situation.

How do I find a pension I had with an old employer?

Do you ever receive your tax code in the post, look at it and not really understand what it means? Tax expert Heather Rogers explains how to check it is correct, so you don't overpay tax.

Have you received a tax code for 2022/23 that is incorrect? Tax expert Heather Rogers explains the most common errors that crop up, and how to get HMRC to put them right.

We decode some of the jargon, from the more commonplace to the exotic, that you might come across when exploring your pension options.

When someone dies it is essential to deal with their estate, which is made up of their home, savings and investments and belongings. We explain probate.
ASK A PENSIONS EXPERT
 

An uncle is leaving 70% of his £500k estate to charity - so who pays the inheritance tax

Could we give the pension withdrawals to our daughters as gifts from excess income and keep them outside inheritance tax? William Stevens of Killik & Co replies.

Will the money invested in our rental property have to be handed back to pay for any ongoing care for my mother? Lawyer Ben Tyer, pictured, replies.

Our daughter won't be able to afford to live in our house after we die - what can we do?

My husband died before the age of 75 and I inherited his Sipp. Will I still be allowed to draw on it tax free from April 2027?Financial planner Michelle Holgate replies.

Since as of April 2027 my pension will be in my estate for inheritance tax, is there any advantage for keeping money there? Ray Black of Money Minder replies,
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