The full state pension is currently £179.60 per week. That’s £9,339.20 per year. Research by Which?* suggests the average person needs at least £13,000 a year to meet their essentials needs — and you’d need twice the state pension to live a comfortable lifestyle. Whether its maximising your National Insurance contributions or paying into a workplace pension, planning for retirement early gives you the best chance of putting yourself in a strong financial position when you finally finish work.

Below are some common problems we hear our clients raise about privately rented housing. We’ve identified the best place to get help when dealing with each issue. Be aware the information on this page applies to Assured Shorthold Tenants only. If you are in social housing or live with your landlord, call Citizens Advice instead. Except in the case of eviction, you should only follow these steps after you have tried to resolve the problem with your…

Self-employment should be empowering: you get to choose your own hours, be your own boss, and keep all of the profits from your work. There are downsides, of course. You get no employee benefits like sick pay and holiday pay, you’re responsible for your own tax and National Insurance, and your income can often be unpredictable. Then there’s bogus self-employment. This is where an employer tells you to register as self-employed when really you…

Christmas is coming and cold weather is around the corner, just as we begin to see a significant rise in energy prices. Many households across Burnley and Pendle will feel the strain on their budgets over the next few months as household bills increase and the frenzy of Christmas shopping begins. To help you start thinking about ways to cope financially this winter, here are our top tips for managing your money.

The deadline to register for self-assessment is 5th October. But who needs to register? You may need to submit a self-assessment tax return if in the last tax year you: · were a sole trader earning over £1000, or · were in a partnership, or · had income from sources other than your pension, benefits, or wages The last tax year ran from April…

You’ll soon be able to apply for the fifth Self-Employed Income Support Scheme grant. We can help with your application. — There are a few ways our HMRC team can help increase your income. We’ve listed six of them below. 1. Help You Apply to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme If you traded in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 tax years, you may be able to claim the fifth SEISS grant…

From 1st July, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme — more commonly known as the furlough scheme — will be slowly phased out. — As the furlough scheme ends, the amount your employer must contribute to your wages will gradually increase, as the government’s contribution decreases. By October, you’ll no longer be paid for hours not worked. Employers will start to decide whether they can afford to pay staff for their normal full-time hours…

Burnley and Pendle Citizens Advice is a free, confidential, impartial and independent service offering debt advice that is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We look at your full financial circumstances and offer advice that meets your specific needs. — Here are 5 reasons you should come to us when you need help managing debt: 1. Get Extra Time and Lift the Pressure At the start of May, the government introduced new regulations known as Breathing Space. If you secure a Breathing Space moratorium, interest, charges and enforcement action will…

On 31st May 2021, the ban on evictions will be lifted and your landlord will be able to use bailiffs to remove you from their property. They can only do this if a valid eviction notice has been issued, the notice period has ended, and you have been taken to court. — Be aware that the information below applies to Assured Shorthold Tenancies and different rules apply if you are a lodger or licensee. You can’t always rely on what your tenancy agreement says. Some landlords will call you a licensee when you are, in fact, a tenant.