Money Saving Expert is a free consumer information website started by journalist Martin Lewis covering a wide range of financial information including best deals, consumer rights, PPI refunds, how to improve your credit score and a budget planning tool and shopping demotivator if you need to adjust to living on a lower income.
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Moneywise covers all the financial matters that impact on your money and your lifestyle.
www.moneywise.co.uk/investing/financial-planning/how-to-make-budget
Money Advice Service is a free, impartial, money advice and information website set up by the government. It includes a directory of regulated financial advisers for different specialist areas. It also has information on spousal maintenance and pensions in divorce.
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/clean-break-or-spousal-maintenance-after-divorce-or-dissolution
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/choosing-a-financial-adviser
Gingerbread Charity has information on money and housing after separation.
www.gingerbread.org.uk/information/separating/money
Debt Advice Foundation provides information options for dealing with long term and severe dept.
www.debtadvicefoundation.org
StepChange offers free debt advice to help those dealing with debt.
stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice
National Debtline offers telephone advice and online fact sheets on debtors’ rights.
www.nationaldebtline.org
Taxaid is a charity providing Income Tax advice for people on a low income. It also has guidance on how to choose an accountant or tax adviser on private practice.
taxaid.org.uk
HMRC has free advice lines for tax queries.
www.gov.uk/contact-hmrc
HMRC also publishes tax and tax credit guides.
www.gov.uk/browse/tax
The government offers a free anonymous online calculator to help parents work out how much basic child maintenance should be paid if they are unable to come to a voluntary agreement. It has a calculation and collection service.
child-maintenance.awscmg-dev.dwpcloud.uk/options/opt-in
The Pensions Advisory Service is funded by the government and has information on both state and private pensions. There is also a free telephone service.
www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/about-pensions/when-things-change/when-relationships-end/divorce-dissolution-and-separation
Citizens Advice provide a checklist and links to calculators to check whether you can increase your income.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-your-debts/check-if-you-can-increase-your-income/
advicenow is an independent online guide to deal with Tax Credit overpayments.
www.advicenow.org.uk/tags/tax-credits
entitledto provides online tools to check your benefits and Tax Credit entitlement and compare options.
www.entitledto.co.uk/
Turn2Us is a national charity helping people when times get tough by providing financial support to help people get back on track.
www.turn2us.org.uk/
Legal Aid is available for mediation and some follow up legal help for people on very low income who need to resolve arrangements for children or property and finances on separation or divorce. There is an online calculator at:
www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
If you are a property owner, self-employed or have irregular income you should speak to a Mediator with a contract with the Legal Aid Agency as the rules are complex. In England and Wales if one party is entitled to Legal Aid the first mediation meeting for both parties is free.
If you are not using mediation and want Legal Aid for assistance from a lawyer, entitlement even for those on a low income is now very restricted. There is more information at:
checklegalaid.service.gov.uk/scope/diagnosis/
Other Help with Legal Expenses
Legal Expenses insurance – check your home insurance, motor insurance and, employment benefits package.
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-to-pay-legal-fees-on-divorce-or-dissolution
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/finding-free-or-affordable-legal-help/
