26 May 2026

Benefits

Published Tuesday 26 May

“I’ve recently had to give up work due to a back injury and I’m worried about how I’m going to cope with the drop in income. I’m not sure what benefits I can get – where should I start? “

Lots of people miss out on benefits they’re entitled to, so it’s definitely worth checking what you can get. Claiming benefits also means you can get access to other financial help like cost of living payments and discounts on energy and transport. 

To get started, you can use an online benefits calculator. For the most accurate answer, you’ll need information about your savings, income, pension, childcare payments and any existing benefits for you and your partner, if you have one. You can use the Entitledto benefits calculator or check out the Policy in Practice version for a detailed overview. The Turn2us online tool can provide a quick idea of what benefits and other financial help you might be eligible for. 

The main benefit available for most people of working age is Universal Credit. You should check if you can get Universal Credit if you’re over 18 and under State Pension age (you can check your State Pension age on the government website), and if you have less than £16,000 in savings or other investments. You can check if you’re eligible on the Citizens Advice website.  

If you’re finding it difficult to work because of your injury, you might get more Universal Credit or not have to look for work. You’ll need to inform the Department for Work and Pensions that you have a health condition when you claim Universal Credit and, if possible, submit a fit note. You can find out more on the Citizens Advice website. 

You might be entitled to other benefits depending on your situation, like your age, if you’re disabled or if you have a child. Some people are able to claim more than one benefit – for example, disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (if you’re under pension age) or Attendance Allowance (if you’re over pension age) and Universal Credit. These disability benefits aren’t means-tested and can often be claimed in addition to other benefits like Universal Credit. Take a look at our website for more details. 

If your medical condition makes it difficult to work, you may also be entitled to the new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Check if you can claim ESA 

If you pay council tax, you might be able to get a reduction in your bill. You can check if you can pay less council tax on the Citizens Advice website. 

There is also help available if you don’t have enough money to live on. You might be able to get extra money from the government, your local council or a charity. Find out more about the support you can get with the cost of living. 

If you’re still not sure, remember you don’t have to face this alone – get in touch with a free support service like us at Citizens Advice. Our advisers can help to check what benefits and financial support you might be entitled to, and help you find a way forward. 

25 April 2026

Online shopping

Published Monday 27 April

” I bought a jacket online and when it arrived it looked nothing like the images shown. The company said if I want a refund I must pay to ship it to an address in China, but the website claimed the brand was UK-based. Is this a scam and how do I avoid it in future? “ 

This is a really frustrating situation and unfortunately it’s becoming more common than you might think. It is in fact a type of retail scam and often leads to customers having refund rows with sellers who are misleading people.

These companies are known to convince people they’re based in the UK by using deceiving brand names and having UK websites or postal addresses. Some create AI-generated images of fake products and boutiques – and even go to the trouble of making up backstories about the origins of the brand.

What they actually do, as in your case, is ship low-quality items from overseas that can look nothing like the images advertised. Shoppers are then asked to fork out for expensive international shipping fees if they want their money back.

Understandably, many people don’t bother, because the cost of shipping takes a huge chunk out of the refund they’d receive. The scammers know this, and it’s how they take advantage of people.

When sellers turn out to be based overseas, UK consumer laws are far harder to enforce, so it can be difficult to recover your money. 

There are a few steps you can take to help you spot and avoid these scams:  

• Research before buying from a company you haven’t used before – check reviews on search engines and third-party websites  
• Watch out for heavily discounted, too-good-to-be-true prices and “huge closing down” sales 
• Be mindful of the targeted shopping adverts in your social media feeds – this is often how customers are drawn in 
• Consider whether images used to advertise an item were created by AI. This can be difficult, but look for overly airbrushed images, inconsistent textures or distortions on the face and body 
• Check the company’s website delivery information. Overseas stores offer shipping to the UK in a much longer time frame than a genuine UK-based brand would

If you have been caught out by this type of scam and you paid by debit or credit card, you may be able to get a refund. If you paid by debit card, ask your bank to use the ‘chargeback scheme’. If you paid by credit card and the item cost less than £100, you can ask to use the same scheme.  

If you paid by credit card and the item cost between £100 and £30,000, tell your credit card company you want to make a ‘section 75’ claim to get your money back. 

The more people that recognise and report these scams, the more can be done. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has the legal power to enforce UK consumer laws against traders which target UK shoppers but are based abroad, but they rely on people reporting it. If a company has broken the law, they can impose fines and website takedowns. You can report an issue to the CMA but they can’t help people with individual cases.

Citizens Advice can offer support with individual situations and we advise you to report scams to us too – please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service. You can also report an advert you think is a scam to the Advertising Standards Agency.

For more information and advice visit Citizens Advice

23 March 2026

Energy

Published Monday 23rd March

” I’m becoming more aware of how much energy our household gadgets and appliances use, and it’s making me think about our bills. Do you have any tips to help us cut down on energy use and save some money at home? “

It’s completely normal to worry about rising energy bills. The good news is that adopting a few simple habits into your daily routine can make a real difference. Here are some practical tips to help you take control of your energy use and save money. 

• In the bathroom

Reducing the length of your shower time can help. Try reducing the water temperature of your shower too, as cooler showers use less energy.  

• Doing your washing 

Using your washing machine’s ‘eco’ cycle takes longer, but uses less energy. For laundry that isn’t heavily soiled, use a cold cycle (20 or 30 degrees Celsius). 

If possible, hanging your washing outside is an effective (and free) way to dry clothes – weather permitting! If not, using a heated clothes airer instead of a tumble dryer is a good option as they are cheaper to run. 

• In the kitchen 

Air fryers, microwaves and slow cookers usually use less energy than an oven or hob. Putting lids on pans while you’re cooking and using the right size pan for the amount of food you are preparing will use less energy heating it. 

When you boil the kettle, measure out the water you need. Boiling water in the kettle before adding to the pan will also help your food cook more quickly meaning you use less energy. 

Defrost your fridge or freezer once or twice a year and don’t hold the door open for extended periods of time – this will help use less energy to stay cold. 

• Your heating 

Check the temperature on the thermostat – between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius is fine for most people. 

Check your heating times – if you have a boiler, set the temperature two or three degrees lower, (or programme it to be off) when you’re out or asleep.  

Check the thermostatic radiator valves – some have numbers on them. You can set each one to the lowest number that keeps the room comfortable. Set them to 3 or 4 for rooms you want warmer and 1 or 2 for rooms you want cooler. 

Install radiator reflectors behind radiators on external walls if your house isn’t well insulated. These are easy to install even in rented homes, and will make rooms feel warmer. 

For more information and advice visit Citizens Advice 

2 March 2026

Debt

Published Monday 2nd March

” I’ve found myself in a really difficult financial situation and I don’t know where to turn. I was made redundant recently and now I’m finding it hard to keep up with my bills and am getting into debt – what can I do? “

 Money problems can feel overwhelming, but the most important thing to remember is that you don’t have to face this alone. We know that times are incredibly tough for lots of people right now, and Citizens Advice is here to help you find a way forward. 

Make sure you’ve been paid everything you’re entitled to by your former employer. You can check what your rights are on the Citizens Advice website. 

If you’re finding it difficult to stay on top of bills, free budgeting tools like the one on the MoneyHelper website can help you understand what money you have coming in and going out each month, and where you might be able to cut costs. 

Before you start, try to find your most recent bank statements, payslips, debit and credit card statements or bills, and receipts for things you usually pay for in cash. Make sure you include all your expenses, for example money you spend on your partner or family. 

If your budget just doesn’t add up and you need help to afford essentials like bills and food, you can find out how to get help with your bills as well as what cost of living support is available on the Citizens Advice website.  

Please don’t ignore bills or letters about money that you owe. You should collect and organise all debt-related documents to create a comprehensive list of all your debts. It might feel overwhelming when you see everything written down – but try not to worry, the important thing is that you’re taking action to sort things out. 

If you’re behind on household bills, prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first. Not paying these bills has the most serious consequences. Take a look at the Citizens Advice website for more information about what bills to prioritise and how to manage debts. You can then speak to the organisations you owe money to – they might let you pay smaller amounts or take a break from payments. 

For other types of debt like credit cards or loans, gather all the information on what you owe, create a budget, and contact your creditors to set up an affordable repayment plan. This might seem scary, but it’s an important first step. 

Lots of people miss out on benefits they’re entitled to, so it’s worth checking what you can get on the Citizens Advice website. Claiming benefits might also let you get access to other financial help like cost of living payments and discounts on energy and transport. 

Whatever your situation, you don’t have to face this alone – get in touch with a free support service like us at Citizens Advice. Our advisers can help to check if you’re eligible for any benefits or financial support, and explore all the options for dealing with your debts. 

For more information and advice visit Citizens Advice