Military Mortgage Advice – Housing Webinars, July to Sept '25

 

It’s here: Global Mobility Allowance trial begins

It’s here: Global Mobility Allowance trial begins

From 1 July, eligible Service personnel are now invited to register for a new overseas allowance that offers an easier claims process and greater flexibility on spending.

Global Mobility Allowance (GMA) is being trialled as a new way to receive a financial contribution towards expenses that arise when you move to or from an overseas permanent assignment in:

• Brunei – 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles (2RGR) and Brunei Garrison Staff (incl. 667 Sqn, 5AAC) only
• USA – British Defence Staff US (BDSUS) administered locations only
• Kenya – British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) Garrison Staff only
• Europe/ Rest of World (RoW) – Global Support Organisation (GSO) administered locations only

Invitation to attend Financial Literacy Focus Groups

Financial literacy is a key life skill and is critical to the development of our personal and collective resilience.  

The Financial Times charity FLIC is has funding to expand financial literacy into the Armed Forces and they are running 2 online focus groups in June and one face to face focus group in July (details below). 

 20-30 Service personnel and family members across a mix of ranks, ethnicity and gender are being sought for each focus group, to help FLIC understand the financial challenges that the Armed Forces face, and the information that would be useful.  

MOD staff benefit update: new fixed-rate savings account available from Serve + Protect Credit Union

 A new issue of the fixed-rate savings account from Seve and Protect Credit Union is available from 1st to 26th June 2025.

This is available to you as part of the financial wellbeing benefits we offer through our partnership with them.

✅ 4% AER fixed for 12 months

✅ No fees or charges

This is just for your awareness - not a recommendation. Please review the details and decide if it’s right for you.

Serve + Protect Credit Union’s latest podcast about managing debt successfully

There are lots of times when borrowing money can be useful. However, managing your debt can sometimes become overwhelming 😔

The latest podcast episode from Serve and Protect Credit Union is full of useful information on managing your debt effectively and the support available if you are struggling.

🔗 Watch here

Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) bank holiday arrangements for 26 May 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) office opening arrangements are different for the 26 May bank holiday. 

England, Scotland and Wales: 

On Monday 26 May offices and phone lines are closed. 

To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early. 

If the expected payment date is Monday 26 May then benefits will be paid early on Friday 23 May. If the expected payment date is not shown, customers will get their money on their usual payment date.  

Understanding UK codes 2025

 

Serve & Protect Credit Union: April Update

 📢 Free financial webinars this April from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!

 

🌍 Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money

📝 Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money

🚀 Credit Score 101: Boost Your Score

☔ The Road to Financial Resilience

🔍 Before You Borrow: Things to Know

 

🔗 Register here

NEW Fixed Cash ISA

Serve and Protect have launched their new Fixed Cash ISA for the 2025/26 tax year 💷

Secure a guaranteed and tax-free 4% AER return over the next year and watch your savings grow!

🔗 Learn more via their website

Podcast Episodes 11 & 12 🎧

Loan sharks can have a devastating impact on people's lives and becoming a victim is easier than you may think 👤

Our friends at Serve and Protect recently welcomed Stop Loan Sharks to their podcast to explore some misconceptions, stories from victims, and the support available! 

🔗Watch here

For Debt Awareness Week, our friends at Serve and Protect welcomed the Money and Pensions Service to their podcast to explore the stigma around debt 🗣

If you find it difficult to talk about money with your loved ones, this episode includes some manageable steps to start a conversion.

🔗 Watch here

 

Stress Awareness Month - April

April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to understand the causes and cures of stress 😔

If your finances make you feel stressed, Serve and Protect are here to help you save and build your financial resilience.

🔗 Learn more via their website

Which German Store Cards do you Need?

This week we look at  German supermarkets and their store / loyalty cards.  This blog explains what you can get from each chain and how to use it. 

Alongside the store cards their are stand alone companied offering discounts with multiple retailers. 

The list is in alphabetical order so scroll through to the chain you want to know about.. 

Aldi  Nord

Divided into two companies Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud . Each has it's own app currently. Aldi does not offer a specific loyalty programme. Using the app allows you to keep up to date with all the deals. For our region Aldi Nord is the company who's stores you will shop in. 

Aslan  - The local supermarket which offers international specialities  often not available in the German chains. No specific loyalty programme just worth knowing about. 

EDEKA - Edeka is part of the Payback Karte programme

Lidl - App based loyalty which unlike Aldi does offer some coupon based savings. 

Markauf 

Netto

Penny

Rewe - Once part of the Payback Karte scheme. Rewe has 

Payback Karte 

Deutschland Karte

Don't miss out on your State Pension entitlement

The 5 April 2025 deadline for paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps in your record between 2006 and 2018 is approaching.

Watch our video on YouTube to find out how to check for gaps in your National Insurance record: https://youtu.be/_8GkTNgyXqs

Our online form is available to request a call back: https://ow.ly/oGbl50VarlC

Dept for Work & Pensions: Roundup of recent DWP announcements

Changes to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay

The Government has announced changes to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay which will benefit more than one million employees across the UK as part of efforts to grow the economy.

Through the Employment Rights Bill, Government is strengthening Statutory Sick pay by removing the Lower Earnings Limit so that the safety net of sick pay is available to those who need it most. We are also removing the Waiting Period so that Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day of sickness absence.

How to protect yourself from loan sharks

A loan shark – or illegal money lender - is someone who lends money illegally without proper authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

That means if you borrow from them, they don’t have to follow the rules – they can decide how much you pay back and when.

These criminals are not always easy to spot - they can be a friend, a fellow service member, even a senior officer.

Whoever they are, they will usually appear as a friendly face, offering you a favour. They may tell you that what they are offering is nothing more than peer-to-peer lending and their offer may seem hard to resist.

Serve and Protect Credit Union - March update

📢 Free financial webinars this March from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!

🌍 Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money

📝 Budgeting 101: Take Control of Your Money

🚀 Credit Score 101: Boost Your Score

🔍 Before You Borrow: Things to Know

🔗 Register here

Mindfulness can be a simple and effective tool to live in the moment and reduce financial stress 😊

Discover how to navigate your financial journey with clarity in Episode 10 of the Smile and Save Podcast.

🔗 Watch here

Free Financial Webinars this Feb

 📢 Free financial webinars this February from Serve and Protect - don't miss out!

 🌍 Eco-Friendly Ways to Save Money

🚀 Credit Score 101: Boost Your Score

🔍 Before You Borrow: Things to Know

 

🔗 Register here

Fixed Saver launch!

Secure a guaranteed 4.25% AER return over the next 12 months with the latest Fixed Saver account from Serve and Protect Credit Union 🔏

 

🔗 Learn more

Latest podcast episode 🎧

Mindfulness can be a simple and effective tool to live in the moment and reduce financial stress 😊

 

Latest podcast episode 🎧

Discover how to navigate your financial journey with clarity in Episode 10 of the Smile and Save Podcast.

 

🔗 Watch here

🔗 Learn more

Universal Credit for armed forces personnel posted overseas

Serving personnel and families are entitled to claim Universal Credit, regardless of their location. This means families stationed overseas can submit claims in the same way as those in the UK.

Universal Credit for armed forces personnel posted overseas - GOV.UK

Military Spousal Founders Programme

Are you part of the armed forces community with plans to become a business founder? Our Military Spousal Founders Programme is designed just for you.

We've partnered with Eagle Labs Academy to run this specially designed programme for military spouses who want to start and grow a business. Continuing our ongoing commitment to the armed forces covenant, the programme aims to assist spousal business owners establish a foundation to be successful in starting their own business.

Eagle Labs Academy is a digital learning platform that helps founders start and scale their business at their own pace.

This Money Helper (Money & Pensions Service) ​​guide

This Money Helper (Money & Pensions Service) ​​guide is for you if you need access to credit but you can’t use a mainstream lender and you don’t want to use a payday loan or other forms of high-cost credit.

When you read it, you’ll know:

• how credit unions work and how they can help you
• how to join a credit union
• what other sources of fair and affordable credit might be available to you.​
• To view this guide please click HERE

More information can be found on the Money Helper website at https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit

For the Service community, there are three MOD-endorsed credit unions - see https://www.joiningforcescu.co.uk/​

Military Mortgage Advice Webinars: November to Jan

 

Military Mortgage Advice Webinars: November to Jan

 

Link for website 

Are you eligible for Pension Credit?

It is estimated that up to 880,000 households are missing out on Pension Credit, and it is worth, on average, £3,900 per year, providing additional benefits such as help with Council Tax and Housing Benefit and a free TV licence for those over 75.

In addition to Pension Credit, those who qualify could also receive Winter Fuel Payment and other support like help with housing costs, help with Council Tax and a free TV licence for those aged 75 and over.

Thanks to the Pension Credit backdating rules, it is possible to apply for Pension Credit and have the claim backdated by up to 3 months, (ticking the backdating box on the claim form). 

This means that the latest date to apply and still qualify for Winter Fuel Payment is 21st December 2024.

To note, Pension Credit can also provide extra support for heating costs such as The Warm Home Discount Scheme and Cold Weather Payments​.

Checking entitlement is easy with this on-line calculator: Pension Credit calculator - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)