This bi-monthly magazine is ideal if you're interested in keeping up with all aspects of personal finance, including insurance and investments and for helping you make the most of your money.
Available bi-monthly on subscription in braille and electronically for 74p per issue. To order Money Matters, contact RNIB on 0303 123 9999 or email shop@rnib.org.uk
Money Matters is also available in digital audio (DAISY) format. This is the same format that can be played on Talking Book players and can also be read on computers with DAISY software. If you would like to switch to this format, please contact RNIB on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk.
You can contact us about the content of Money Matters by email at editorial@rnib.org.uk or write to us in braille or print to RNIB Editorial Department, PO Box 173, Peterborough, PE2 6WS.
In this issue - April 2012
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Budget 2012: pensioners fund tax cut
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Budget 2012: Need to know
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Budget 2012: Charities fear an end to philanthropy by the rich
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Disabled customers denied the ease of online banking
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New 95 percent loans to get homes moving
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Banks target cards for extra profit
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Income tax statement opens government spending to scrutiny
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Pensions or ISAs: What's best for your savings pot?
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It's only rock'n'roll, and hip-hop too ... but collectors like it
Blind person's allowance
The Blind Person's Allowance for the tax year 2012-13 is £2,100. For further details, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk. The priority number for claiming the Blind Person's Allowance is 0845 366 7887 and is available to all callers in the UK
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Tesco raises retirement age
Tesco, the country's largest private sector employer, is to raise its pension age from 65 to 67 in a move which could be followed by other major companies. A spokesman said that when the first Tesco scheme was created in 1973, the company expected pensioners to live until 77 on average. Now, a 40-year-old Tesco employee is expected to live until 90.
Minimum wage to be frozen for under-21s
More than a million under-21s face a drop in living standards as the Government plans to freeze the national minimum wage for the first time since it was introduced in 1999. It comes at a time when unemployment among those aged 16 to 24 has soared to a record of 1.04million - more than one in five in this age group.
The national minimum wage is paid to around one million workers, including around 54,000 aged between 16 and 20. The vast majority - 938,000 - are aged 21 and above. Their increase will amount to an extra 88p a day before tax for an eight-hour day. The apprentice rate will rise by 5p an hour to £2.65.
TV Licence concessions
If you watch or record television programmes from your TV, computer, mobile phone, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder, you'll need a TV Licence. You can get a 50 percent reduction on your TV Licence fee if you're registered blind or severely sight impaired. The concessionary TV Licence will cost £72.75 for colour devices and £24.50 for black and white devices. This licence will cover anyone who lives with you, as long as the licence is in your name.
To get the concessionary TV Licence you'll need to complete an application form and provide proof of your registration status. You can send either a copy of your certificate issued by or on behalf of your local authority or a copy of your certificate from your ophthalmologist. If you're living in Northern Ireland your local authority is the Health and Social Service Trust and if you're in the Isle of Man it's the Department for Health and Social Security. Photocopies are accepted so there's no need to send your original documents.
If your sight loss is not registered or you are registered as partially sighted or sight impaired you're not eligible for this concession. However, if you're 75 years or older you're entitled to a free TV Licence. All you need is a National Insurance Number or a recognised document for proof of age such as a passport, UK birth certificate, UK driving licence or national identity card.
You can apply for all TV Licence concessions online at www.tvlicensing.co.uk or by calling the TV Licensing Helpline on 0300 790 0366.
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Moneysaving tip of the month
The new ISA year means everyone's got a brand new £5,640 tax free savings allowance. Grab the top rates - 3.5 per cent easy access or fix at up to 4.5 per cent. Visit Moneysaving Expert's guide for more information.