Nicholas Dawson

The RSPCA is urging households to support wildlife during persistent hot and dry weather, which makes it harder for animals to find food and water and increases wildfire risks. Recommended measures include providing fresh water in shallow containers with stones, offering suitable food for hedgehogs, foxes and badgers, creating shelter and safe routes between gardens, maintaining ponds and bird feeders, avoiding fires and disposable barbecues, and reporting low public ponds to the Environment Agency.

A recent government emergency alert warning about wildfire risk caused loud notifications on millions of mobile phones and drew criticism over whether the system was used appropriately. Users can disable severe, extreme and test alerts through the settings on iPhones, Android phones and other devices, although the government recommends keeping the service active for potentially life-saving information.

Gardeners can attract smaller birds by moving feeders away from perches used by larger birds, choosing feeders with narrow openings or slippery tops, using smaller seed mixes from November to April, and temporarily stopping feeding while securing edible waste and bins. The RSPCA also recommends treating pigeons humanely, highlighting their roles in seed dispersal, the food chain, soil enrichment, urban biodiversity and encouraging interest in birdwatching.

The UK state pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, with a legislated increase to 68 planned for 2044–2046 and proposals to bring it forward to 2037–2039. Catherine Foot of the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement warns that further increases could worsen poverty and widen socioeconomic inequality, noting that around a quarter of 60- to 65-year-olds already live in poverty. The Government is reviewing the pension age, with Dr Suzy Morrissey commissioned to produce independent recommendations.

Martin Lewis urges couples to review their pension expression of wishes forms, warning that outdated beneficiary details can override wills and lead pension savings to unintended recipients. He stresses the importance of creating or updating wills and highlights Lasting Power of Attorney as essential for managing finances during incapacity. Lewis also outlines key tax benefits available to married couples, including transferable inheritance tax allowances and the Marriage Allowance.

A government review of Personal Independence Payment is progressing, with an interim report finding the benefit no longer fit for purpose. Expert Rebecca Lamb supports improving fairness but warns that means‑testing could complicate the system and worsen barriers for claimants, arguing that simplifying applications should be the priority. The article outlines current PIP rates and notes that the benefit provides access to additional support such as council tax discounts and mobility programmes.

Martin Lewis highlights several bank account switching deals offering substantial cash bonuses, including incentives from HSBC, First Direct, NatWest, Barclays, Santander, and packaged accounts from Nationwide and the Co-Op Bank. He notes that some package accounts now include switching bonuses that can offset monthly fees, effectively providing travel insurance, phone insurance and breakdown cover at no cost. Nationwide’s Flex Plus stands out for offering age‑inclusive travel insurance, with one older couple reporting significant value from its coverage. Lewis emphasises that such accounts can be especially beneficial for families with multiple devices and older travellers facing high insurance costs.

Guidance outlines how National Insurance contribution rules determine state pension entitlement, highlighting that at least ten qualifying years are required to receive any payment. Buying missing NI years can significantly increase pension income, with one added year potentially unlocking partial entitlement worth £68.90 weekly. Pension Credit remains available for retirees with little or no pension income, providing a minimum weekly income and access to additional benefits such as council tax reductions, housing support and free TV licences for those eligible.