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KNEC explains why some 2024 exam invigilators have not been paid

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has explained why some of the 2024 national examination invigilators have not yet received their payment up to now. KNEC, in a statement shared via social media on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, said that there are a number of reasons that have caused the payment delay. “Are you a […]

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Pocket Mein Aasmaan 12th March 2025 Written Episode Update: Rani and Digvijay have a moment

Pocket Mein Aasmaan 12th March 2025 Written Episode, Written Update on TellyUpdates.com The Episode starts with Digvijay waking up to Rani’s alarm while she continues sleeping. He asks her to turn it off, but she remains asleep. Frustrated, Digvijay places her phone next to her ear, finally waking her up. He then tells Rani to [...]

The post Pocket Mein Aasmaan 12th March 2025 Written Episode Update: Rani and Digvijay have a moment appeared first on Telly Updates.

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Iss Ishq Ka Rabb Rakha 12th March 2025 Written Episode Update: Meher apologizes to Meghla

Iss Ishq Ka Rabb Rakha 12th March 2025 Written Episode, Written Update on TellyUpdates.com The Episode starts with Ranbir asking Meghla why she is upset. Meghla expresses that throughout her life, people have only shown her sympathy. She also mentions that her marriage happened out of sympathy, leaving Ranbir shocked. He tells her that if [...]

The post Iss Ishq Ka Rabb Rakha 12th March 2025 Written Episode Update: Meher apologizes to Meghla appeared first on Telly Updates.

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Udne Ki Aasha 12th March 2025 Written Episode Update: Aaji comes home

Udne Ki Aasha 12th March 2025 Written Episode, Written Update on TellyUpdates.com The Episode starts with Renuka taunting Sayali. A sudden knock at the door interrupts their conversation. Renuka asks Sayali to check, and both are surprised to see Aayi arriving. Sachin, overwhelmed with emotion, embraces Aayi. His grandmother asks Renuka if she has made [...]

The post Udne Ki Aasha 12th March 2025 Written Episode Update: Aaji comes home appeared first on Telly Updates.

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Templegate’s Tote Placepot tips for Cheltenham Festival day two with huge £750,000 guaranteed

AFTER one of the most dramatic opening days in recent memory, Cheltenham rolls into day two with the Champion Chase the feature.

Our man Templegate is back with his Placepot tips in the hope of helping you towards a share of that monster £750,000 guaranteed pot!

Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 14, 2023 Marine Nationale ridden by Michael O’Sullivan in action on their way to winning the 13:30 The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Marine Nationale with the late Michael O’Sullivan winning last year

The Placepot is a bet where you select a horse to be placed in the FIRST SIX races of any meeting.

You can pick more than one horse in a race – you just multiply the number of selections in each race to calculate your stake. So for staking it’s 2x2x2x2x2x2 which adds up to 64 lines. 

You can stake what you want upwards from 5p a line which would cost a total of £3.20. 10p a line is £6.40 and so on. Provided at least one in each race is placed, we get a payout!

How to claim £40 in free bets with Tote

Tote special offer

  1. Visit the Tote website HERE*
  2. Register a brand new account using the Promo Code: B10G40
  3. Deposit and place your first bet of at least £10 on horse racing or other sports
  4. Once your Qualifying Bet is settled you will receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza

Tote welcome offer: Get £40 bonus — claim here*

Cheltenham Day Two Placepot Tips

LEG 1: Final Demand, The New Lion

FINAL DEMAND looked a superstar when scoring at Leopardstown latest when clocking a really fast time. He has plenty of staying power and looks open to massive improvement on just his fourth visit to the racecourse.

THE NEW LION was impressive in the Challow at Newbury last time. Stays strongly and can improve further. Ground should be ideal too.

LEG 2: Gorgeous Tom, Ballyburn

GORGEOUS TOM can take a massive step forward now he’s tackling three miles for the first time.

BALLYBURN sets a high standard and was a good five-length winner at the Dublin Racing Festival. He shapes as though this longer trip will suit but he’ll have to prove it here. He can make the odd little error but he’s got plenty of class and will be right there.

More Cheltenham offers

TOP DEALS

Best Cheltenham free bets: Betting offers for the festival (2025)

Horse play

Best horse racing betting sites in the UK (2025)

LEG 3: Comfort Zone, Impose Toi

COMFORT ZONE didn’t get the clearest of runs at the business end and crossed the line with something left in the tank. Going up in distance here looks a smart move and he looks fairly handicapped under Mark Walsh.

IMPOSE TOI was impressive at Newbury last time and won in a big field here in November. Cheekpieces go on for the first time which may help him get up the hill.

LEG 4: Busselton, Mister Coffey

BUSSELTON caught the eye with a nice quiet spin around this track in at the December meeting. He jumped the various obstacles without putting a foot wrong and ran on nicely enough in the closing stages to finish sixth.

MISTER COFFEY has every chance of getting on the podium again. He loved this test last time and, while he’ll probably find another way to lose, he’s got to be in your Placepot.

LEG 5: Solness, Marine Nationale

SOLNESS hasn’t had the credit he deserves for his blistering victory at Leopardstown last month. He turned that race into a procession, blasting off from the front and showing electric pace.

MARINE NATIONALE was two lengths behind Solness last time but his last visit to Cheltenham saw him win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle so he’s respected.

LEG 6: Unexpected Party, So Scottish

UNEXPECTED PARTY can defend his Grand Annual title for the Skeltons who have campaigned him to peak today. The brothers have a track record for targeting Festival handicaps and he showed really positive signs when second at Windsor last time.

SO SCOTTISH looks a plot horse from canny Emmet Mullins.  He was seventh in the 2023 Plate and was running a big race in the December Gold Cup here later that year before a late tumble.


Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
  • Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
  • GambleAware – GambleAware.org

Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.


*New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org. Full T&Cs apply.

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Thousands of eBay and Vinted sellers could face shock tax bill as HMRC cracks down on side hustle income

THOUSANDS of households are set to receive letters warning them to declare income from online sales up to four years ago – or face a surprise tax bill.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is in the process of sending letters to around 6,000 people who it believes earned income through online marketplaces and may need to pay tax on it, The Sun has learned.

Close-up of a partially opened tax letter from HM Revenue & Customs.
Getty
The taxman is urging people to disclose their earnings for 2022/23[/caption]

It is understood that the letters are being sent to people who made at least 30 sales and earned more than £2,000 primarily during the 2022/23 tax year, although in some cases in 2021/22.

The campaign is based on data the taxman has received from online marketplaces like Vinted and eBay.

HMRC regularly receives information about transactions and income being generated through these platforms.

The aim of the letters is to warn those individuals that HMRC is aware of their online income and encourage them to disclose it before any further action is taken.

In an example letter seen by The Sun, the taxman says: “We have information that shows you’ve earned income from online marketplace sales up to the tax year ending 5 April 2023.

“You need to tell us about this income. This is because you may owe tax.”

It goes on to say that the recipient needs to declare any income or contact HMRC within 30 days from the date of the letter.

If they fail to do that, the taxman says it will open a compliance check and may charge them penalties. It will then charge daily interest on any late tax payments.

“The sooner you pay any tax you owe, the less interest you’ll have to pay,” the letters warn.

It forms part of ongoing work by the taxman to ensure everyone is paying what they owe.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “We receive regular information from online marketplaces and are contacting sellers who have not declared their income to ensure they pay the correct tax.

“Our Help for Hustles campaign helps those with income from side hustles understand their tax obligations and avoid any surprises.”

Why is the taxman sending letters out?

The round of letters comes amid a rise in sales on secondhand marketplaces like eBay over the past few years.

Vinted, eBay and Depop have all moved away from charging sellers to list items on their platforms recently, meaning it is free to sell online.

This has led to a huge increase in the volume of transactions through these platforms.

Vinted more than doubled its user base between 2020 and 2023, rising from one million to 2.5million users. Meanwhile, sales on the site jumped by 61% last year to £513million.

But there are concerns that many sellers may not realise they have to pay tax on this income if they earn over a certain threshold.

Joanne Walker, technical officer for the The Chartered Institute of Taxation’s Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, said: “These nudge letters are part of a wider HMRC campaign to encourage online marketplace sellers to take notice of their tax obligations.

“In particular, these letters are targeting people who HMRC think have already failed to comply with the tax rules for previous tax years.”  

On January 1 2024, new rules known as OECD Reporting Rules came in that meant digital platforms would need to collect information about sellers of goods and services and report this to HMRC.

However, it is understood the letters being sent out this month are a separate initiative.

What do I do if I receive a letter?

If you receive a letter from HMRC about past income, make sure to respond as soon as possible to avoid any penalties.

If you think you do have income to declare, go to gov.uk and search “‘Tell HMRC about underpaid tax from previous years’, then follow the instructions.

Alternatively, you can call HMRC on 0300 123 0998 and quote the reference number on your letter. HMRC will then send you a payment reference number to pay what you owe.

If you don’t have any income to declare, you still need to let HMRC know either by email or over the phone.

Bear in mind that if you do owe tax and don’t tell HMRC on time, you could be charged penalties and could have to pay extra interest.

Make sure to let HMRC know if you have any personal circumstances that make it difficult for you to deal with the issue right now, as it should make allowances to help you cope.

Ms Walker, of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, added: “It is important that anyone who receives a letter takes action and checks their tax position carefully.

“It is possible that some people who have received one of these letters will not have any income to declare.

“Even where this is the case, they should still contact HMRC, in line with the instructions on the letter, to confirm their position and explain why they do not have any income to declare.   

“In any event, the most important thing is to take action and not simply ignore the letter.” 

However, in future you may not have to file a tax return if you don’t owe any tax under Treasury plans, The Sun revealed this week.

Why might I have to pay tax on online sales?

Everyone has a “trading allowance” of £1,000. This means you can earn up to that amount from side hustles or sales without paying tax.

Some examples include selling items on eBay, renting out a property, washing cars or babysitting.

If you have property income and trading income, you can claim a £1,000 allowance for both.

However, anything earned over this amount must be taxed at your marginal rate.

You will need to pay this by completing a self-assessment tax return.

Make sure to keep a record of what you earn and any expenses you have to pay.

Do you need to pay tax on items sold on Vinted?

QUICK facts on tax from the team at Vinted...

  • The only time that an item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is profit (sells for more than you paid for it). Even then, you can use your capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 to offset it.
  • Generally, only business sellers trading for profit (buying goods with the purpose of selling for more than they paid for them) might need to pay tax. Business sellers who trade for profit can use a tax-free allowance of £1,000, which has been in place since 2017.
  • More information here: vinted.co.uk/no-changes-to-taxes

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Punter wins £55,000 from a fiver at Cheltenham despite backing just one winner as ‘dream’ bet leaves bookies reeling

ONE Cheltenham punter has woken up £55,000 richer after cleaning out the bookies with an amazing £5 bet – which included just one winner.

The Tote bookies literally ran out of money in their till after the bettor smashed their popular Placepot bet to bits on Monday.

Insufficient funds error message on a ticket machine.
Bookies literally ran out of cash to pay the punter after their ‘dream’ £5 bet returned more than £55,000… despite having just one winner
Two people smiling for a photo.
The punter, named Tom, who wiped out the bookies celebrates his colossal winner

He picked a horse to place in the first six races and watched in shock as they all came in.

The biggest surprise was 66-1 Burdett Road in the Champion Hurdle.

The rank outsider scooted home behind 25-1 winner Golden Ace after odds-on fav Constitution Hill fell and State Man, who was ten lengths clear and cruising, crashed out at the last.

His bet included only one winner, which was Jango Baie’s incredible last-to-first victory in the Arkle.

Jockey Nico de Boinville admitted he had all but given up as he struggled in last, hitting 300-1 on the in-running markets.

But after odds-on fav Majborough blundered and L’Eau Du Sud ran out of gas, Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie charged up the hill to win.

The final leg of the Placepot landed when Tom Dascombe’s Hot Fuss finished fourth in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap.

Cheltenham 2025 - all you need

The Placepot is a bet where you pick a horse to finish in the places in the first six races.

They don’t have to win and, if the favourites go crashing out as they did in the Champion Hurdle, the dividend from the pool money skyrockets.

With yesterday’s results, if you put a quid in the Placepot and won you would have netted £11,050.70.

You can pick several horses per race if a few take your fancy.

How to claim..

Tote special offer

  1. Visit the Tote website HERE*
  2. Register a brand new account using the Promo Code: B10G40
  3. Deposit and place your first bet of at least £10 on horse racing or other sports
  4. Once your Qualifying Bet is settled you will receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza

Tote welcome offer: Get £40 bonus — claim here*

On Tote.co.uk, one customer landed £22,101.40 from a £24 bet with another taking home £17,681.12 from a £12.80 stake.

The winners were an anomoly on day one though, with the bookies having the last laugh after they were spared a £50million payout.

The layers even priced up the 7-1 four-fold, which included Kopek Des Bordes, Majborough, Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill as the ‘bloodbath’.

But they were saved when Majborough failed to win the Arkle – and in dreamland when Golden Ace bagged the Champion Hurdle.

FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.


Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chases their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
  • Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
  • Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

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KSI called out by footballer who infamously knocked out Premier League legend for Misfits Boxing fight

KSI has been called out to a fight by football hardman Phil Bardsley.

Bardsley infamously knocked out Wayne Rooney in a drunken kitchen sparring session in 2015.

Phil Bardsley, Stockport County footballer, donating his salary to charity.
PA
Football hardman Phil Bardsley has called out KSI[/caption]
Wayne Rooney lying unconscious on a kitchen floor after a boxing match.
Bardsley infamously knocked out Wayne Rooney in a drunken kitchen sparring session in 2015
KSI at a press conference.
PA
KSI is the founder of Misfits Boxing[/caption]

He only retired from playing in 2023 and moved into coaching – but now he fancies a switch to the boxing ring.

Bardsley, 39, told oddsmakers BoyleSports: “I would step in there with anyone, including KSI.

“I had an operation recently but it won’t take me long to get my fitness up when I’m back in the gym.

“I’d love to give it a go and I think I’d really enjoy the routine of it, it’s something I’d really look forward to.

“I’d never turn down a fight on one of the Misfits cards, but it’s not in my nature to go out there promoting myself. Let’s see what happens.”

Bardsley came through Manchester United’s academy and was signed with the Red Devils from 2003-2008.

During that period, he also had loan spells with Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.

The right-back later played for Sunderland, Stoke, Burnley again and finally Stockport County – where he retired.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Bardsley is an avid boxing fan watched on as former United team-mate Danny Simpson also made his boxing debut.

Simpson, 38, drew against YouTuber Danny Aarons, 22, last August and continues training for another bout.

Misfits is the home to celebrity-style crossover bouts headed up by YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI.

KSI, 31, returns against MMA star Dillon Danis, also 31, in Manchester on March 29.

But Danis replaced Wayne Bridge, 44, after the ex-Chelsea player pulled out when KSI referenced his infamous feud with John Terry.

two boxers in a ring one of whom has the number 10 on his shorts
Getty
Danny Aarons and Danny Simpson drew[/caption]
KSI being interviewed.
KSI facing off with Wayne Bridge
misfits boxing

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I tried the super rare US McDonald’s drink that’s coming to the UK menu and was surprised by the taste

A RARE McDonald’s drink usually only seen in the US is making its UK debut today – and The Sun got an exclusive taste before anyone else.

The Shamrock Shake is being launched at restaurants for a two-week period only, from March 12 until March 25.

Sam Walker taste-testing a McDonald's Shamrock milkshake.
Simon Jones
I tried the Shamrock Shake which is on UK menus for the first time[/caption]
McDonald's Shamrock milkshake.
Simon Jones
The Shamrock Shake is on menus from £2.19[/caption]

Thirsty customers can get their hands on small, medium and large sizes, with prices £2.19, £2.69 and £3.09, respectively.

Bear in mind, though, that prices might vary from restaurant to restaurant.

The launch of the mint-flavoured beverage comes after Maccie’s trialled the blueberry-flavoured Grimace shake last summer.

I got an exclusive try of the new Shamrock Shake, unveiled to mark St Patrick’s Day, before it hits menus today (March 12).

But how did it actually fare flavour-wise? Put simply, this was not one for my taste buds.

I love a McDonald’s strawberry milkshake, so I was keen to see if the Shamrock could knock it off its pedestal. But, overall, I found it to be a bit of a disappointment.

The first rush of flavour was far too sweet for me. Given most McDonald’s milkshakes are like this, though, I was willing to let this pass me by.

But then the mint flavour hit… and for me, it was far too chemically.

My taste buds did adjust and the drink became more bearable after a few sips, but I was still left with a synthetic taste in my mouth.

The vanilla ice cream was creamy and smooth, but overall, the Shamrock doesn’t beat a classic strawberry shake for me.

If you’re someone who usually goes for a mint milkshake, this might be one for you though.

McDonald’s said it will donate 20p from each sale of the drink at selected restaurants to the Ronald McDonald House Charity.

OTHER MCDONALD’S MENU CHANGES

McDonald’s regularly shakes up its menu to keep customers on their toes – and it added four new items in February.

The fast food chain brought back the Philly Cheese Stack, Raspberry and White Chocolate Pie and Mars McFlurry.

History of the Shamrock Shake

The Shamrock Shake was created in 1967 by Hal Rosen, a McDonald’s restaurant owner from Connecticut in the USA.

The shake was first whipped up to mark St Patrick’s Day – the annual event that celebrates Ireland’s patron saint St. Patrick.

The shake was rolled out more widely across selected locations in the US in 1970.

In 1974, sales from the shake helped to build the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, USA.

Six years later, McDonald’s introduced the “Shamrock Sundae” for the first time – combining vanilla soft serve ice cream and mint-green Shamrock syrup.

To mark the 50-year anniversary of the creation of the shake, in 2020 McDonald’s launched a twist on the drink – the OREO Shamrock McFlurry.

Plus, Tropicana apple juice was added to menus for the first time, and will be staying as a permanent addition.

The Philly Cheese Stack is on sale until May 6, combining two beef patties with cheese sauce, cheese slices, grilled and crispy onions and pickles served in a toasted bun, from £5.29.

The burger was last on sale in October before being dropped from menus.

The Raspberry and White Chocolate Pie, which first launched early last year, is also on menus until May 6, for £1.99.

The crispy pink pastry is filled with a smooth white chocolate ganache and raspberry compote.

Senior consumer reporter Ellie Smitherman got to try the sweet treat when it first launched and was a big fan.

Also hitting menus last month was the Mars McFlurry, consisting of soft dairy ice cream swirled with crunchy chocolate-covered nougat pieces and topped with caramel sauce, from £1.69.

The pudding will be available until March 25.

Customers can also still get their hands on the Katsu chicken wrap and McCrispy BBQ Smokehouse until May 6 and the Mozzarella Dippers until March 25.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities was founded in the UK in 1989 and currently operates 14 houses.

The houses are partnered with NHS hospitals, providing families with free accommodation to support them while their child is in hospital.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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I couldn’t pay my rent and was drowning in debt then I got £1k from little-known scheme and it saved me and my kids

MOTHER-of-four Amy Claridge fell into rent arrears after maternity leave left her with less money than expected.

The primary school teacher, 35, and her partner saved around £200 a month in preparation for the birth of their son in November 2023.

Woman with long brown hair wearing a pink headband.
Amy Claridge struggled to pay her bills while on maternity leave
Woman with long brown hair sitting at a table, wearing a beige coat with a geometric pattern.
The young mum saved diligently in preparation for the birth of her child
Woman sitting at a table with a menu.
When the cost of living crisis drove up their bills the couple struggled

It was difficult for the young couple to scrape together the cash each month and still provide for their other three children.

At first they were able to make ends meet on Amy’s £1,600 a month salary and her partner’s £2,000 a month income.

But after three months Amy’s maternity pay halved to £800 and the family began to struggle.

Then the cost of living crisis drove up their monthly gas, electricity and food bills and the couple fell behind on their payments.

First they missed a council tax payment, then they struggled to pay their energy bill.

But it was the increase in their rent from £801 to £809 a month on their two bedroom house that pushed them over the edge. 

“We just couldn’t keep on top of it at all. We were just trying to chase our tails with other bills,” Amy said.

“We were trying to put £50 towards one bill and £100 on another but could never pay the full amount.”

She was using her overdraft to make ends meet but racked up hefty fees when she missed her payments.

Sadly, she maxed out her credit card, which lowered her credit score.

The family tried to cut back on their spending, they stopped going on days out and said no to school trips for their eldest daughter and son.

Eventually they had to stop using their Nissan and 2014 BMW cars altogether as they couldn’t afford petrol or running costs.

They started using a local food bank to make sure they had enough supplies to feed their children.

The pressure of the situation took its toll on the couple and their children aged 12, nine, three and six months.

How does Lightning Reach work?

Lightning Reach is a financial support portal which allows users to access personalised help with their bills all in one place.

Users can get help with their energy and utility bills, debt write-offs, fuel vouchers, energy advice and home efficiency upgrades.

This year it has provided almost £1million worth of grants to struggling households through its Winter Warmth campaign since September 2024.

The average successful applicant gets more than £1,000 worth of support through the portal.

The platform has more than 80 partners and connects people to over 2,500 financial support schemes.

Its partners include the Teaching Staff Trust, Royal British Legion and Southern Housing.

To access the help you must first sign up to create a free account and complete a profile.

Next you can check your support matches, which will give you a list of financial help that is tailored to your situation.

You can submit your applications through the secure portal by simply clicking a button.

Once your application is approved you will get the support in as little as two days.

The money can be paid in several ways, including food and fuel vouchers.

“It was so stressful. It was the first time I’ve ever suffered with my mental health,” Amy said.

“It was a difficult situation and nobody wants to be in that position. We both work really hard. My partner is a supervisor at a retail shop and works really long hours.”

The couple fell three months behind on their rent payments and owed their housing provider Sovereign Housing around £2,427.

As the situation worsened the couple were threatened with court action.

“We could not see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Amy said.

“Maternity leave is meant to be one of the happiest times of your life but it was just clouded by debt.

“The threat of court was looming and keeping a roof over the children’s heads was quite daunting.”

As the financial pressures became all-consuming, Sovereign Housing sent the couple to its debt support team.

An advisor referred the family to the Lightning Reach portal.

Lightning Reach connects users to personalised help, such as fuel vouchers, energy advice and utility bills.

To be eligible you need to be struggling financially, for example because you are waiting for a benefit payment, have lost your job or your bills have increased.

You do not need to be referred to access the support and can apply directly through the Lightning Reach website.

Amy said the support from Lightning Reach “just changed everything”.

“We only had to fill in the forms once and all the information was at our fingertips. There were many different avenues and personalised searches for our situation.”

The busy mum was able to build a profile and explore her options easily using just her mobile phone.

After she submitted the paperwork Amy was offered a grant from Teaching Staff Trust.

She was given the choice of either £1,000 towards their rent arrears, £500 for food, or the full £1,500 towards their rent debt.

Amy chose to cover her arrears, easing the financial pressure on the family.

“Within a couple of days, I got an email. I reread it five times as I could not believe my luck,” she tells me.

“It was absolutely amazing. I felt like the grey cloud hanging over us had lifted and we were finally getting the support we needed.”

Where to find financial help

There are several grants and cash payments you could get if you are struggling.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount on your energy bill.

If you are eligible then your energy supplier will usually apply the discount to your bill.

You may instead be sent a voucher if you have a prepayment meter.

Applications for the scheme opened in October but there can be a delay before the payments are made.

To qualify for the cash, you usually need to be claiming one of a range of means-tested benefits during the qualifying week, which is typically in August.

But if you successfully claim backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date once your benefits are confirmed.

If you qualify for the Warm Home Discount, you should receive a letter to tell you.

These letters are usually sent between October and January.

You can use our guide to check which benefits qualify for the help.

Plus we explain how to get the cash if you think you are eligible but have not received a letter.

Household Support Fund

If you are struggling to pay your bills, you may be able to apply for support via the Household Support Fund (HSF).

The funding is designed to help people who are vulnerable or cannot afford necessities including energy bills, water bills and food.

The help may be paid as cash, food or fuel vouchers.

What support is available and whether you are eligible varies by council.

Check your local authority’s website to see what is on offer and how to apply.

For example, St Helens Borough Council in Merseyside is offering support with essential bills.

Low-income families can apply for support with their food, fuel bills and other living expenses such as utility debts.

They can also get cash to help with the cost of purchasing furniture or white goods.

Households can apply for payments worth £200.

Those over 80 who are not eligible for this year’s Winter Fuel Payment can get £300.

They must be receiving Housing Benefit or another Council Tax reduction.

Free electricity and gadgets

You may be able to get a grant to help you pay your bills directly from your supplier.

Several energy suppliers have support customers experiencing financial hardship.

EDF customers who are struggling with energy debt can get help through its Customer Support Fund.

The fund offers grants and support to those who are behind on their bills and provide essential white goods such as a fridge or cooker.

You need to get independent debt advice before you apply for the funding.

To apply visit the Let’s Talk website.

E.ON Next customers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are struggling with their energy bills can get help through the supplier’s Energy Fund.

The fund offers debt support and energy efficient appliances such as washing machines, fridges and cookers.

Other suppliers are giving customers free gadgets to help them cut their energy bills.

Octopus Energy is handing out freebies including electric blankets to customers as part of its Octo Assist fund.

The bankets can save customers up to £150 across winter.

Octopus customers can also borrow a thermal imaging camera to help find spots in their homes where heat is escaping.

Once they have identified the draughts, customers can look into ways to get them fixed, which can help to reduce their energy usage.

Meanwhile, EDF customers can get their hands on free energy-saving gadgets such as air fryers, kettles and slow cookers.

Woman with long brown hair and blonde highlights in a car.
Amy was able to get financial support through the Lighting Reach portal
Woman in red top sitting in a car.
The young mum was given £1,000 to help cover her rent arrears

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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