Pensions, childcare, energy bills and dodging the recession: The special This is Money Budget podcast
Jeremy Hunt had a spring in his step this week as he delivered his budget.
It was a considerably different tune from the somber warning of trouble to come in his November fall statement.
The main act was a major overhaul of retirement savings rules, removing restrictions that limit the amount that can be contributed without tax penalties.
The lifetime pension allowance was abolished rather than increased, the annual allowance was increased sharply, and rules to prevent pension recycling were relaxed.
Was it a leap for the wealthy pumping money into their pensions – and their doctors – or a decision that will help many more young professional savers aspiring to a decent retirement, who may not realize that the lifetime limit could be achieved?
In this week’s podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert take a look at the budget and join them in explaining the pensions element is a special guest, the retired This is Money columnist and former minister Steve Webb pensions.
The budget also contained news on the economy, a silver lining on energy bills, and a big expansion of 30 hours of free childcare…but that won’t happen for a while.
The team examines all of these elements and more.
And finally, while the budget was making headlines, something else was rumbling: a mini-banking crisis triggered by the collapse of the Silicon Valley bank. What’s going on there and should we be worried?
