There are now numerous organisations offering customers free solar PV panels. Are these offers worth looking at?

Typically, the company installing the solar PV panels will receive the income from the generation and export tariffs for the site, while the customer will benefit from reduced energy bills through the electricity generated on the site.

On 4 July 2011, the economist Andrew Dilnot published his recommendations for the future funding of social care. He has made proposals to change the current social care system so that it is more fair, sustainable and affordable.

What has Andrew Dilnot said?

The Commission on the Funding of Care and Support was set up by the coalition Government in July 2010, tasked with looking at the way that the care and support system works currently and what needs to be done to make it work better. The Chair of the Commission, Andrew Dilnot has said that the current system is not fit for purpose, will not cope with the increasing demands from growing numbers of older people, and will not provide good quality care that we want for older people.

Andrew Dilnot has made a series of proposals for fundamental reform to the way that care is provided and funded. His recommendations deal with social care for all age groups.

On 13 January 2011 the Government's new Pensions Bill received its first reading in Parliament. These changes, which include an increase in the State Pension Age, will make a difference to anyone who hasn’t already retired.

OLDER people need no longer struggle to survive on their State Pension alone. Benefits for senior citizens have increased over the past 10 years and if you are now on a low income and don’t have much money in the bank, then you may well be entitled to extra cash via an array of benefits. One of them is Pension Credit and here we explain the rules and regulations surrounding this state benefit…

OLDER people need no longer struggle to survive on their State Pension alone. Benefits for senior citizens have increased over the past 10 years and if you are now on a low income and don’t have much money in the bank, then you may well be entitled to extra cash via an array of benefits. One of them is Pension Credit and here we explain the rules and regulations surrounding this state benefit…

THE funding of residential care is a thorny topic and the subject of much controversy. Who pays for treatment – the NHS or local authorities – is a perennial debate that raises the hackles of politicians and campaigners alike. Although big changes have occurred in recent years, it is still a complex subject and here we try to untangle the red tape to outline the latest advice and information…

THE funding of residential care is a thorny topic and the subject of much controversy. Who pays for treatment – the NHS or local authorities – is a perennial debate that raises the hackles of politicians and campaigners alike. Although big changes have occurred in recent years, it is still a complex subject and here we try to untangle the red tape to outline the latest advice and information…

THE STATE Pension (SP), formerly known as the retirement pension, aims to give people a regular income and is based on National Insurance contributions.

The full weekly rates for the basic State Pension are £102.15 for a single person and £61.20 for a spouse based on her/his husband/wife’s contributions.

The other types of State Pension include the Additional State Pension, the Graduated Pension and Over-80s Pension. They are based on National Insurance contributions and the age that you can claim it is your State Pension age for women and 65 for men.