STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
WHERE can I go if I need to complain about a package holiday? D. M., Lowestoft, Suffolk. MAKE a formal complaint to the travel agent through which you booked the holiday.
Travel agents selling package holidays online or on the high street should be part of a series of member groups, such as ABTA (020 3117 0599). These organisations might be able to help if your grievance can’t be immediately resolved.
if your break is ruined because your airline, hotel company or any other part of your holiday collapses financially, contact protection scheme ATOL on 020 7453 6700, and it should give you a refund. I’M 72 and confused by the new pension rules. I contracted out when I worked for a local council. Will I get a different base rate now? M. T., Northampton. YOU needn’t worry — the new rules only affect those who reached state pension age if she doesn’t have to apply for probate. sometimes probate is not needed when your estate is small and your affairs simple. I’M 66 in September and still working — but I’ve really had enough and wish to retire.
I have two small pensions plus the state pension and my partner, who is 67, still has to work full-time.
We’re concerned that we will have insufficient income to survive. Are there any top-ups or help we can ask for? B. S., via email. CHECK whether you qualify for welfare support. huge sums in benefits go unclaimed each year by around 1.6 million older people — many of whom really do need and deserve them.
The key one for you is Pension Credit, which can top up your income to £155.60 (for single people) or £237.55 (for a couple).
Call the department for Work and Pensions on 0800 99 1234. on or since April 6 this year. Those who have already reached state pension age, such as yourself, continue as before. I AM 90 and have £110,000 — my entire estate — in a joint account with my daughter. My bank says my daughter doesn’t need to apply for probate to administer my affairs after my death. But what about inheritance tax? W. M., Boldon Colliery, Tyne & Wear. A FORM known as ihT205 (2011) filled in by the executors of a will lets HM Revenue & Customs know inheritance tax is not due on your estate.
But danny Cox, of adviser hargreaves lansdown, says your daughter won’t need it