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Financial wellbeing

Whether you're looking for tips to make your money go further, want to feel more in control of your finances, or need help and support with financial difficulties, we've got you covered.

We recently teamed up with MoneyHelper to bring you a range of tools and calculators so that knowing where your money goes, or can go, has never been easier.

If you are struggling with money or debt don't suffer alone. The RCN Welfare team can support members on a wide range of welfare related issues and are here to offer confidential, non-judgmental advice to try and help you get back on track.

If you want to know which financial wellbeing resources could be helpful given your situation or what the RCN Welfare Service may be able to assist with, use the Financial Wellbeing checker below.

Are you experiencing financial difficulty?

Have you explored whether you are entitled to welfare benefits and/or made claims for benefits that you may be eligible for?

 

Please use the online benefits calculators

Please use the online benefits calculators to check your entitlement. If you're entitled to benefits, you should make a claim as soon as possible as most benefits cannot be backdated. The benefit calculator will give instructions on how to claim and who to contact.

Exceptions

Benefit calculators are not designed for:

  • students in receipt of student finance
  • individuals with no recourse to public funds
  • individuals on a tier 2 visa
If you fall under one of these categories and need advice about entitlement please e-mail the welfare service.. Please remember to include your membership number.

Extenuating circumstances

If you have extenuating circumstances that mean you cannot use the benefits calculator, and do not have someone to help you, contact RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 or see other ways to get in touch.

Please note the RCN Welfare Service cannot help you to complete claims for benefits.

If you have used the calculator and claimed any benefits you're entitled to, but still have financial difficulties, please see our Managing your Money resources below which include advice on charitable funding and other sources of financial aid, local authority assistance, dealing with debt, increasing your income, and more.

Many of our members find our budget planner tool and money navigator helpful.

 

Extenuating circumstances

If you have extenuating circumstances that mean you cannot use the benefits calculator, and do not have someone to help you, contact RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 or see other ways to get in touch.

Please note the RCN Welfare Service cannot help you to complete claims for benefits.

Are you worried about a reduction in income, other financial difficulties, or problem debts?

If you have used the calculator but still have questions about your entitlement or which benefits to claim you can contact RCN Direct to request a referral to the RCN Welfare Service. 

If you need advice on disputing, changing, or challenging a benefits decision, see the RCN Welfare Service's advice on Understanding Benefits.

Are you worried about a reduction in income, other financial difficulties, or problem debt?

 

Are you worried about a reduction in household income, a change of circumstances, or other financial difficulties?

 

 

Managing your Money

See our resources below on managing your money which includes advice on increasing your income, charitable funding and other sources of help, dealing with short term cash flow issues, budget planner tools, money navigator tools, and much more.

Disputing a benefit decision

If you need information about disputing a benefit decision or change to your benefits, see the RCN Welfare Service advice on Understanding Benefits.

Are you in debt?

(Debts include credit cards, loans, store cards, hire purchase agreements, and council tax arrears, utility arrears and mortgage arrears. Debts also include Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) and Debt Management Plans.)

 

Are you in debt?

Debts include credit cards, loans, store cards, hire purchase agreements, and council tax arrears, utility arrears and mortgage arrears.

Debts also covers Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) and Debt Management Plans. Please note, for the purpose of this question, debts do not include your ongoing, contractual payments for mortgages, utilities and council tax.

Help with debts

Debt repayments can be negotiated so if your debt repayments are causing you financial difficulty, we recommend you seek money advice.

If you are unsure whether debt repayments are the cause of your financial difficulty we recommend you use this helpful budget planner tool before you seek further advice.

The RCN Welfare Service offers advice and representation on a range of issues which includes problem debt such as: Overpayment of wages, rent arrears, overpayment of NHS Pensions, welfare benefit and tax credit debts, council tax arrears and utility bill debts.

RCN members can access the Welfare Service by calling RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 or you can see other ways to get in touch.

FCA Regulated debt advice

At the current time, the RCN is unable to offer FCA Regulated Debt advice, so if you are seeking advice with consumer credit debts such as credit cards, bank overdrafts and/or Hire Purchase, then please use the links below for information on the steps you can take and how to access support

Individuals who are not members of the RCN can access guidance and details of where to get support from the MoneyHelper website.

Debts include things like rent arrears, council tax arrears, utility arrears, credit cards, loans and other types of debts.

Debt repayments can be negotiated so if your debt repayments are causing you financial difficulty, we recommend you seek money advice.

If you are unsure whether debt repayments are the cause of your financial difficulty we recommend you use this helpful budget planner tool before you seek further advice.

The RCN Welfare Service offers advice and representation on a range of issues which includes problem debt such as: Overpayment of wages, rent arrears, overpayment of NHS Pensions, welfare benefit and tax credit debts, council tax arrears and utility bill debts.

RCN members can access the Welfare Service by calling RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 or you can see other ways to get in touch.

At the current time, the RCN is unable to offer FCA Regulated Debt advice, so if you are seeking advice with consumer credit debts such as credit cards, bank overdrafts and/or Hire Purchase, then please use the links below for information on the steps you can take and how to access support

Individuals who are not members of the RCN can access guidance and details of where to get support from the MoneyHelper website.

We recommend you use the budget planner tool to help you get a good understanding of your expenditure costs, both fixed and flexible.

End

Your answers have indicated that you do not need to claim benefits, do not anticipate financial difficulties, and do not need advice on debt.

You may wish to use our budget planner tool and money navigator tools to help you feel more in control of your finances.

Nurse at computer, trying to make sense of paperwork and a spreadsheet

Help with benefits

If you're confused by the benefits system, have questions about changes to your benefits, or need to challenge a benefits decision, we can help.

male nursing writing at desk

Managing your money

Resources and tools to help you with budgeting, banking, car costs, utilities, tips on saving and advice on analysing spending habits.

Money worries

Advice if you're worried about your  finances, rent/mortgage, or debt, as well as information on charitable funding, financial aid and where to seek support.

Student money guide

Student money guide

for nursing students

HCA money guide

NSW money guide

for Nursing Support Workers

NQN money guide

NRN Handbook - Finances after graduating

for Newly Registered Nurses

Online tools and calculators

The Budget Planner, Money Navigator, and Money Manager for Universal Credit Claimants can help you work out the figures and the solutions you need.

See all financial wellbeing tools
financial wellbeing tools

Understanding your NHS Pension

You may benefit from consulting with one of our corporate partners Quilter Financial Advisers to help you understand your pension and feel more informed about your retirement.

Would you like to share your story?

Now more than ever, the challenging realities facing the nursing professionals must be understood by politicians and the public. If you are struggling financially and would be willing to share your story with us to support the RCN’s Fair Pay for Nursing campaign, please use this link to email our communications department.
Share your story
Fair Pay

Are you looking for charitable funding or other sources of help?

If you're looking for charitable funds, free furniture, information on food banks and more, there are sources to explore.
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