The increasing cost of living can take a toll on you and your family. If you’re struggling to make ends meet the following guidance on financial support that may be available to you might help.

Benefits

Firstly, you should find out what benefits you’re entitled to, how to claim them, when you qualify, and what to do if things go wrong here: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits?source=mas#. There is also a handy A-Z of benefits which you can view here. The UK Government has also created a benefits calculator, click here for more information.

Support for carers

One in five of the NHS workforce is currently balancing working and caring responsibilities, and we want to ensure that working carers feel more supported, valued and listened to. A carer is someone of any age who looks after a family member, partner or friend who otherwise couldn’t manage without their help because of illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction. The care that carers give is unpaid. For infomation about what support is available for carers, please contact Susan Matheson, Carer Coordinator on 0191 404 1242. 

Financial support for staff with children  

The government website has a new section called Get childcare: step by step. There is also a more detailed section on their website called Financial help if you have children. There’s loads more information on things like financial help when having a baby, child benefit, tax credits if you have children, financial help if you have a disabled child and tons more. This range of support replaces the Childcare Vouchers scheme which closed to new applicants in October 2018. Childcare Choices also provides information on government help with childcare costs for parents.

Download these helpful leaflets: 

Healthcare Workers’ Foundation provides financial support for childcare related costs through grants of up to a total of £1,000 annually. Click here for more information.

Wills 

The Will Guys, a sister company of The Financial Guys, is offering free wills for all NHS staff. 

Pensions and retirement 

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. Find out more here. 

We've also teamed up with Affinity to provide FREE workshops for colleagues in relation to pensions, retirement and finances. These courses have been designed to help you understand and make decisions with confidence about financial, pensions and retirement matters and to find out about where/how to get further help, information and advice. 

We have a full calendar of events for 2023, but next week, we also have the following two sessions:

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