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.

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.)

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

• Money Advice Service: Options for Clearing your debts (England and Wales)
• Money Advice Service: Options for Clearing your debts (Scotland)
• Money Advice Service: Options for Clearing your debts (Northern Ireland)

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

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.

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.