Pensions have many important advantages that will make your savings grow quicker.

A pension is basically a long-term savings plan with tax relief. Getting tax relief on pensions means some of your money that would have gone to the government as tax goes into your pension instead.

If you save through a defined contribution pension scheme, your contributions are invested. This is so they grow throughout your working life and then provide you with an income in retirement.

Generally, you can access the money in your pension pot from the age of 55, but this will increase to age 57 from 2028.

You can find out more about pensions on the MoneyHelper website –   Pensions and retirement | Help with pensions and retirement | MoneyHelper.

MoneyHelper also have a free and impartial line for NHS staff if you would like to ask any questions or discuss your individual circumstances. You can Get in touch online or over the phone on 0800 011 3797.

The Blue Light Card allows NHS staff to access a range of discounts online and in-store. Personalised to each member, your Blue Light Card costs £4.99 for 2-years access to our amazing range of discounts online and on the high street! You can find out more about which retailers accept the Blue Light Card here.

NHS Staff can sign up for a free membership card at The Company Shop. The Company Shop offers members a unique way of shopping, offering them surplus products from well-known brands at amazing prices, helping stretched budgets go further. To sign up up click here.

Too Good To Go is a company who are leading the food waste revolution. Too Good To Go lets people buy surplus food and drink from restaurants, grocery stores, pubs and producers to stop it from going to waste. To gain access to surplus food at reduced prices simply download the free Too Good To Go app and search for nearby businesses with unsold produce. You can then purchase a ‘Magic Bag’ and collect it at an allotted time. Download the app for IOS here and from Google Play here.

OLIO is another great food waste initiative which also results in a reduction to your expenditure. OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. For your convenience, OLIO can also be used for non-food household items too. To find out more about OLIO and to download the app, click here.

Tickets For Good offers free and discounted tickets for NHS staff which are donated by the UK’s live event partners. It is free to sign up. For free tickets, there is a minimal booking fee.

Stagecoach travel offers a 10% discount on various tickets for NHS staff. Click here for more information.

Bill Prioritiser Tool –  This tool can help you sort your bills and payments in the right order as the consequences of not paying certain bills before others can be more serious. The tool can also offer advice about what to do if you’re struggling to pay a bill before you miss a payment.

Budget Planner Tool – This free Budget Planner puts you in control of your household spending and analyses your results to help you take control of your money.

Debt advice locator – If you’re struggling with debt, it can be hard to know where to turn. But with lots of free national and local advice services available across the UK, you can use this tool to find help in a way that’s best for you.

Debt and borrowing – take control of debt, get free debt advice, and affordable borrowing.

Benefits – Find out what benefits you’re entitled to and learn about Universal Credit.

Budgeting and managing your money – Advice on running a bank account, planning your finances, and cutting costs.

Family and care – money decisions often need to be made when looking after family members and partners, expecting a baby, or dealing with problems like illness, divorce or bereavement. MoneyHelper has easy to understand guides to help you.

Help with scams – Advice for spotting, avoiding and recovering from scams.

MoneyHelper help to explain what the recent energy announcements will mean for you. You can access their guidance here.

MoneyHelper can also help you save money on other household bills, such as broadband, mobile or home phone, council tax, and water bills.

National Energy Action also provide advice on energy efficiency, heating your home and affordability of energy bills.

Ask Bill offer free and impartial help powered by Auriga, a public benefit entity who support people in hardship.

Mental Health and Money Toolkit

• View/download the Mental Health and Money Toolkit
• View/download the Mental Health and Money Toolkit (print friendly version)
• View/download the Mental Health and Money Healthcare Professional Guide

Practical tips on managing your money and improving your mental health and wellbeing provided by Mind Charity 

Macmillian Cancer Support have range of advice and services which can help cancer patients and their families manage their finances and money worries.

You can speak with our money advisors on the Macmillan Support Line Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm by calling 0800 808 00 00

You can also chat to money advisors online. When chat is open you will see a ‘Chat to us’ icon at the bottom right of the screen. Click this to start the service. You will be asked a few questions to direct you to the best service to support you.

If you prefer to email us with questions, please complete the online form. All emails are answered during opening hours and we will reply within 2 working days.

Information in other formats and languages

• NHS Pensions Planning your Retirement
• NHS Pensions – What are your options? 
• Understanding the Total Rewards Statement
• Everything those aged 30+ need to know about pensions

• Income and expenditure template
• Preparing for Christmas and Managing Debt

• Generic Credit Score Advice
• Building credit scores: for international educated workforce