Claiming financial support as a GP

With the ongoing GP employment crisis, some GPs are struggling to make ends meet. How would you manage if your income suddenly stopped or was drastically reduced?

Financial hardship can happen to anyone – it’s not just patients who get sick; doctors do too. Relationship breakdowns, bereavement and accidents are all events we cannot predict. Some doctors may also find themselves subject to professional intervention during their career, which could compromise income.

If you find yourself in financial difficulty there are a few things you can do to improve your situation.

State benefits

You may qualify for certain state benefits if your income drops for any reason.

It is a common misconception that state benefits are only for those out of work or on a low income. This is not the case. The benefit system is wide and varied: qualification for some benefits is not income-related; for example, Personal Independence Payment (for those who have a disability and need extra support with mobility and/or personal care).

Many working people are also missing out on Universal Credit. It is worth noting that Universal Credit can also help with rent and childcare costs.

If your income is limited due to working part-time, or you’re not currently working, check out the benefit calculator from charity Turn2us to see what benefits you may be entitled to. You don’t want to be one of the millions of people failing to claim money you may be entitled to. Like the NHS, the benefit system is there for all of us if we need it

For more information on benefits check:

Reducing outgoings

Doctors pay substantial professional fees to bodies such as the GMC, BMA and RCGP to name a few. These organisations all offer reduced subscriptions if your income stops or reduces below a certain threshold. Contact them to find out how they can help you. It is also worth contacting your medical indemnity insurance provider as your fees may be related to your income.

Even if you are not in hardship, don’t forget that you can claim your professional fees on your tax return.

Most people’s highest monthly expense is housing. If you have a mortgage and are having difficulty making the monthly repayments, speak to your mortgage provider as soon as possible. They may be able to offer you a mortgage holiday – usually three months, or interest-only payments – but be aware that this could affect your credit rating.

If you are the only adult in a household, check that you are receiving your 25% single person Council Tax discount.

Where to find help

Debt problems

If you are struggling to pay basic outgoings such as mortgage, rent, energy bills or minimum credit card payments; if direct debts are beginning to bounce; or you are getting into arrears – you may have debt problems. The good news is that there are organisations who can offer expert, confidential, non-judgmental and free advice:

The impact of money on mental health

Unfortunately, the pressures of primary can cause high levels of stress, anxiety and burnout. In recent years there has been much wider recognition of the connection between poor mental wellbeing and money problems. Around 4 million people in the UK are reported to have both mental health and money problems. Together, these issues cause a vicious cycle that can lead to other problems with work and relationships. To find out more and get help check:

If work is affecting your health, ask for help, don’t suffer alone. Talk to colleagues, your practice manager, contact BMA Wellbeing Services, RCGP, see your GP or consider self-referral to Practitioner Health. There are a wealth of resources specifically for medical professionals suffering with poor mental health.

Help from The Cameron Fund and other charities

The Cameron Fund is the GPs’ own charity and the only medical benevolent charity which solely supports GPs and their dependants. We provide support to GPs and their families in times of financial need, by providing grants, loans and money advice.

To be eligible for our help, you must be in financial hardship, i.e. unable to cover your essential monthly expenditure and have minimal savings. If you have savings in excess of the threshold for claiming means-tested benefits, you are unlikely to be eligible for our help.

We help GPs (current, retired and former) who have worked as an NHS GP for at least one year. We can also help dependant family members. We help GP registrars in the final stage of their training who are in financial hardship with interest-free loans for the two parts of the final exam, AKT and SCA.

Our experience of working with applicants in hardship prompted us to produce a guide ‘10 Top Tips for Financial Wellbeing‘, written with our money adviser, Jeff Brown of Adviceworks. It works as a guide for new GPs, a checklist for the more experienced and a resource for those who unfortunately find themselves in hardship. There are tips on future panning, being credit smart and money savvy, as well as what to do if things go wrong.

If you are not eligible for help from the Cameron Fund, then there are other medical charities who may be able to help. There are the BMA charities: Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, Royal Medical Foundation and Society for Assistance of Medical Families. You can find their details and an eligibility checker on the Help Me I’m A Doctor website. It is always worth checking to see if you are eligible for grants from other charities as well. Turn2Us has a grant search facility on their website https://www.turn2us.org.uk/ .

Jill Rowlinson is chief executive of The Cameron Fund