Signposting Hub
A directory of help available to you, ranging from counselling to gambling support
The RCN Foundation Benevolent Service is here to support you
Whether you're a nurse, midwife or healthcare support worker, you can apply for hardship grant and you do not need to be a member of the Royal College of Nursing to apply. If you do receive a hardship grant, this will not need to be repaid.
After you apply, if the automatic eligibility checker asks you to complete a full application, you will normally receive a decision or request for missing documents within three weeks. Once a grant has been awarded, it can take a further week for the payment to appear in your bank account.
If you enter details that suggest you are not eligible for a grant, our automatic eligibility checker will decline your application at an early stage, to make the best use of your time. Our signposting hub can direct you to other forms of assistance.
Please note, if you have received an RCN Foundation hardship grant within the last 12 months, you are not eligible for another grant during this time.
If you have been suspended or removed from the NMC register, please email rcnfoundationbenevolent@rcn.org.uk attaching a copy of the allegations.
Before you start your application
You will need to upload the following documents. Failure to do so will result in significant delay to your application. If you have any queries, check our FAQ's.
Benevolent Grants Manager, Leah, tells us her top 3 tips you should follow before applying for an RCN Foundation hardship grant:
The last 2 months bank statements from all bank accounts you hold for you and your partner if applicable. These need to show:
- Name
- Address
- Full account number
- Sort code
- Transactions
- Running Balance
- Evidence of having worked as a nurse/midwife (UK or international) OR
- Evidence of 3 years’ service working as a healthcare support worker, maternity support worker or degree/foundation degree apprentice nursing student in a role that was directly supervised by a nurse or midwife (UK only). Your line manager must have been a nurse or midwife. For example, one payslip from each year that you worked in the role.
- If applicable, a full copy of your most recent Universal Credit statement (all pages) or evidence that you have applied for your entitlements. The application form will tell you about any benefits that you seem entitled to and if you don't show that you have applied for these, it will delay your application outcome because we will request the evidence.
- If you are looking for help with a specific cost or with essential arrears (rent/council tax) please provide documentation to show the cost or an up to date statement to show balance owed.
Additional information
Benevolent grants take several weeks to assess and pay, so they are not able to provide immediate support if you need money in the coming days. Other options are listed in our guides at the bottom of this page.
Read the guidance above about the supporting documents you'll need to attach, to ensure that when we do check your application, we can progress it to the decision stage rather than asking you to return something that was missing.
If you are applying on someone else’s behalf, please attach this form along with the other requested documents.
If you live with a partner, we will ask for a Data Protection Statement to be signed by them. You will agree to our data protection policy as part of the online form you complete, but your partner needs to confirm they agree to this too. If you complete the partner form here and attach it your application, it will speed up the process.
Apply for a hardship grant
- If you have difficulty completing the form using the link below, please email rcnfoundationbenevolent@rcn.org.uk or call 0345 408 4392
- If you see an error message or request for an invitation code when completing your application, please send a screenshot to rcnfoundationbenevolent@rcn.org.uk and our team will assist you. Typically this is caused by an issue with your account which our IT team fix within 48 hours.
