The Midlife MOT and other free help
The government's Midlife MOT reviews your work, your money and your health in one sitting. It is free, and so are several other things worth an afternoon.
The Midlife MOT
The Department for Work and Pensions runs a free Midlife MOT: a structured review of three things at once, your work, your wealth and your wellbeing, aimed at people in their 40s, 50s and 60s. The online version takes about half an hour and ends with a personal set of links and actions. If you are claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance, your work coach can book a longer face-to-face version.
Start at gov.uk/midlife-mot.
Pensions
- Check your State Pension forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension. It shows your State Pension age and how many qualifying years you have. Gaps can often be filled cheaply with voluntary contributions, and a redundancy year is a common gap.
- Find lost pensions with the free Pension Tracing Service at gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details. Most people with a long career have at least one they have forgotten.
- Pension Wise at moneyhelper.org.uk/pensionwise gives a free appointment for over-50s on what you can do with a defined contribution pension. Do this before you touch any pension money to bridge a gap.
Money while you look
- New Style Jobseeker's Allowance is contribution-based and not means-tested on savings for the first six months. If you have paid National Insurance for the last two years, claim it on the day your employment ends: gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance.
- Redundancy pay up to £30,000 is tax-free. Check your employer's figures against the statutory calculator at gov.uk/calculate-your-redundancy-pay.
- MoneyHelper at moneyhelper.org.uk has a redundancy guide and a free debt advice locator.
Skills and retraining
- Free courses for jobs at find-a-free-level-3-qualification if you do not already hold a Level 3 qualification, or are on a low wage.
- Skills Bootcamps are free, 12 to 16 weeks, and lead to an interview: gov.uk/guidance/find-a-skills-bootcamp.
- CITB grants and the CSCS card scheme have their own routes for experienced people returning to construction; check what your tickets need to stay current.
Jobcentre support for over-50s
Every Jobcentre has a 50PLUS Champion whose job is to support older jobseekers and to work with employers on hiring them. Ask for them by name when you first attend.
Health
A free NHS Health Check is available every five years between 40 and 74 through your GP. If stress or low mood is getting in the way of the search, your GP can refer you to NHS talking therapies, or you can refer yourself at nhs.uk/talking-therapies.
Not a member yet? Joining is free and takes ten minutes. Join as a member.