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<p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; font-family: inherit; color: inherit">How much you’ll get is based primarily on:</span></p><ul><li>how long you’ve paid into the Scheme (your membership) and</li><li>your final average pay </li></ul><p>While knowing this in advance can help take away some of the worry, there are still 2 decisions you need to make. These are: </p><ol><li><a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/when-to-retire" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; font-size: inherit" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked=""><strong>When to retire with a DB pension</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/ways-to-take-my-pension" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked=""><strong>How to take your DB pension</strong></a><strong> </strong></li></ol><p>You can find a summary of your options for each point below. </p><h3><strong>When to retire with a DB pension&nbsp;</strong></h3><p>Many members in a DB pension scheme will stop work once they reach <strong>Normal Retirement Age (NRA)</strong>. This is usually between 60 and 65 years old, depending on the section of the Scheme you’re a member of. </p><p>You can check your NRA in your Member Guide. This can be found in the library section once you have logged in to your&nbsp;<a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/login" data-sf-ec-immutable="">myRPS</a>&nbsp;account.</p><p>If you’re 55 or over (or 50 with a Protected Pension Age) you may be able to take <strong>early retirement. </strong></p><p>You may also be able to start taking your benefits early if you have to stop work due to<strong> ill health. </strong></p><p>Alternatively, you may be able to <strong>delay taking your pension up to the age of 75</strong>. </p><p>Each of these options will have an impact on how much pension you receive each month and may have additional consequences, particularly if you decide to start claiming your benefits early and then return to work. You can find out more <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/staying-in-work" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a> </p><p>We understand that when to retire is very much a personal choice and may depend on what you can afford to do, as well as when the rules will allow it. You can find out more about getting your pension savings on track, and what to do if the numbers don’t add up, such as making Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) here </p><h3><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: var(--font-size-h1); font-weight: bold; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; font-family: &quot;Open Sans Condensed&quot;, sans-serif; color: inherit"></span></h3><h3><strong>How to take your DB pension&nbsp;</strong></h3><p>There are 4 main ways to take your benefits from DB pension within the RPS. These are outlined below, although the rules of your specific section may vary so please check your Member Guide for more details. </p><p style="margin-left: 30px"><strong>1. Part lump sum/part pension </strong>– so you get some of your pension as a one off lump sum and the rest as regular pension payments. Depending on the rules of your section, you can usually decide how this is split, for example:<img src="https://cdn3.railpen.com/mp-sitefinity-prod/images/default-source/old-site-images/infographics/db-lump-sum-options_v01_bg-and-title.jpg?sfvrsn=8a94cbb7_5" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: inherit; font-family: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; font-size: inherit" alt="Graphic showing that you can either take a larger lump sum and less pension OR a smaller lump sum and more pension"></p><p style="margin-left: 30px">And generally, as long as the lump sum is worth 25% of your entire benefits, or less, then it will be tax free.&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-left: 30px"><strong>2. All pension – </strong>so you take all of your benefits as regular pension payments, and none as a lump sum. This may be restricted if you have paid any Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) and by the rules of the particular section of the Scheme you’re paying into</p><p style="margin-left: 30px"><strong>3. All cash –</strong>This is only possible in very limited circumstances, such as:</p><ul style="list-style-type: disc"><li>Under small pot/trivial commutation</li><li>Commutation on the grounds of serious ill health or</li><li>Short service leaver refunds</li></ul><p style="margin-left: 30px">And where the rules of your specific section allows.</p><p style="margin-left: 30px"><strong>4. Transfer out –</strong> you may be able to transfer your entire DB pension to another type of pension within the RPS, or to a different provider all together. This will depend on whether or not you’re still paying in, the rules of your specific pension section and whether the new provider accepts transfers. You can also choose to transfer just your Additional Voluntary contributions (AVCs) if your section rules allow.&nbsp; Transferring your pension does, however, carry significant risks and you should read the details <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/transferring-my-pension" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a> carefully, before making any decisions.&nbsp; By law you will also need to get financial advice if you’re considering a transfer of DB benefits worth more than £30,000. </p><p>In addition to these 4 main choices, you can also opt to tweak how you claim your benefits in a number of different ways. </p><p>The first is to take a <strong>level pension option.</strong> This means taking more of your RPS pension before you reach State Pension age and then less RPS pension after you reach State&nbsp;Pension age. This is designed to make sure you have a consistent level of income throughout your retirement, as shown below:</p><p><img src="https://cdn3.railpen.com/mp-sitefinity-prod/images/default-source/old-site-images/infographics/pension-levelling_v02_horizontal.jpg?sfvrsn=3f0631f_7" alt="Diagram showing how pension levelling works, with levelling giving you a higher Scheme pension before State Pension age and a higher one afterwards."></p><p>The second option is to give up part of your pension to<strong> leave extra pension for your dependants. </strong>This would give a named dependent 15% more of your pension when you die, than they would have otherwise received as standard according to the rules of the Scheme. However, the money will be lost if your dependant dies before you do and you cannot change your named dependant once this option has been taken. Exactly how of your pension you give up will depend on your age and sex, as well as those of your dependant.</p><p>You can read more about all of these options, including how they can be affected if you have any Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) in our <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/ways-to-take-my-pension" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">written guide</a> or <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/knowledge-hub/help-and-support/video-library" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">short video</a> </p><h3><strong>Making the right decision for you&nbsp;</strong></h3><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; font-family: inherit; color: inherit">There’s a lot to consider here, but help is at hand.</span></p><p>If you’re still paying into your pension, then you can get an idea of how much it might be worth when you retire by using the <strong>pension planner</strong> in your myRPS account. </p><p>This will show you what your annual income could be when you stop work and how much you may be able to take as a tax-free lump sum.</p><p>The planner will also let you see how this might change depending on how and when you choose to take your pension, for example if you go for the level pension option mentioned above. </p><p>If you’re no longer paying into your pension (are a preserved member) you won’t have access to the pension planner, but you can still <strong>get an estimate of your pension benefits</strong> by logging in to your <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/login" data-sf-ec-immutable="">myRPS</a>&nbsp;account.</p><p>While the pension planner and estimates offer no guarantee of your future benefits, they will give you a rough idea of what your pension might be worth and give you a starting point for considering your options. </p><p>From there, you may find it helpful to <strong>get independent financial advice</strong>. </p><p>Liverpool Victoria (LV) has been chosen as the official partner to give RPS members access to financial advice. LV can be contacted on 0800 023 4187. &nbsp;</p><p>You are still free to choose your own Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). You can find an IFA in your area at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unbiased.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">unbiased.co.uk</a></p><p>More free and general information is also available from <a href="https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en" data-sf-ec-immutable="">MoneyHelper</a>, sponsored&nbsp;by the Department for Work and Pensions. &nbsp;</p><p>You find more tips for making the right decision for you <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/making-the-right-decision" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here.</a>&nbsp;</p><h3><strong style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: inherit; font-size: var(--font-size-h3); text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal">Applying for your pension</strong></h3><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; font-family: inherit; color: inherit">Once you’ve decided how you want to go ahead, you will need to apply for your pension.</span></p><p>You should do this around three months before you want payments to start, just to make sure there is time for everything to be processed. </p><p>If you’re still paying into your pension, all you need to do is tell your employer that you’re ready to start claiming your benefits and they will tell the scheme administrator. </p><p>If you’re not currently paying in (and are a preserved member) you’ll need to <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/knowledge-hub/help-and-support/get-in-touch" data-sf-ec-immutable="">contact the scheme administrator</a>&nbsp;directly. </p><p>You can find out more about applying for your pension <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/defined-benefit-members/Im-planning-to-take-my-pension/applying-for-my-pension" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a>&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto"></span>For example, you may have chosen <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/managing-investments/fund-choices" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">which funds to invest in</a> or have deliberately opted for a more ‘hands-off approach’ and had those funds selected for you.<span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto"></span></p><p>Either way, as you approach retirement, you have a few key decisions you need to make. Perhaps the most important of those are:</p><ul><li><a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/when-to-retire" data-sf-ec-immutable="">When to retire</a> </li><li><a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/how-i-can-take-my-iwdc-pot" data-sf-ec-immutable="">How to take the money in your Personal Retirement Account (PRA)&nbsp;</a> </li></ul><h3>When to retire </h3><p>For most IWDC members, the <strong>Normal Retirement Age (NRA)</strong> is between 60 and 65 years old. If you’re unsure of what your NRA is, you can check it in your Member Guide. This can be found in the library section of your&nbsp;<a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/login" data-sf-ec-immutable="">myRPS account</a>.</p><p>You can also take your benefits earlier or later if your prefer. This could be from age 55 (or as early as 50 if you have a Protected Pension Age) up until your 75th birthday. </p><p>You may also be able to start taking your pension earlier if you need to stop work early due to ill-health.</p><p>If you’re invested in a Lifestyle Strategy you should think about choosing a <strong>Target Retirement Age (TRA), </strong>if you haven’t done so already<strong>, </strong>and regularly review your TRA to ensure it remains appropriate for you.&nbsp; </p><p>A Lifestyle strategy automatically moves your contributions into investment funds which are thought best for your circumstances. The aim is to protect your PRA from sudden swings in the markets, by gradually switching your investments from higher growth to more stable funds. This process starts ten years before your TRA or your NRA if you haven’t chosen a TRA. You can find out more about the fund choices available&nbsp;<a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/managing-investments/fund-choices" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here.&nbsp;</a>You can also find and change your TRA by logging in to your&nbsp;<a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/login" data-sf-ec-immutable="">myRPS account</a>.</p><p>When to retire is quite a personal choice and may be affected by other circumstances, and not just when you reach a suitable age. For example it may be a question of whether you feel you can afford to retire. You can read more about getting your savings on track and the options available to you if the numbers don’t quite add up, such as making Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/how-much-ill-need" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a> </p><p>You can also read more about all of these options, and how they could affect your PRA, <a href="/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/when-to-retire"></a><a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/how-i-can-take-my-iwdc-pot" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a></p><h3>How to take your PRA&nbsp;</h3><p>You have 3 main options for taking the money built up in your PRA. </p><ol><li>get a flexible income, taking it a bit at a time. This is known as <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/understanding-drawdown" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">drawdown</a>&nbsp;</li><li>get a regular, secure income, known as an <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/understanding-annuities" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">annuity</a></li><li>take all of the money in your PRA as a cash lump sum.&nbsp; We call this <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/understanding-encashment" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">total encashment</a></li></ol><p>You can find a summary of these options in our short video <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/knowledge-hub/help-and-support/video-library" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a> </p><p>Each comes with its own different tax implications, benefits and risks, so it’s important you consider your options carefully before making a decision. </p><p>Whichever option you choose, you could decide to take up to 25% of your PRA as a tax-free lump sum.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://cdn3.railpen.com/mp-sitefinity-prod/images/default-source/old-site-images/infographics/ifgfx_dc_options-for-using-your-pra_v02_bg-and-title.jpg?sfvrsn=9a646153_7" alt="Graphic showing how you can use your PRA by taking up to 25% as a tax free lump sum and taking the rest as either drawdown, annuity or total encashment"></p><h3><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: inherit; font-size: var(--font-size-h3); text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; white-space: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto">Making the right decision for you&nbsp;</span></h3><p>There’s a lot to consider here, but help is at hand.</p><p>You can use the <strong>retirement modeller</strong> in your myRPS account to experiment with your options.</p><p>The modeller works out how much your total pension pot could be when you retire by taking into account the following:</p><ul type="disc"><li>your current age</li><li>salary</li><li>current personal retirement account balance</li><li>Target Retirement Age (TRA)</li><li>contribution rate (this is set automatically depending on which section you’re in)</li><li>any additional contributions (AVCs) already made and expected to be paid in the future </li><li>whether your fund choices are low, medium or high risk</li></ul><p>It also lets you test out the different options for taking your money, such as annuity, drawdown and encashment, to see what impact they would have on your income.</p><p>In addition, the modeller can illustrate the impact on your pension pot and potential benefits at retirement if you make changes to your:</p><ul type="disc"><li>TRA (when you retire) </li><li>contributions</li><li>and/or fund choices</li></ul><p>Once you have this information, you may find it helpful to <strong>speak to a financial advisor</strong></p><p>Liverpool Victoria (LV) has been chosen as the official partner to give RPS members access to financial advice. LV can be contacted on 0800 023 4187.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>You are still free to choose your own Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). You can find an IFA in your area at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unbiased.co.uk/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">unbiased.co.uk</a></p><p>More free and general information is also available from&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration: underline">MoneyHelper, </span>created by the Government. &nbsp;</p><p>You can also find more tips for making the right decision for you <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/making-the-right-decision" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here.</a>&nbsp;</p><h3>Applying for your PRA </h3><p>Once you’ve decided how you want to go ahead, you will need to apply for your PRA.</p><p>You can do this by contacting the scheme administrator, Railpen, using the details <a href="/knowledge-hub/help-and-support/get-in-touch">here</a></p><p>What happens after that depends on the ways you’ve chosen to take your PRA. </p><p>For example, neither drawdown nor annuity are offered directly by the RPS, so if you opt for either of these routes you will need to:</p><ul><li>identify a new provider </li><li>contact that provider directly, to set up your new arrangement </li><li>return all of the necessary paperwork to RPMI for processing</li></ul><p>You can read more about applying for your PRA and how to identify a new provider if required <a href="https://member.railwayspensions.co.uk/iwdc-members/im-planning-to-take-my-iwdc-pot/applying-to-take-my-iwdc-pot" data-sf-ec-immutable="" data-sf-marked="">here</a></p>

<p>Deciding when to retire isn't always easy. And there are a lot of factors that can come into play:</p><ul><li>When can I start getting my pension?</li><li>Can I really afford to stop work yet?</li><li>Am I ready for the lifestyle change?</li></ul><p>You'll find more information to help you make the right decisions for you in the I'm planning to take my pension sections of the website and in the summaries below.<br><br></p><h3>Understanding when you can start taking your pension&nbsp;</h3><p>Most RPS members will have a Normal Retirement Age, also known as NRA, of between 60 and 65 years old. This can differ depending on the section you're a member of.&nbsp;<br><br>If you're unsure what your NRA is, you can check it in your Member Guide. This is available in the Library section once you've logged into your <a href="/login">online account</a>.&nbsp;<br><br>Keep in mind that your NRA is likely to be different to the age for claiming your State Pension. This is because your NRA is set by the Scheme, while the State Pension age is set by the government and is based entirely on when you were born. You can check your State Pension age on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">government website.</a><br><br>Your NRA may also differ from scheme to scheme and from section to section. If you're a member of another scheme, such as previous workplace pensions or private pensions, you'll need to contact each provider directly, or refer to the relevant paperwork to find out your NRA for those schemes.&nbsp;<br><br>If you have preserved pensions in other sections of the RPS, please check your <a href="/login">myRPS account </a>for more details on those.<br><br>In some circumstances, you may be able to start taking your RPS pension earlier or later than your NRA. If you're a DB member, go to the <a href="/defined-benefit-members">dedicated DB section</a> of this website, or if you're a IWDC member, go to the <a href="/iwdc-members">dedicated IWDC section</a>.<br><br><br></p><h3>Working out if you can afford to stop work</h3><p>Working out whether or not you can afford to stop work will depend primarily on 3 things:<br><br><strong>1. How much your retirement is likely to cost</strong><br><br>To work out how much your retirement is likely to cost, you can use the Retirement Living Standards, or RLS, as a benchmark. The RLS was created by the Pensions and Lifetime Association, also known as the PLSA, to show how much you may need each year in order to fund a 'minimum', 'moderate' or 'comfortable' lifestyle. <br><br>You can find out more on the <a href="https://www.retirementlivingstandards.org.uk/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">RLS website</a>, but as a rough guide, they suggest the following:</p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; text-align: inherit; text-transform: inherit; word-spacing: normal; caret-color: auto; white-space: inherit"></span><img src="https://cdn3.railpen.com/mp-sitefinity-prod/images/default-source/infographics-(current)/rps-retirement-living-standards_v04_summary-matrix.svg?sfvrsn=4b9611a_3" alt="Summary showing how much you might need when you retire"></p><p>A <a href="/knowledge-hub/help-and-support/retirement-budgeting-calculator">retirement budgeting calculator</a> is also available on this website, which takes into account the RLS and lets you add other individual costs that are tailored to you. This includes your household bills, travel expenses, leisure costs and the money you spend on others. Combined, this will give you a personalised estimate of how much your retirement lifestyle may cost each year.&nbsp;<br><br><strong>2. How much income you're likely to have coming in</strong><br><br>Once you know how much you're likely to spend in retirement, you can then work out whether you're likely to have enough money coming in to cover those costs. You'll need to take into account all your possible sources of income. These can include:</p><ul><li>Your workplace pension — you can check your Annual Benefit Statement or log into your online account for an estimate of how much your pension will pay out</li><li>Your State Pension — the amount you get is set by the government. You can <a href="https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-age" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">request an estimate online</a> on the website</li><li>Other pensions — such as a private pension or pensions linked to previous employment. You'll need to speak to each of the providers individually for estimates on those accounts. If you've lost their contact details, the Pensions Tracing Service may be able to help. It's a free, Government-backed <a href="http://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">service available online</a> and over the phone on 0800 731 0193. Other companies offer a similar service but many charge a fee</li><li>Savings and investments — if you have savings outside of your pension, get those statements from your bank or other provider</li></ul><p><strong>3. Whether your spending and income will match up</strong><br><br>If after following steps 1 and 2, you're worried that your income in retirement won't cover your costs, there are things you can do:</p><ul><li>Get advice — Liverpool Victoria, or LV, has been chosen as the official partner to give RPS members access to financial advice. LV can be contacted on 0800 023 4187. You can also find an Independent Financial Adviser, or IFA, in your area on the <a href="http://www.unbiased.co.uk" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Unbiased website</a> — just be sure to go with someone who has knowledge and experience in pensions, rather than a generic financial adviser.&nbsp;</li><li>Consider topping up your pension pot — think about paying more into your pension before you stop work if you can. This is known as making Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs). It's tax-free up to certain limits </li><li>Think about changing your retirement age — you can delay taking your pension, giving you more time to increase it. This is not a decision to be taken lightly and we suggest you speak with a Financial Adviser first. </li><li>Clear your debts — if possible, try to pay off any debts you owe before you retire </li></ul><p>There are planning tools available to help you see the impact of making some of these changes and help guide you towards your retirement goals. For DB members, this includes a Pension Planner, and for IWDC members, there's a Retirement Modeller. <a href="/login">Log into your online account</a> to give them a try. <br><br></p><h3>Preparing for the lifestyle change</h3><p>The move from working to retirement can often have an emotional impact, as well as a financial one.&nbsp;<br><br>For those preparing to retire, the British Heart Foundation has a few <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/retirement/retirement-tips" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">top tips</a> for making the mental adjustment. This includes:<br><br></p><ul><li>Getting your finances in order</li><li>Winding down gently</li><li>Developing a new routine</li><li>Making a list of the things you'd like to achieve, and;</li><li>Seeking social support</li></ul><p>You'll find further specialist support available from a range of railway-based organisations, including:</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.btpf.org/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">British Transport Pensioners Federation (BTPF)</a>, which protects and maintains the wellbeing of Railway people in retirement</li><li><a href="https://www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Railway Benefit Fund (RBF)</a>, an independent charity that supports railway workers and their families through a variety of issues</li><li><a href="https://railwaymission.org/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">The Railway Mission</a>, which operates a chaplaincy service to staff from all sectors and levels of the railway industry</li></ul><p>There's also <a href="https://www.ageuk.org.uk/" target="_blank" data-sf-ec-immutable="">Age UK,</a> which is the UK's largest charity for older people. They provide many local services, aimed at inspiring, supporting and enabling people to get the most from life, and can offer a wide range of information and advice. </p>