An 'MOT' for your career: a free check-up for workers over 40

The Midlife MOT (an MOT is Britain's compulsory annual car test; here it means a mid-life check-up) is a free government online service. It helps people in middle age get three areas in order — work, health and money — so they are better prepared for the next stage of life and for retirement.

What the check covers

The site brings together links to trusted government and charity resources in one place. For health — the NHS and the mental-health charity Mind. For money — MoneyHelper, the free government financial guidance service. For work — Citizens Advice and the jobs portal run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

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Why it is useful

The MoneyHelper financial tool uses your answers to produce a personalised report on what to prioritise with your money and pension in the years before you retire. A separate set of tools helps you assess your skills and find vacancies across the country. It is all free and open to everyone, with no sign-up needed.

Where to do it

The service is at jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk in the Midlife MOT section. You can go straight to whichever area you need — work, health or money — and move at your own pace.

What is changing

The government is also expanding in-person support. The number of people helped through a face-to-face check at Jobcentres will rise from 8,000 to 40,000 a year. About £4 million will fund three private-sector pilots — in Devon and Cornwall, the North East and East Anglia — aimed at people in their 40s and 50s.

Who it helps

It is useful for anyone weighing a career change, wondering whether their pension savings are enough, or simply wanting to check that their health and finances are on track. For people who have moved to Britain and are building a career here, it also works as a guide to public resources: it shows where to turn on each question and helps you not miss benefits and checks you are entitled to.

Where to start

The easiest approach is to work through all three blocks in turn — work, health and money — and write yourself a short to-do list: for example, check your pension forecast, book a health check, update your CV. The service does not push anything on you or collect unnecessary data: it is a signpost to existing free services, not a replacement for personal advice.