Your finances

Financial challenges can present themselves at any stages of your career. Here are some practical resources to help no matter what your level of income. 

Remember that if you are under 35 or over 65 and on a low income, you are eligible for our discounted rate of membership. Let us know if you are paying the wrong rate, or if you are having trouble keeping up with your membership fees – and do make sure you’re making the most of our member benefits.

Rates and fees

We believe authors should be paid for the work they do. We’ve produced guidance to help you ask for the fees you deserve and to reduce the pressure many authors face to work for free. Find out more

Grants from the SoA

For writers in need

We manage the Francis Head Bequest and the Authors’ Contingency Fund and to make occasional grants to professional authors who find themselves in financial difficulty or need to fund living or working expenses, and the PD James Memorial Fund which gives lifetime grants to older or permanently disabled members.

All our hardship grants are tax-free and do not affect any social security benefits.

Read more about our grants for writers in need

For works in progress

We are one of the few organisations to make grants to writers for works in progress, currently awarding a total of £360,000 each year, from our Authors’ Foundation and K Blundell Trusts.

Any grant from the Authors’ Foundation would normally be taxable and should be declared along with other income on your annual tax return to HMRC.

Read more about our grants for works in progress

Other funding

  • The Royal Literary Fund is the largest charitable trust providing financial help to authors in financial difficulty through grants and pensions.
     
  • Arts Council England offers funding for a variety of artistic activities.
     
  • Res Artis is a worldwide network of artist residencies, with over 600 centres in more than 70 countries.
     
  • The Professionals Aid Council is a national charity helping professionals and graduates in need of financial support.
     
  • The Peggy Ramsay Foundation is a fund that gives theatre writers money in order to afford them the time and space to write.

Help with tax

As a member, you have unlimited, free access to our Tax Helpline, provided by HW Fisher. Sign in to the members’ area or email [email protected] for information on how to access it.

Help with benefits

If you’re on a low income, it’s essential to know which benefits you are entitled to, how to apply for them, and how the benefits you’re receiving today might be impacted in future by the government’s ongoing programme of welfare reform.

Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.

Advice UK maintains a list of charity, government and other resources to help you navigate the welfare system.

Help with debts

StepChange is the UK’s leading debt management charity. They offer a range of help, include resources and information on their website to services to directly help you manage problem debt.

Help with legal advice

LawWorks is a charity in England and Wales connecting volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot pay for legal support.

Age UK is the UK’s largest charity helping everyone to make the most out of their later life. Age UK provides support at a national and local level to inspire, enable and support older people.

General advice on money and other issues

Citizens Advice offers free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities in relation to money and other issues.

Guide to tax debt and mental health

Some of the topics in this guide include:

Understanding the impact of debt to mental health. The different kinds of debt and how they can be a key source of stress, depression, and anxiety, if not planned and managed properly.

Advice for dealing with debt such as setting up a Debt Management Plan or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), qualifying for a Debt Relief Order (DRO), or filing bankruptcy to get some protection and keep life essentials like pension savings safe from creditors.

What to do if debt problems begin to affect your mental health. This includes recognising the symptoms and early warning signs of mental health problems associated with debt, as well as advice on where to turn to for help and support.

Other useful information and resources including debt charities and organisations that are dedicated to helping people conquer their debt problems.

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