Financial support for Eligible and Relevant care leavers living semi-/independently
As a care leaver we will try to help you financially. Some of the financial offer is the same for every care leaver and some of the offer will be specific to your personal circumstances. The details will be set out in your pathway plan.
Your personal adviser will give you more advice and information if you need it.
Eligible care leavers
You are an Eligible care leaver if:
You are aged 16 or 17 and;
- You are currently in the care of the local authority;
- You have been in the care of the local authority for a period of 13 weeks (or periods amounting to 13 weeks) which began after you reached 14 and must include at least 1 day whilst you were 16 or 17 years old.
- You have a Care Order, and are living with parents or someone who has parental responsibility for you.
- If the Care Order is discharged then you will be considered a Relevant young person. If the Pathway Plan review makes a decision that your return home has been successful for a period of 6 months or more you will be considered a young person Qualifying for Advice and assistance
Relevant care leavers
You are a Relevant care leaver if:
You are 16 or 17 and;
- You were previously an 'Eligible' young person
- You have left care
A Relevant care leaver can include those that have been detained through the criminal justice system, (on remand or serving a sentence) or were detained in hospital on their 16th birthday.
If there is a planned move for you to return back home to parents or someone with parental responsibility then you will become a relevant young person. After 6 months this changes to a young person Qualifying for Advice and Assistance - discuss with your social worker what this means. If things don't work out at home before your 18th birthday then you will go back to being a Relevant care leaver.
Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers
If you are an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker under the age of 18, you may be considered Eligible or Relevant but this depends on your legal status and whether or not you are living independently.
Finacial support
The table below is for Eligible and Relevant care leavers aged 16-17 and living semi-independently or independently. Where our offer starts before your 18th birthday, any support accessed before your 18th birthday will be deducted from the financial offer available to you from age 18 to 25.
Your social worker or personal advisor will tell you which of the allowances are paid to you or to a professional to help develop your budgeting skills. We will also tell you how we pay the allowance to you (for example in cash or in kind like items, food, or utility top up) depending on your independent living skills.
| Category | Age criteria | Our offer to you |
|---|---|---|
|
Rent/housing costs |
16/17 |
Full rent costs paid to include a range of independent, supported and unsupported accommodation up to the age of 18 based on what Children's Social Care has assessed to meet your needs best. |
|
Leaving Care Allowance |
16/17 |
£72.95 of Leaving Care Allowance per week while living semi-independently or independently. You may not be paid directly, for example you could get food shopping or a voucher, based on assessed need. This is to cover the costs of day to day living including food, utility bills, general travel, social life and entertainment and toiletries. The amount will be the same as the current benefit rate such as Universal Credit If you are a lone parent caring for your child then you might be able to claim benefits, ask your social worker or personal adviser for more information. |
|
Clothing Allowance |
16/17 |
2 Leaving Care Allowances after every four months. |
|
Photo ID/passport |
16-25 |
Funding for one passport or other form of Photo ID, if no alternative funding is available. If you lose your photo ID, it's your responsibility to replace it. |
|
Maternity Allowance |
16-18 |
Up to 3 Leaving Care Allowances to purchase essential items for the child before birth. Financial assistance to buy maternity clothing if no alternative funding is available and this has been identified by Children's Social Care as an essential need. |
|
Travel to see family and friends |
16-25 |
Where Children's Social Care has identified that this is important for you, no alternative means of transport are available and it is an unreasonable distance to walk funding will be provided at public transport rate or fuel costs. |
|
Hobbies and interests |
16-25 |
Funding to continue with your hobbies and interests when you move into semi-/independent living will be provided where no alternative funding or offers are available. |
|
Travel to pursue hobbies and interests |
16-25 |
Where Children's Social Care has identified that pursuing the hobby or interest is important for you, no alternative means of transport are available and it is an unreasonable distance to walk funding will be provided at public transport rate or fuel costs. Details will be set out in your pathway plan. |
|
Birthdays and celebrations |
16-18 |
One Leaving Care Allowance for your 17th and 18th birthday. |
|
Travel to attend official or health appointments |
16-25 |
This will be funded at public transport rate or fuel costs. |
|
Driving lessons |
17-25 |
Funding for up to 20 driving lessons if there is a clear link to a future career or employment. You will be expected to contribute 10% to the cost of each lesson. |
|
Rent deposit, bond, advanced rent payment and administration fees |
16-25 |
Your first rent/bond deposit, up to 4 weeks rent in advance and estate agent's administrative fees will be funded to help you secure a safe and stable home for independent living where Children's Social Care agrees that this is a safe and suitable arrangement for you. We may also provide a 6 months rent assurance to your landlord (see Former Relevant for details) |
|
Setting Up Home Allowance (SUHA) |
16-25 |
Funding to buy essential furniture and household goods while living semi-/independently. If you turned 18 on or after 1 April 2023 your Setting Up Home Allowance is £3,000. If you turned 18 between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2023 your Setting up Home Allowance is £2,250 and you can request an additional £200 for items such as carpets when moving into social housing. If you turned 18 before 1 April 2019 your Setting Up Home Allowance is £2050. You can access your Setting Up Home Allowance up to your 25th birthday. Ask your personal adviser for more information. |
|
Moving in Payment |
16-25 |
One Moving in Payment equivalent to a Leaving Care Allowance for food, cleaning products and utilities when moving into independent living for the first time. Children's Social Care will split the money to meet your needs best. |
| Removal costs | 16-25 |
Removal expenses for up to 2 address changes where Children's Social Care agrees that this is a safe and suitable arrangement for you. If you are living with a partner only half the removal fee will be paid. This will be based on assessed need. |
| Inteview clothes | 16-25 |
We may provide some financial assistance if you cannot pay for interview clothing from your own income, no alternative funding is available and Children's Social Care has identified this as important for you. |
| Work wear | 16-25 | We may provide some financial assistance if you cannot pay for work wear from your own income, no alternative funding is available and Children's Social Care has identified this as important for you. This offer is not available to young people with an income at National Living Wage 21+ or above. |
| Travel to part-time/full-time work | 16-25 | Funding to travel to a new place of part-time or full-time work for up to 4 weeks at public transport rate or as fuel expenses. This offer is not available to young people with an income at National Living Wage 21+ or above. |
| Voluntary work, part-time training or education | 16-25 | A weekly Leaving Care Allowance Enhancement if you volunteer for a minimum of 5 hours per week or access part-time training or education if you can't get a bursary. |
| Travel to voluntary work, education or training | 16-25 | Funding to pay for transport to voluntary work, education or training at public transport rate if no other funding is available, based on attendance. This offer is not available to young people with an income at National Living Wage 21+ or above. |
| Tuition and exam costs | 16-18 | Funding will be available to resit GCSEs, A levels or AS levels if you want to and are committed to this. |
| PEPSA for couse equipment and support into education, employment or training | 16-25 |
Personal Education Plan Support Allowance (PEPSA) is funded by Lancashire Virtual School and is financial support to help progression, this is limited and based on assessed need. Ask your social worker or personal adviser to see if you can access it. |
Share:
