Money
Help with the cost of living
We know that your budgets are stretched at the minute and you may be struggling to pay for essentials. The government is offering support to help you with your bills:
- Everyone in receipt of Universal Credit, Income Based ESA and eligible tax credit amounts will receive £650, paid in 2 instalments.
- Anyone in receipt of PIP or disability payments will receive £150.
- Every household will receive £400 for gas and electric payments.
We recognise that not all of you will receive these payments and they may not cover the costs you now face throughout the year. As your corporate parent we will not see any of you in hardship and without the things you need.
If you find yourself in financial difficulty and need help with utilities, food or other essential items please contact your personal adviser and alongside you we'll assess your particular need support you as best we can.
- Brendan Lee, Head of Service, Children's Permanence and Corporate Parenting
As a care leaver we will try to help you financially. Your personal adviser will give you advice and information about what you are entitled to.
We will support you to:
- get a form of ID such as a provisional driving licence
- get your National Insurance number
- open a bank account
- access your Junior ISA savings account when you are 18
- budget and manage your money
Financial support
The financial support we give you depends on your age, when you were in care and for how long. This is what decides your legal status as a care leaver. The following links will take you to more information about help you could get based on your legal status:
- Eligible care leavers age 16 or 17
- Relevant care leavers age 16 or 17
- Former Relevant care leavers age 18-25
- Young people Qualifying for Advice and Assistance age 21-25
Speak to your personal adviser if you have any questions about what you are entitled to.
Ask Jan financial advice
If you're aged 18 to 25 your personal adviser can refer you to a service called 'Ask Jan' for personal finance advice around things like budgeting, debt, savings and insurance.
They also offer a 24-hour counselling helpline to support you with the emotional impact of your situation.
Ask your personal adviser for more information.
Benefits and grants
Benefits are payments from the government that you claim through Jobcentre Plus. Every Jobcentre Plus in Lancashire has a single point of contact (also known as SPOCs). These are advisers who offer support to care leavers, such as helping you find employment and help with any benefit problems. Your personal adviser will have the contact details for the relevant SPOC. Also ask your personal adviser about advance claims for care leavers.
Grants are one off payments you can apply for, usually to help pay for things like education courses. There are a number of organisations that give grants to young people, some specifically for care leavers. Ask your personal adviser for more information.
More information and advice
The Welfare Rights Service provides free and confidential guidance on appealing a benefits decision.
Other organisations that provide information and advice:
- Citizens Advice Bureau – information about money and benefits.
- GOV.uk – benefits calculators - information on benefits and links to benefit guides from the national government.
- Making your money work for you - a workbook to help you learn about how to manage your money when you become independent.
- The Money Advice Service - free and impartial money advice, set up by government.
- The Mix - information about how to manage your money.
- Natwest Money Sense – interactive activities and games for 16-18 year-olds to learn about borrowing, saving and budgeting.
- The Become factsheet all about the money looks at financial support that’s available for care leavers aged 18 or over, including funds that you’re entitled to as well as sources of funding that you can apply for.
- Rees: The care leavers foundation – small grants for care leavers aged 18-29.
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