Overview of support
Knowing your financial entitlement as a care experienced young person is so important. We know that budgeting and financial support is important.
The support you can get will depend on your age and circumstances. Find out what you can get:
Support may also be available to meet your health, religious, cultural, or special needs and also in emergency situations. Your pathway advisor will undertake an assessment with you to explore what you need and how it may be provided.
Being prepared with the right documents
In order to travel, register for housing, open a bank account and also claim any benefits or Universal Credit at the age of 18, you will need a range of identity and key documents.
We will help you to get these (National Insurance Number, National Health Number) and will pay for a copy of your birth certificate and a passport/passport renewal up to the value of £130.00, if you do not already have these documents, this will ensure you have a passport that is valid until at least 25 or beyond. We will also support you to get your provisional driving license.
Returning to the care experienced service after leaving
If you decide you no longer want a care experienced service at 21, you can return to the care experienced team at any point after your 21st birthday and up to your 25th birthday, if you want to resume or return to an education or training activity or just for general support.
Subject to an assessment of need, you may be entitled to a one-off grant or ongoing funding to support you with further education, training or higher education.
Talk to your pathway advisor
If any of this does not make sense your pathway advisor (PA) can offer you support to help you understand and plan and make sure this is captured in your pathway plan, making sure everyone is clear about what’s on offer.
It’s really important you keep up to date with your pathway plan and sharing your views with your PA so they are recorded helps us support you to be financially savvy. Using the budget sheet in finance booklet helps you keep track of what you have accessed from the guide to Money Matters – the financial offer. Don’t worry if you don’t, your PA will keep a copy too and this will be kept on your social care records so you don’t loose out on anything you are entitled too.
Understand more about the role of your PA and your pathway plan