Housing advice for care leavers
If you are a care leaver we may be able to help you settle in to your local community. The help you get mainly depends on your age.
Our advice for you is:
- the Children's Services team is responsible for finding you somewhere to live until you turn 18
- if you are over 18 years old, we have a duty with social services to provide housing advice and assistance
- Housing Options service must offer help with housing for 16 and 17 year old care leavers
- Children Services will mainly be responsible for you if you have already left care, and you have spent a total of 13 weeks in care since the age of 14, and part of that time in care was while you were 16 or 17
You are able to get help including somewhere to live from the council's Housing Options service regardless if those 13 weeks were not all at the same time.
If you want to leave care before your 16th birthday or have spent less than a total of 13 weeks in care, you will have different rights.
Use Shelter's directory located to find your local Shelter advice centre or Citizens Advice.
Financial support for 16 or 17 year old care leavers
Most 16 or 17 year old care leavers are not eligible for benefits.
We have a duty to help you by:
- providing housing or helping you find and keep your own place
- supporting you financially by paying you enough for your rent, food, bills, travel costs for education, clothing and pocket money if needed
- assisting with finding work, continuing your education or dealing with personal problems
You can usually only claim benefits if you are a 16 or 17 year old care leaver and you are also a single parent or unable to work because of a disability or illness.
Visit www.turn2us.org.uk to find out more about benefit rules for care leavers.
Housing help for 18 to 21 year old care leavers
We are able to help you if you are aged 18 to 21.
If you have spent at least one night in care when your were 16 or 17, you are automatically classed as being in 'priority need' until your 21st birthday, which means that the Housing Options service should help you find a place to live.
Children's services can also help you by providing support and help with training and education.
If you are in full-time further or higher education, children's services must find you somewhere to live during holiday periods if you need it.
Financial support for care leavers over 18
When you turn 18 you are entitled to claim benefits.
You should be able to claim Universal Credit if you need to.
Housing help for 21 years old and above care leavers
Some older care leavers can get accommodation from the Housing options service if they are in priority need. This may be the case if you:
- are vulnerable as a result of having been in care
- haven't had a stable home since you left care
- have slept on the streets in the past
If you are in full-time further or higher education, children's services must find you somewhere to live during holiday periods if you need it.
Other support for care leavers aged 18 to 24
As a care leaver you should continue to receive help and advice
We will continue to give you help and advice until your 21st or 25th birthday if you are still in education or training.
Your personal adviser should still keep in touch and go over your pathway plan with you to see how you are getting on.
Ask social services to help you if you need support to continue with your education or find training or employment. They may be able to help you with the cost of living near your college, training centre or workplace.
The council's role
If you have moved to a different area, the council that last looked after you remains responsible for you and must continue to give you any help you need even if you move to another area.
Personal adviser
Before you leave care you're given a pathway plan setting out what support you might need to live independently. Visit www.gov.uk/leaving-foster-or-local-authority-care to find out more about pathway plans.
You will be given a personal adviser whose responsible for making sure that you claim everything you are entitled to. They are able to help you with:
- application forms for housing
- benefits
- education and or training courses
- learning life skills (such as budgeting)
Your personal adviser should stay in contact with you and provide ongoing support and help until you turn 21 or until your 25th birthday if you are studying full time.
Accommodation for young care leavers
Any accommodation provided should be suitable for you. You may get a place in a hostel or a self-contained flat. It is unlikely, but in some casses you could be offered a place in a children's home or foster care.
Ask your personal adviser to help you if you have problems in your accommodation.
If you're placed in a bed and breakfast accommodation or any other unsuitable accommodation, get advice immediately.