Financial Support for Care Leavers
If you are 16 or 17
Access to ID Documents
If you do not have any formal type of photo ID, we will pay for you to get a passport and a copy of your birth certificate. If you are unable to apply for a passport, we can support you instead to apply for a provisional licence as an alternative form of photo ID or a citizenship card as you will need photo ID to claim Universal Credits.
Subsistence Payments
If you’re living supported accommodation, we’ll provide you with a subsistence payment to cover your day to day living costs. If you’re struggling to budget your money, staff at your home may be asked to supervise some of your spending, to ensure you have enough money for food each week. The rate of subsistence payments from 1st April 2022 is £61.05 (equivalent to the current weekly rate for Universal Credit for those under 25). Those who are in paid training will receive the equivalent or higher allowance from their training provider.
Clothing Allowance
If living in supported accomodation, you’ll also be given a clothing allowance payable in instalments, of £75 every 3 months, so £300 per year. If you're living in a foster placement, your carer should be providing you with the financial support to buy clothes.
Birthday Money
If you’re living in foster care, your carer will buy you a birthday present for your 17th and 18th birthdays. However, if you’re in a semi-independent home, we’ll give you £75 for your 17th birthday and £100 for your 18th birthday.
If you are in education or training
If you are in education or training, the Virtual School will offer you advice on applying for a 16-19 year olds bursary.
Immigration
If you are an EU national but do not have status yet, we will support you to apply for this.
If you have lived in the UK for more than 7 years, but do not have settled status because your parents originate from outside of Europe, we will support you to become British through naturalisation.
Black African or Caribbean hair care costs
We provide a specific allowance to support the care of Black African and Caribbean hair types, this includes funding the cost of styling hair, for example, braiding, dreadlocking, relaxing and any other hair styling in this category. If you are in foster care then this will be provided to your carer if not included in the fostering allowance.
If you are 16-17 and in semi-independent accommodation an additional payment of up to £60 per month can be provided to support Black African or Caribbean hair care. A discussion about what you need should be part of the Pathway Planning process with your social worker and, if agreed, approved by their manager. We may ask for your support worker or key worker to accompany you to the hairdresser.
If you are 18 to 21
Savings
After you turn 18, you will be given access to any savings that have been made for you during your time in our care, as long as you have been Looked After for 6 months or more. Since 1st April 2017, Hackney has been saving £5 a week for all looked after children. If you have been in care for more than 12 months you should also have a Junior ISA or a Child Trust Fund, which was set up with £200 initially. When you become 18 years of age these accounts will become Adult ISAs or Adult Trust Funds and you will be able to access this money. Remember that your savings are there to support you in your move to independence and adulthood. This may include buying items for your own place, driving lessons and supplementing the financial support available to you if you continue in education or training. It is important that you think before you spend your savings, as once the money has been spent, it may be a long time before you are able to add to them again.
Subsistence Payments
We will support you to make a universal credit application. You can claim Universal Credit without an expectation to look for work if you have been in care and remain separated from your family and are in:
full time further / non-advanced education (this is up to A-level standard or equivalent)
Or
in direct training for 12 hours a week or more
Universal Credit (both the personal allowance payment as well as the housing element) should continue to be paid until the end of the academic year when you turn 21.
We will give you subsistence payments for up to 6 weeks whilst you’re waiting for your benefits claim to be processed. We will also advise you on how to claim the housing element of Universal Credit to help cover your rent. If you are worried about the gap in receiving money when you are moving from benefits to employment, let your Leaving Care practitioner know and they may be able to help you during this transition.
If you are ever worried about debts, including rent arrears, please talk to us, and we can see what we can do to help you find a way forward. Your leaving care practitioner may be able to refer you to the Hackney Money Hub, a new team within Hackney Council. They work to support people who are struggling financially or those that are looking for extra help or advice with the benefits system.
Access to ID Documents
If your passport expires, we will pay for a renewal up until your 25th birthday.
Birthday Money
You will receive a gift from us each year on your birthday until you turn 21, if you choose to remain in contact with us through regular social work visits and pathway plan reviews. You will get £100 for 19th and 20th birthdays and £150 for your 21st birthday.
Council Tax Exemption
Up to the age of 25, you will be eligible for a Council tax exemption if you live in Hackney and you are liable to pay council tax. We will help you to understand how to apply for this. If you live outside of Hackney, your practitioner will help you explore if you are eligible for any council tax exemptions where you live.