Care leavers local offer - your money

We know that money is a big worry for Care Experienced people. The amount of money you will get will depend on your age and the type of accommodation you are in. We can offer you advice and financial support to make living independently easier. 

Independent living allowance 

Sometimes young people move into their own accommodation or some other living arrangement before the age of 18 and are not able to claim welfare benefits because they're too young. If this happens, we can financially support you, if you are not in education, employment, or training and have no income.  

This is known as Independent Living Allowance (ILA) and could be a weekly payment of an amount equivalent to what you would get if you could apply for welfare benefits. Your Personal Adviser will help you find out if you are eligible and make the right arrangements. 

You may also be entitled to this if you are a Qualifying young person, and you are no longer able to live with your Special Guardian or the person who has Privately Fostered you. Please ask your Personal Adviser if you have one. If not please ring the service and speak to a Duty Officer on 01642 527860 or email us at lookedafterchildrenadmin@stockton.gov.uk.

Budgeting 

Your Personal Adviser can support you to complete the financial element of your Pathway Plan. This looks at your income and forms the basis of your budget plan. Sometimes it may be your foster carer, keyworker, or someone else who does this with you. It is important that you learn to budget as this will help you when you are living independently. We'll help you to learn how to do this.  

You can also be supported by other professionals, and your Personal Adviser can link you in with the Welfare Support Team or the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for specialist advice.  

Being worried about money can be very scary. If you get into debt, it is important that you let your Personal Adviser know as soon as possible. We can help you by referring you to debt support services and sorting out a payment plan to get you back on track. 

Welfare benefits 

Your Personal Adviser can help you apply for welfare benefits if you need them. We work with the three local Job Centre Plus departments (Stockton, Billingham and Thornaby). We have an agreement with them so that you can start the process of claiming the right support for you before your 18th birthday, though you cannot submit your application until your 18th birthday.  

We will help with:

• Universal Credit
• Council Tax 
• Discretionary House Payments
• Disability Living Allowance
• tax credits
• Child Benefit

We have good links with staff in the Department of Work and Pensions, so if you have made a claim and you're having a problem, please talk to your Personal Adviser or to the Duty Officer and we can help you to sort this out quickly.

Setting up your home  

If you are an Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant young person you'll be entitled to a grant from us to help you set up your new home. If you are a Qualifying young person then you may be entitled to this, depending on your assessed needs. This money can be used to buy essential items.

Your Personal Adviser will help you to spend it in the best way. We don't give this money in cash, so your Personal Adviser will be involved in making sure it's spent wisely. The grant is given on a needs assessed basis and can be given to you in stages. The grant can be up to £3000. We have a list of essential items this grant can be used for.

Where a young adult is in custody, it may not be possible for them to take advantage of the Setting Up Home grant before their 25th birthday. If that applies to you, then we can make money for setting up your home available to you after your 25th birthday and up until you are 25 years and 11 months old. We'll talk to you about it to make sure that we understand your position and then we'll do what we can to help you.

Young people who are Former Relevant Care Leavers who live in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees will not be charged Council Tax until their 25th birthday. If you live in another local authority area, it's very likely that you'll have to pay council tax there. We'll talk to that local authority to see if they have a similar scheme for Care Experienced young people in their area. This may result in you not being charged for council tax, but we cannot promise that you will not have to pay it.

If you're going to move into new accommodation speak to your Personal Adviser.

Gym membership 

If you are an Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant young person you are entitled to free membership to Stockton Tees Active facilities. This can include working out in the gym or going swimming. We want to support you keeping active and healthy.

Speak with your Personal Adviser about getting a membership.

Find your local Active8 Health and Fitness Centre.

Driving lessons 

We understand the importance of learning to drive in your transition to adulthood. Driving helps to support your independence and can potentially give you more employment and training opportunities.

If you are an Eligible, Relevant or Former Relevant young person we will 'match fund' your driving lessons up to the amount of £200 to help you pass your test. Match funding means that we'll give you the same amount of money for driving lessons that you have managed to save for driving lessons. So, if you save £100, then we will give you another £100. We can only pay this money if you have driving lessons with a registered and reputable driving school.

Find local driving schools in your area.

Share Foundation  

Your junior Individual Savings Account (ISA)  

The Government have contributed £200 for each eligible cared for young person to open a Junior ISA (JISA). The Share Foundation is a registered charity and has been authorised by the government to set up and manage the Junior ISAs for all cared for children. 

The Share Foundation also raises funds which it contributes to the Junior ISAs that it manages.  

What happens when I turn 18 years old? 

When you turn 18 years old, you are entitled to access the funds. You can choose whether to invest the money into a regular ISA or draw the money out. If you make no decision the Junior ISA will automatically become an adult ISA in your name. 

What do I need to do to access my account? 

You should contact your Personal Adviser who will enable you to have direct contact with The Share Foundation.  

How can I see how much money is in the Junior ISA or how it is performing? 

Regular JISA valuations are sent to us at the local council, and you can get a balance of the latest statement by contacting us. Once you reach 18 years old, a final valuation will be sent, and this is when you will need to take on the responsibility of managing your own account.

Birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations 

Birthdays

If you're an Eligible young person and you're in foster care or residential care, you'll receive your birthday allowance from your carer.

Your Personal Adviser will arrange to see you on or around your birthday and spend time with you.

If you're a Relevant or Former Relevant young person, you'll receive a birthday card from your Personal Adviser along with a purchased gift, vouchers, or experience to the value of:

• £20 at age 17
• £30 at age 18
• £20 at age 19
• £20 at age 20
• £50 at age 21

If you're a Former Relevant young person over 21 and you have an active Pathway Plan, and you continue to engage with your Personal Adviser you'll receive a birthday gift. Your Personal Adviser will arrange to see you on or around your birthday and spend time with you. You will receive a birthday card from your Personal Adviser and a gift, vouchers, or experience to the value of: 

• £20 at age 22
• £20 at age 23
• £20 at age 24
• £20 at age 25

Christmas or other Celebrations

If you're a Former Relevant young person under 21 and you continue to engage with your Personal Adviser, then you will receive a gift. Your Personal Adviser will arrange to see you at Christmas time and spend time with you. A gift, vouchers or experience to the value of £100, along with a card will be given to you either at Christmas or to mark your own equivalent cultural celebration, up until the age of 21 years old. 

Once you're over 21, and if you're a Former Relevant young person with an active Pathway Plan and you continue to engage with your Personal Adviser, then you will receive a gift to the value of £50. Your Personal Adviser will arrange to see you at Christmas time, or the time of your own equivalent cultural celebration, and spend some time with you. This will happen until you're 25. 

Visit the Stockton Information Directory for external organisations to help with your money.