Money matters
We will try to help you financially, in a similar way to how parents would support their own children.
How we do this
- Support you with budgeting through our partners such as Lloyds who offer workshops on financial skills for independence.
- Direct you to the Money Advice Service if you need help with managing your expenses and any debt you may have.
- Sign post you to support services such as Citizens Advice.
- Help you to open a bank account.
- Prior to leaving care we will ensure that you have valid identity documents: a current passport, a provisional or full driving licence and copy of your birth certificate. These will help you access benefits if you need them, and open a bank account of your own. We will also ensure you have your National Insurance number.
- Support you to access your Setting Up Home Grant up to £3,559 in total for essential items to furnish and set up your first property as you need it up to age 25 this includes content insurance for first year independent living, TV Licence, Home Starter Pack, cooker fitting and removals.
- We will pay for your TV Licence for the first 12 months in accommodation if required.
- Support and Information to access your savings and JISA if you have them. We can also show you how to set up a savings account.
- Support, advice and guidance on applying for Criminal Injury Compensation Authority Awards if relevant with the option to support you to set up a funded Telford and Wrekin Leaving Care Discretionary Trust Fund to be held up to age 21/25.
- Support to access charities who offer funding towards driving related costs; where this is not available we will support you with match funding of 10 driving lessons; one provisional licence, one theory test, one test booklet and 1 practical driving test. We can also support you to access our driving experience offer in partnership with Pathfinder project.
- Support you to keep in contact with family and friends through train or bus tickets.
- Exceptional financial support in emergencies as a young person who has left care.
- Providing Birthday and Festival gifts/allowances – your PA will support access to this. If you keep in touch with us from ages 21-25 we will provide a one off £25 payment per year.
- All Telford and Wrekin Care Experienced Young People, up to the age of 25, can apply for up to 100% council tax exemption.
- As a care leaver, you can access bursary payments from your college or training provider, your PA will be able to provide you with a supporting letter detailing your eligibility to this funding.
- We will fund the cost of a Compulsory Bike Training (CBT) package.
- View information on how to access your Telford and Wrekin ValU app for a range of discounts and savings from national retailers and supermarkets.
Last updated : 18 July 2024
| Type of finanical information | Description/amount |
|---|---|
|
Accommodation and Placements |
The provision of a placement or accommodation costs |
|
Deposit and Rent in Advance |
A deposit and rent in advance if required up to the LHA one-bedroom rate for the local area |
|
Leaving Care Personal Allowance and Supported Accommodation Adjustments |
|
|
Clothing Allowance |
£5 per week |
|
Savings Allowance |
£3 per week |
|
Lone Parents Entitled to Welfare Benefits |
Leaving care personal allowance and clothing allowance ceases when benefits in payment. Support to access Sure Start Maternity Grant, Health Start Vouchers, Universal Credit, Child Benefit |
|
Sick or Disabled Young People Entitled to Welfare Benefits |
Leaving care personal allowance and clothing allowance ceases when benefits in payment. |
|
Young People Detained in YOI, STC, SCH or in Hospital |
Up to £10 per week pocket money and £5 per week clothing allowance (YOI), initial clothing allowance on release if needed. Personal allowance until universal credit in payment (Hospital). |
|
Young People Living at Home – Section 31 and Section 23A |
Personal allowance or transfer to parents |
|
Qualifying Children |
Subject to an assessment of need |
|
Leaving Care Personal Allowance Reductions - Young People who are Earning |
Where young people are working the personal allowance will be reduced and saved for the young person |
|
Initial Clothing Allowance |
Up to £100 depending on an assessment of need |
|
Birthday Allowances 17th and 18th |
|
|
Christmas and Festival Allowance |
|
|
Travel and Contact Costs |
Provision of a local bus/travel pass |
|
Social Activities and Leisure |
Leisure pass and up to £10 per week |
|
Key Documents |
|
|
Education, Training, Voluntary Work and Employment |
£10 per week incentive, if not eligible for the 16 to 19 bursary |
|
Education, Training and Employment – Related Support |
|
|
Digital Connectivity |
Support to access a smart phone and have internet access. |
|
Introduction to Driving |
|
|
Winter Utilities and Heating Allowance |
£10 per week if required to pay own utilities |
|
Counselling and Therapeutic Needs |
Practical support to access Bee-U and Beam Shropshire |
|
Health Needs |
Practical support to obtain a NHS exemption certificate and financial support if needed to access health services |
|
Special Needs Costs |
Practical and financial support, subject to an assessment of need |
|
Cultural Needs |
Practical and financial support, subject to an assessment of need |
|
Religious Needs |
Practical and financial support, subject to an assessment of need |
|
Personal Luggage |
Two items of luggage - £35 |
|
Celebration Event Age 18 |
To acknowledge the move from cared for to care leaver – up to £80 (£20 per person) to celebrate achievements |
|
Consultation with Young People |
£5.28 per hour |
|
Subsistence |
Up to £15 when undertaking visits with social worker / personal adviser (£7.50 per person where refreshments are needed) |
|
Emergency Payments |
Subject to an assessment of need |
|
Exceptional Needs Payments |
Subject to an assessment of need |
|
Young People who are Detained YOI 16 to 18/21 |
|
|
Young People who are Detained Hospital 16 to 18/21 |
|
| Type of finanical information | Description/amount |
|---|---|
|
Accommodation and Placements 18 to 21/23 |
Support to access supported accommodation or independent accommodation: Supported Lodgings Staying Put |
|
Deposit and Rent in Advance 18 to 21 |
A deposit and rent in advance if required up to the LHA one-bedroom rate for the local area |
|
Leaving Care Personal Allowance Rates - Failed Asylum Seekers with no Recourse to Public Funds 18 to 21/25 |
|
|
Initial Benefit Claim 18 |
|
|
Council Tax – Exemption and Allowance 18 to 21/25 |
Exemption or payment of Council Tax – young person required to apply for any discounts – 100% if sole occupancy 50% if joint occupancy |
|
Travel |
Assistance to access support via a education/training provider, via the 16 to 19 Bursary |
|
Qualifying Young People 18 to 21/25 |
Subject to an assessment of need |
|
Key Documents 18 to 21/25 |
|
|
Introduction to Driving 18 to 21 |
|
|
Personal Luggage 18 to 21 |
Two items of luggage - £35 |
|
Birthday Allowances 19 to 21 |
|
|
Christmas and Festival Allowances 18 to 21 |
|
|
Digital Connectivity 18 to 21 |
Support to access a smart phone and have internet access, this could be provided via the DWP or Care Leavers Covenant. Your PA can support you to access the Databank offer (free mobile data, texts and calls via a sim card) Telford & Wrekin Council are able to provide residents with free mobile data, texts and calls via a sim card to people in need via The UK National Databank, powered by Good Things Foundation and its partners Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Three. Think of it like a ‘food bank’ but for internet connectivity data.’ For someone to be eligible to receive one of the sims, they must:
And qualify in one or several of the following statements:
|
|
Winter Utilities and Heating Allowance 18 to 21 |
£10 per week if required to pay own utilities |
|
Counselling and Therapeutic Needs |
Practical support to access Bee-U and Beam Shropshire |
|
Health Needs |
Practical support to obtain a NHS exemption certificate and financial support if needed to access health services |
|
Special Needs Costs |
Practical and financial support, subject to an assessment of need |
|
Cultural Needs |
Practical and financial support, subject to an assessment of need |
|
Religious Needs |
Practical and financial support, subject to an assessment of need |
|
Education, Training and Employment - Related Support 18 to 21/25 |
|
|
Further Education 18 to 21/25 |
Support to access Universal Credit, one-off payments, for course fees and exams |
|
Telford and Wrekin Children’s Services - Higher Education Financial Support 18 to 21/25 |
Access to financial and practical support
|
|
Post Graduate Courses 18 to 21/25 |
Support to access financial and practical support – financial support based on an assessment of need. |
|
Young People Returning to the Local Authority Aged 21 to 25 |
Support to resume a leaving care and personal adviser service – needs based. |
|
Consultation with Young People 18 to 21/25 |
Young people will receive a financial allowance of £7.49 (18 to 20), £10.18 (21 to 24), £10.42 (25 and over) per hour, (the amount is linked to the prevailing minimum wage for the age of the young person) plus expenses when undertaking consultation exercises. |
|
Subsistence 18 to 21 |
Up to £15 when undertaking visits with social worker / personal adviser (£7.50 per person where refreshments are needed) |
|
Exit Interview - Service Evaluation / Questionnaire 18 to 21/25 |
£10.50 reward for taking part in a leaving care exit interview/questionnaire/evaluation. |
|
Emergency Payments 18 to 21 |
Subject to an assessment of need |
|
Exceptional Needs Payments 18 to 21 |
Subject to an assessment of need |
|
Setting Up Home Allowance 18 to 21/25 |
|
|
Young People who are Detained YOI 18 to 21 |
|
|
Young People who are Detained Hospital 18 to 21 |
|
|
Asylum Seeking Children and Young People 18 to 21/25 |
Asylum Seeking Young People can access all leaving care support subject to an Assessment of Need and any limitations as a result of their immigration status |
|
Criminal Injuries Compensation Award Payments and Personal Injuries Payments 18 to 21/25 |
Children’s Service will set up a Discretionary Trust Fund for all young people who have a CICA Award or Personal Injuries Payment and provide two trustees to help manage the Trust Fund |
Last updated : 9 December 2024