As you leave care we want to support you to become a financially independent adult. We offer a range of practical support and advice, as well as direct financial support to help you make a successful shift from care to independence.
On this page
- Help to keep to a budget
- Help to claim benefits
- We’ll be there to help in an emergency
- Supporting you to set up your first home
- Child Trust Fund and Junior ISA
- Supporting you at university
- Supporting you at college or other education programmes
- Extra help for young parents
- Help towards health costs
- Other financial support
Help to keep to a budget
It’s really important that you know how much money you have and to plan for the essential things you have to pay for. Organisations like Citizen’s Advice can help you with this and your personal adviser can also help you with things like budget planning, prioritising payments and opening a bank account.
Help to claim benefits
The Leaving Care Service will support you to make contact with the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to help ensure you are receiving any benefits you are entitled to. Personal advisers can act as your link to the DWP. They can help you to set up your benefits, resolve issues with your claims, and speak to the DWP on your behalf if needed.
Your personal adviser can begin supporting you with this up to four weeks before your 18th birthday, to help prevent any delays in receiving payments. They can also help you get your National Insurance number if you don’t have it or can’t remember it.
To allow your personal adviser to speak to the DWP for you, you will need to give your consent during your Leaving Care Interview.
You can also check out whether there is any financial support available to you using a tool called entitledto.
We’ll be there to help in an emergency
Managing money when you first leave care can be difficult, and sometimes things don’t go to plan. If this happens, contact your personal adviser as soon as possible. The Leaving Care Service will support you to sort things out and may be able to offer additional financial help.
This could include support if your first benefit payment is delayed, or if there’s a gap between your last benefit payment and your first payday.
Supporting you to set up your first home
If you choose to live independently with your own tenancy, the The Leaving Care Service will provide financial support in several ways.
You will be given a Home Establishment Grant. This can help pay for essentials such as your first year’s contents insurance, furniture, and a TV. The team can also help cover the costs of your move, including a removal van, furniture storage and boxes.
In some cases, support may also include topping up your electricity or gas meters when you first move in, or helping with your first month’s rent and deposit (if private renting is right for you). Your personal adviser will support you with this and help you explore grants, discounts and other sources of funding available in your situation.
You may also be entitled to up to 90% off your water bill through Severn Trent’s Big Difference Scheme, which can also help clear any existing water debt. Talk to your personal adviser about this, visit Severn Trent Water or telephone 0800 917 6901 to find out more.
If you are aged 16 or 17 and living in supported or semi-independent accommodation, you will receive a regular allowance to meet your needs.
Child Trust Fund and Junior ISA
You will have a Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA bank account from when you were in care. This will include money paid in by the government, and possibly by Nottinghamshire County Council and/or your carers during your time in care.
You can access the money when you turn 18. You can choose to leave it where it is, take it out, or transfer it to another bank account.
Your social worker or personal adviser can give you more information about your account, including where the savings came from, and help you fill in the form when it arrives (this may be before or after you leave care).
Supporting you at university
If you go to university or into higher education, depending on your leaving care entitlement, the Leaving Care service may be able to support you financially.
You may be entitled to receive:
- A contribution of £3,465 per year towards your tuition fees (you’ll need to apply for a student loan and maintenance loan to cover the rest)
- Payment for your accommodation all year round
- A grant of £2,000 to support you during your studies
Your personal adviser will also help you apply for any care leaver grants or bursaries available through your university.
Supporting you at college or other education programmes
The Leaving Care Service can help make sure you receive the financial support you’re entitled to while in school or college. This will depend on your age, type of course, and individual circumstances.
If your course is part of your Pathway Plan, financial support may include:
- Registration and examination fees
- Textbooks and software listed as essential
- Activities required to complete your course
- Public transport between home and your place of learning
- Transport to open days and interviews
- Specific clothing (including for interviews) and essential equipment for your course
If you are aged 20 or over, your personal adviser can help you access other funding sources to support your education or training.
If you are aged 18 or 19 and in full-time education, you may be entitled to the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, which can provide up to £1,200 per year. Care leavers are a priority group for this support. Check out the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for more information.
Extra help for young parents
If you are under 20 at the start of your college course, you may be entitled to help with childcare costs through the Care to Learn scheme. You can receive up to £160 a week.
If you have a child or children under 5, you may also be able to get help with childcare costs through other sources.
To find out more about childcare options and what funding is available, visit the childcare section on the Notts Help Yourself website.
For further information or advice, telephone the Nottinghamshire County Council advice line on 0300 500 80 80.
Help towards health costs
If you are on a low income, you shouldn’t have to pay for things like prescriptions, dental care or glasses. If you do need help to pay for healthcare items, please talk to your personal adviser.
Other financial support
We will always consider ways to support you financially based on your individual circumstances. For example, this could include providing a phone card to help you contact relatives living outside the UK.
We can also help you access other sources of funding. If there’s something important to you that you're struggling to pay for, please speak to your personal adviser.