Care leavers

Once you turn 18, you will be expected to be financially responsible for yourself, either through benefits or employment. Some financial assistance may be available in emergencies and if you are in education or training. You are entitled to the same benefits as other young people if you are not in education or training. Ask your Personal Adviser for help in claiming other benefits such as Universal Credit or ask the Job Centre. This will be discussed and agreed within your pathway plan.

Finding and paying for accommodation

In some cases, you can get housing benefit to help with rent even if you are working. As a care leaver, the shared accommodation rate for a private rented property will not apply until your twenty second birthday.

Further information can be found on our housing benefit pages.

You need to work out a budget to see what you can afford. Think about how much it might cost to run your own home and how to pay for it. Your personal adviser will help you with this as part of your pathway plan. For example:

• private landlords normally ask for one month's rent in advance and one month's rent as a deposit before you move in (the deposit should be returned at the end of your tenancy)
• find out how much of the rent you can claim for by checking local housing allowance (LHA) rates in your area (young people under the age of 35 can only claim rent for a room in a shared flat or house, however young care leavers are exempt from this rule until they turn 22)
• you have to pay for gas, electricity, water and phone
• you need money for food, clothing and travel expenses
• you may need furniture and other household items

We may provide additional support for you when you move into your first home.