As your Corporate Parents it is our duty to ensure you are taken care of whilst growing up. Before you turn 18 we ensure that your carers or placement are able to provide for your needs. Once you turn 18, we will do our best to support your transition to living financially independent, this includes support with maintaining employment, education, and training. If you are unemployed, in education or on low income/part time work we will support you to access your benefits entitlement. We will also support you to access to any savings that was made for you whilst living in your foster placement or other types of accommodation.
Finance Wellbeing
Being an independent adult comes with great financial responsibility, this is why we think it is really important that you are prepared and equipped with a good understanding around money skills. Whilst you are in care your carers will work with you to teach you about savings, opening bank accounts, spending wisely etc. As you grow older we will offer support around budgeting skills, planning meals, paying bills etc. We believe that embedding financial education into your existing activities – such as work carried out with your social workers, carers, keyworkers etc will make a positive difference. As you become an independent adult, we want you to build the capacity to support yourself financially.
Who will support you?
You will receive lots of support from your Young Persons Advisor, foster carer or keyworker. However if you find that you still require additional support around your finance wellbeing, we also have a Finance Wellbeing Advisor.
My name is Racheal Olabisi and I am the Finance Wellbeing Advisor.
I work with your Social Worker and Young Person Advisor to ensure that you are receiving the right financial support at your 18th birthday. In cases where you are not in employment or on a low income, I will discuss financial support with your worker and advise if access to benefits is available, this could be Universal Credit and or Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. The forms for these are available online and you should be able to complete them, however if support is required, your YPA, Keyworker or myself can support you with this.
For any issues/inquiry on your universal credit, housing benefit, council tax or any questions on benefits please contact me!
Telephone: 02084617401
Email: Racheal.Olabisi@bromley.gov.uk
Employment, Education or Training Support
For many people employment, education and training is key to financial independence, as they pave the way for financial income. We offer a wide range of support for our young people who are in employment, education or training please visit this page for more details. If you are a student or trainee, we can support you to access a grant to help pay towards some of your living expenses connected to your course or training. This will be accessed through your worker depending on your individual circumstances.
Benefits
In some cases some of you will need to access benefits, in order to top up your income if you are employed, or if you are in training or are unemployed.
You’ll be fully supported to ensure that you receive all that you’re entitled to. Your social worker will make sure you have the right ID and your National Insurance number before you turn 18 as you will need this to claim benefits and work.
Please see below some information on the benefits that are usually applied for.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly – or twice a month for some people in Scotland. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work. You can work as many hours as you like when receiving universal credit, however your payments will reduce depending on how much you earn.
You can apply for Universal credit 28 days before your 18th birthday. Universal Credit is paid in instalments and it can take up to five weeks after you make your claim to get your first payment. During the five weeks waiting period we will assist with a weekly subvention of £57.90 until your first payments.
As part of the Universal Credit claim you could get help with paying your rent.
Claim link – Universal credit claim
Personal Independent Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
You can get PIP even if you’re working, have savings or are getting most other benefits.
If you think that you are entitled to PIP, please speak to your Social Worker/YPA or keyworker so that they can support you to access this benefit.
Housing Benefit
When you turn 18 you are legally responsible for the cost of your accommodation. If you are employed or unemployed you may be entitled to apply for housing benefit, which is there to help you pay for your rent if you are over the age of 18. It may be a portion or all of your rent that gets paid however, this depends on your individual circumstances.
Claim link – Housing Benefit Claim
If you have a change in circumstances such as moving home or working more or less hours it is important that you notify the council of these changes so that your benefits can be reassessed. Failure to do so could lead to overpayments, which you will be responsible for.
Claim link – Change of circumstances
Council tax support scheme
Council Tax Support (CTS) is a local welfare benefit which helps working age people on a low income pay their council tax.
There are two types of Council Tax Support:
Main Council Tax Support is for people who are on a low income
Second Adult Rebate is for people who may not have a partner but who share their home with someone who is over 18, is on a low income and does not pay rent.
Council Tax Support depends on how much you earn. This means that we have to take into account your income, savings and investments when deciding whether you are entitled.
Full time students (21hrs and over weekly) are exempt from paying council tax, however you will need to prove that you are in full time education by getting an exemption letter from your education provider. This can then be emailed directly to the council tax department.
Claim link – Council Tax Support
Transitioning to employment from Benefits
If you’re worried about the gap in receiving money when you are moving from benefits to employment, let your social worker/YPA know and they will help you contact the Department of Work and Pensions to discuss transition arrangements.
They may be able to offer financial support until you receive your first salary.
Extra Living Expenses
We recognise that sometimes a little extra support is needed and therefore have a set of living expenses that we can offer support with.
Setting up home allowance
When you leave care and are assessed as being ready to live independently, you’ll be eligible for a setting up home allowance. You’ll be provided with a grant called Setting Up Home Allowance of £2,500, once you have been successful in bidding for your own tenancy. You may access some of this grant before you get your own tenancy for small essential items, such a s a TV or microwave, but you will need the majority of the grant once you get your own tenancy as they are all unfurnished.
The setting up home allowance will only be used to buy essential items for permanent accommodation so you need to be assessed as ready to live independently by your 21st birthday, but it can be accessed up until your 25th birthday if necessary.
In some cases you may also be able to use the money as a deposit to rent private accommodation. You’ll need to discuss this with your social worker/YPA.
Find out more about accommodation options here.
Travel expenses
If you’re in education and/or training we will pay for an Oyster Card (up to zone 6), if this is not covered by your training provider, there are education bursaries for 16 to 19 year olds. To be able to claim travel expenses, you’ll need to complete an education contract with your college. If you are still in education or training, the Virtual School or your college will be able to advise whether you are eligible for a 16-19 bursary.
Additionally we’ll assist with some fares for leisure and cultural needs. This will also be based on an assessment of need and outlined in your pathway plan.
Clothing allowance
If you’re aged 16 or 17 and in semi-independence you’ll be given a clothing allowance. This will be paid when requested, totalling up to £25 per month or as agreed with your YPA. If you are over 18 you will be able to access up to £100 per year for clothing via your YPA.
Birthday payments
We want to celebrate your birthday with you, in acknowledge of your special day we will offer you some birthday money until your 21st birthday if you remain in contact with us.
Support in pregnancy
If you’re pregnant and aged 16 or 17 years old we’ll pay a one-off maternity grant before the birth of the baby. The current amount is £150 per baby.
Your social worker or midwife will support you to claim a grant of £500 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you are eligible for one. This is to buy essential items you need for when your baby is born.
When you move into your permanent accommodation and you have children, you will be offered an additional £300 on top of your setting up home allowance. You will also be offered this grant if you have your first child after moving into your permanent accommodation.
Financial difficulties
Many of us throughout our life will encounter financial difficulties and will need a little extra support. If you find that your finances are becoming worrying you can receive support from the following services:
Racheal Olabisi – Finance Wellbeing Advisor
Telephone: 02084617401
Email: Racheal.Olabisi@bromley.gov.uk
CAP (Christians against poverty)
Food banks ( We do offer our young people access to emergency food supplies, if you find that you are in need of this support please speak to your social worker/YPA.)