Managing your finances is an important part of becoming independent. Your personal advisor will help you understand how to do this successfully.
We will try and help you financially and our offer includes a breakdown of what that financial support can include.
We will support you to open a bank account and offer financial advice as necessary. We also provide a money management course as part of our independent living skills course.
Whilst we encourage you to access education and employment, we also understand that this may not always be possible and there may be times when you need to apply for benefits to help with your living costs.
This may include:
Universal Credit
You will be eligible for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance (if you are Disabled) if you are:
- between 18 and 25 years old
- not in full-time education
- actively seeking or available for work or working less than 16 hours per week.
You will be eligible to claim Universal Credit equivalent rates if you are:
- between 16 and 19 years old
- in full-time education (excluding university)
- and either a parent, not living with a parent or a refugee.
Care leavers can continue to receive Universal Credit until they are 22 if the claim is made before they turn 21 and they are still in full-time education.
Housing Benefit
You can get help with your rent if you:
- live away from family
- have a low income
- less than £16,000 in savings.
Individuals who are not eligible to claim Housing Benefit include:
- EU jobseekers
- asylum seekers without leave to remain
- and full-time students in higher education (unless you’re a parent).
Different rates apply depending on where you live.
Care leavers eligible for Housing Benefit should be entitled to the Single Room Rate up to the age of 22.
We also facilitate access to welfare and benefit advisors through OUR HUB. You will also
Funding from grants and other schemes
Where applicable you could also apply for additional funding from grants and other schemes available. Here are some examples.
Local Support Payments
Local Support Payments are a discretionary scheme for individuals living in Hammersmith & Fulham. If you are in receipt of qualifying benefits, you may be eligible to support for furniture and white goods.
Your social worker will apply for this for you.
Spark Foundation
The Spark Foundation provides grants for care leavers to get white goods, bikes and driving lessons.
Rees Foundation
The Rees Foundation provides financial help for care leavers such as crisis payments or to support with education:
Capstone Care Leavers Trust
The Capstone Care Leavers Trust provides grants for former relevant care leavers to get:
- household items
- training courses
- education equipment
- and driving lessons.
Sure Start Maternity Grant
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is for individuals expecting their first child, or expecting a multiple birth (such as twins) and have children already.
You or your partner must be on certain benefits to qualify.
Healthy Start
Young parents may also apply for Healthy Start vouchers to help purchase milk and fresh/frozen fruit and vegetables.
Find out more about the Healthy Start scheme.
Student finance
A student loan can help you to pay for your university or college tuition fees and to help with living costs.
Find out more about student finance.
Care to Learn scheme
Young parents under 20 and in full-time education may apply for the Care to Learn scheme to help with childcare costs whilst they study.
Find out more about the Care to Learn scheme.
The Bike Project
The Bike Project offers reconditioned bicycles to refugees and people seeking asylum in London and Birmingham.
Buttle
Buttle can provide packages of support for children and young people including:
- items and activities to support learning and development
- clothing and uniforms
- social and leisure activities
- and household items not available from other sources.
For any further information, you can speak with your allocated social worker or the leaving care duty team.
Alternatively, you can access free advice from Citizens Advice.