As a care experienced young person, you are entitled to financial support and advice. This will be different for each young person so it is important that you speak with your Social Worker or Personal Advisers.
Occasionally young people may find themselves in exceptional hardship or financial difficulties. Should this happen to you then your Personal Adviser or social worker will support you to resolve the situation.
In times of exceptional difficulties, financial support may be offered but this will need to be agreed by the team manager for the Supporting Futures Team.
Financial support
Some of the financial support includes:
- Young people who have been cared for by Bedford Borough Council will have their own bank account. We will make sure that you know the details of your bank account(s) and how you can access these. If you do not have a bank account, then we will support you to open an account.
- Young people who are unable to open a bank account (separated and migrant young people) will be issued with a pre-payment card. This will act in the same way as a debit card.
- We will give you a grant to help you buy essential things when moving into your own home. This is called the Leaving Care Grant and is £3,000. This is not given to you all in one go; all payments will be arranged through your Personal Adviser when there are things that you need.
- There is also an additional grant towards your rent. This is up to £500 that is paid towards your first month’s rent or deposit.
- While your benefit claim is being processed you will receive four weeks' living allowance at the standard benefit rate for over 18s.
- We will fund and support you to get your important identification documents, such as a passport, provisional driving licence, travel documents, before your 18th birthday.
- Funding for driving lessons will be considered on an individual basis depending on need.
- If you become pregnant a one-off maternity grant of £200 will be available to enable you to prepare for birth of your baby/purchase maternity clothes.
- Free gym and swim membership in partnership with Better (GLL).
- For the time that you have been in the care of Bedford Borough Council, in either foster care or a registered children’s home, we’ve been saving money on your behalf. These savings will be kept in a bank account that is in your name that you can access after your 18th birthday.
- Bedford Borough Council also holds a Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund on your behalf through the Share Foundation. This money is available to you once you turn 18. Your Social Worker or Personal Advisers will discuss whether you wish to re-invest the money or receive it.
- Birthdays and celebrations are important times and we like to celebrate these with you by gifting you a sum of money for spend on whatever you choose. Under 18s will receive £20 birthday money. For your 18th and 21st birthdays, we will give you a gift of £50. For celebrations such as Christmas or Eid, we will give you a gift of £20 (under 18s and not in foster/residential care and care experienced young people aged up to 21).
- All young people moving to independence or moving placements have the right to personal luggage. A one-off payment of £35 will be given to young people who do not have this during their time in care.
Council Tax exemption
As a young person living in Bedford Borough who is supported by the Supporting Futures Team, you do not need to pay Council Tax until you reach the age of 25 or are earning over £50,000 when you move into your own home.
Any young person living outside of Bedford Borough billed for Council Tax in the area they reside will have this paid to 25 years. Your personal adviser will support you with this payment.
National Insurance number
Your National Insurance number is important and is unique to you. It is a code, made up of letters and numbers and never changes. You need your National Insurance number to make sure that any tax you pay or National Insurance contributions you make are properly recorded against your name. If you do not have a National Insurance number, we will support you to get one.
Applying for benefits
Your Personal Adviser will provide advice on the benefits that you can apply for and will support you to make your application. You might be able to claim some benefits, like Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Housing Benefit or Income Support, depending on your circumstances.
Once you have made your online application, your Personal Adviser can support you to attend your interview at the Job Centre (if you would like). At this interview, you will be allocated a Work Coach.
For young people who are pregnant, you may be entitled to a £200 one-of discretionary Maternity Grant. This is available from 11 weeks before the due date of your baby's birth to help you prepare for your new baby. The grant should be used to buy clothes and essential equipment.