We want you to have the skills to manage your money effectively, plan for future events and be able to access a range of activities and events that you enjoy. We also want you to be confident when contacting your bank and live in such a way that you don’t fall into debt or financial hardship.
The types of financial support we offer care leavers (PDF , 251KB)
Westmorland and Furness individual savings accounts (ISAs)
We offer all eligible care experienced young people an ISA after they have been in care for one year. This is managed through the Share Foundation.
If you’re aged between 16 and 18 and have one of these ISAs, you may be able to increase your savings. You could potentially add another £1,800 to your account if you complete the required modules of the Stepladder of Achievement scheme.
Sign up for the Stepladder of Achievement scheme.
If you’re under 18 and have been in care continuously for at least one year, we will offer you a junior ISA. This will give you a savings account with £200 to start with.
Benefits and emergency support payments
If you apply for benefits, you may have to wait for a period of time before you receive your first payment. It’s important that you don’t fall into hardship during this period, so we can do the following to support you:
- provide a support payment equivalent to income support or job seekers allowance. This is available if you’re living independently or semi-independently and can’t successfully make a benefits claim yourself
- give you an additional £30 per month clothing allowance. We judge this on a case-by-case basis. You must be in receipt of benefits to access this payment
- provide emergency payments if you’ve been waiting for over three weeks for a benefit claim to be established
- provide you with a support payment equivalent to income support or job seekers allowance if you’re in further education and become ineligible for benefits
Department for Work and Pensions: Care Leaver Covenant Offer
The Care Leaver Covenant is a commitment from public, private and voluntary sector organisations to support people leaving care. This includes government departments, such as the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Citizen’s Advice
Citizen’s Advice can offer advice on managing your money. For example, benefits, help with the cost of living and debt.
You can contact them by telephone, webchat or visit one of their local offices.
How to contact Citizens Advice
ID
You’ll need ID for lots of things. This includes:
- opening a bank account
- starting a new job
- getting a library card
- accessing services
- going abroad
We want to make sure you have a suitable form of ID, so we will support you to get your first adult passport or provisional drivers license.
If you don’t have British Citizenship, we will help you to apply for alternative forms of ID that may be available.