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Contents

1. Introduction
2. Planning with the Young Person
3. Financial Support
4. Education
5. Council Tax
6. Employment
7. Additional Allowances
8. Young People in Custody
9. Young Parents
10. Corporate Parenting
11. Conclusions
    
    Appendix 1: Benefit Rates 2010-2011

1. Introduction

This procedure describes guidelines for the provision of payment of financial support to Children Looked After between the ages of 16 – 18 who are not in foster care or a residential placement. The issue of accommodation is the subject of a separate procedure.

This will include young people who are:

• In semi-supported accommodation
• Living independently with friends
• In bed and breakfast accommodation
• In prison (Young Offenders Institution) and looked after.

This is necessary firstly to provide equity of support to these young people and also to prepare them for living independently. At 18 they will be dependent on benefit level funding so it is important not to set unrealistic expectations of funding pre-eighteen.

Where young people have been provided with somewhere to live because of their being homeless but who are not looked after should only be provided with (Section 17) financial support to prevent their becoming looked after. This may be an initial payment or money in lieu of a benefit claim being paid.

2. Planning with the Young Person

From the time of 16 years of age a looked after young person must have a Pathway Plan. This is a detailed Plan that is completed with the young person, his/her carers and social worker and which describes how the young person will move to be independent. Everybody’s Pathway Plan is very individual to them, and much will depend on where the young person has lived whilst being looked after, the plans that the young person has for the future and whether or not the young person wishes to continue in full-time education and to what level and how this is to be achieved. It is important that the young person agrees with the Pathway Plan, that it is realistic and practical and that it describes what the young person wants to achieve. However, the Plan must be reviewed regularly, at least every six months until the young person is 18, as the young person may change their mind about their future plans as other opportunities arise or circumstances change.

Also see: Leaving the Looked After Service Procedure, Section 5, Pathway Plan.

3. Financial Support

The factors listed below should be taken into account in providing financial support and in ensuring that their needs are met:

• All young people will be assisted to set up a bank account and if looked after a savings account by 16 years of age.
• Financial support will be in line with the equivalent of what young people in the community might be expected to receive. Therefore, young people will need to budget their living expenses within this amount.
• All young people will be encouraged to undertake part-time employment to gain life experience that will assist later in gaining employment.
• All young people will be expected to claim the benefits that they would be entitled to claim if in the community. In most cases for looked after children this would be Education Maintenance Allowance.
• All payments to young people except in a real emergency will be paid into a bank or savings account.
• Any requests for emergency support will be met in kind as opposed to cash e.g.  food voucher or food parcel.

Where young people are the subject of Care Orders and return to live with relatives, it is assumed that their parents will claim benefits. There may be some set up costs to allow the return of the young person to their family. Financial support may be required for an initial period of six to eight weeks while benefit claims are processed.  However other financial supports should not be provided on an on-going basis. (See section for leisure activities.) Where the young person is eligible for leaving care services, they may wish for support and assistance post 18 but this would be subject to the usual arrangements for care leavers.

All young people aged 16-18 should be in education, employment or training. Where this is the case, they will be paid an allowance commensurate with the single person allowance of income support for those aged 16 – 24. (See Appendix 1: Benefit Rates 2010-2011 for up to dates details of rates.)

Where the young person is not responsible for payment of utilities either because they are in B&B or the rent is inclusive of utilities costs, the weekly allowance will be reduced by £10.

Where the accommodation makes a charge for maintenance that is exclusive of utilities costs, the Council will pay this and the rent.

If they refuse to engage with efforts to assist them into training or employment, it may be necessary to reduce their benefits. The allowance will be reduced to £25.00 per week after one month or sooner if the young person is refusing to co-operate with plans to engage in work or education. This will require the agreement of the Head of Service.     

3.1 Set-up Costs

A young person moving in semi-independent accommodation may need items of furniture, utensils, bedding etc. The amount spent should be carefully recorded. It is expected that any monies spent in this way will be deducted from the Leaving Grant when this is paid. 

4. Education

The Council will provide financial support for young people to access school and college courses. The following further education courses will be supported for those up to the age of 19:

• GCSE courses or their equivalent
• Diplomas
• “A” level courses or their equivalent
• Additional courses in English for those whose first language is not English
• Vocational courses that end in a qualification

It is expected that the young person will be in full time education for more than 16 hours per week. If a young person wishes to undertake a course that is less than 16 hours per week, it is expected that they will be in work and able to fund this themselves.

Where appropriate the young person must claim the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). This is £30 per week paid if the young person is:

• In full-time further education course at a college or school
• Undertaking a LSC-funded Diploma (where available) or a course that leads to an Apprenticeship
• Undertaking a LSC-funded Entry to Employment (e2e) course (if  on an e2e course, they will get the maximum £30 weekly EMA payment)

Where college fees, books or equipment are required ahead of the grant being paid the appropriate amount will be loaned to the young person. It is expected that the amount loaned will be repaid when the grant is received. The EMA is paid to the young person as an incentive to their staying on at school/college.

Young people under 18 can travel free in London and therefore it is assumed that they will not need financial assistance to attend a course. Where this is necessary however, this will be funded to cover term time only.  No funding will be available to replace lost Oyster cards. In order to receive the support, the young person must provide evidence of their learning agreement and attendance at the course. Regular checks will be made.

If the young person is in full time education and becomes 18 during the academic year, they must claim income support which is payable until their 20th birthday or as long as they are in full time secondary education, whichever is the soonest. Post 18, for those not in receipt of benefits, the rent and housing costs will be met by the local authority.

Where young people live with their parents but are entitled to leaving care services 16-18, they must claim the Education Maintenance Allowance and no other support will be paid.

Where a course expects that equipment will be purchased e.g. hairdresser’s tools, these will be provided for the young person.

5. Council Tax

Where Council tax is payable, young people who are studying more than 21 hours per week are exempt from this charge. They must make a claim to this effect to ensure that council tax bills are paid. Those who are in receipt of benefits and who are not in education are expected to meet the cost of their council tax from their benefits. Where young people do not have leave to remain irrespective of whether they are in full time education, they must meet the cost of their council tax from their allowance.

6. Employment

Where a young person is employed full time but living in supported accommodation, it is expected that they will contribute to their accommodation costs. Where any top-up by the local authority is required, the young person will be expected to contribute 50p in every £1 earned above £60.00 per week. It is expected that numbers in full-time employment 16 – 18 will be small.

7. Additional Allowances

Additional allowances are paid as follows:

• £100 birthday allowance annually to those aged 16-18 who are not in foster care or in residential care.
•   £150 clothing allowance paid in September and March annually to those aged 16-18 and not in foster care or residential care.
• The cost of obtaining one birth certificate and obtaining one passport will be met by the Council. The cost  for replacement of  a lost birth certificate, lost passport or renewal of passport must be met by the young person

8. Young People in Custody

Young people looked after aged 16-18 who are in prison will not be eligible for subsistence and clothing allowances but will receive a birthday allowance and any savings due to them.

Where they have a need for additional items e.g. toiletries, these will be purchased for them (£15 per month). On discharge, any particular requirements must be presented as a case for an exceptional needs payment to the Team Manager.

9. Young Parents

It is possible that looked after young people will be parents. It is important that the young person should be encouraged to manage within the levels of benefit or subsistence that they might be receive once out of care. The young parent should be paid the following:

• Clothing allowance to cover cost of maternity clothes whilst pregnant £200
• Grant to cover the cost of baby equipment  and baby’s clothing  £300
• Weekly allowance see appendix for rates. These will change annually.

Where the child and young person are in accommodation where the utilities costs are incorporated into the rent, there will be deduction of the total amount paid to the young person of £10 per week. (See Section 3, Financial Support).

Teenage parents should be education, training or employment. The same financial support for their education should be paid as for any other young person. (See Section 4, Education). They are also responsible for payment of Council Tax. (See Section 5, Council Tax). They are similarly eligible for any life chances funding and funding of specific activities that will enhance their employability or well-being.

10. Corporate Parenting

Young people who are the subject of this procedure have equal access to the Life Chances provision as other looked after children. Additional entitlements from the Looked After Children’s Pledge which apply wherever the young person is living are as follows:

• £100 per annum savings. This applies to all children aged 0-18, who have been looked after for more than a year and who are not placed for adoption or with parents and children. 
• Where a young looked person has an identified skill or interest that cannot be funded from their benefits and where their review identifies that this would be beneficial for them, the cost is to be agreed by the Team Manager and paid for out of the Life Chances Budget or the Parenting Budget. This may include a sport or leisure activity.
• A computer.

11. Conclusions

The above are guidelines for regular support and grants that will be paid as a matter of course and that provide equity of support to all young people. This does not preclude exceptional circumstances that will warrant specific support but these requests must be considered by the relevant Head of Service for approval.

All young people will be informed of their entitlement and the new arrangements. The arrangements will be made into young people friendly guidance that will be provided

Appendix 1: Benefit Rates 2010-2011

These are weekly amounts:
Personal Allowance (Subsistence)	£51.85
Education Maintenance Allowance	£30.00
Parent	£51.85
Family Premium  (With child under 1)	£10.50
Family Premium  (With child over 1)	£22.20
Child Payment  (Child Allowance less child benefit)	£37.27

End