Your financial support

Your Personal Advisor (PA) can advise and help you understand what financial support might be available. For example:

• Personal allowances
• Discretionary financial support
• Individual savings account
• Local community grants
• Applying for official documents

Personal allowance

There are a range of personal allowances that you may be entitled to that your PA can help you access, For example:

• £60 can be paid whilst you are waiting for your benefit claim to process or starting employment.
• £50 birthday money up to the age of 21.
• £100 on your 18th and 21st birthday.
• £60 per week for 16 and 17 year olds living in a semi-independent home.
• £10 per week clothing allowance between the age of 16 and 18.
• £25 per week pocket money for 16 and 17 year olds living in foster care, this includes money for toiletries.

Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA

All children who have been consistently in care will have either a Child Trust Fund or a Junior ISA account. It is managed by the Government until you are 18 years old, and you cannot take money out until you are 18.

Ask your PA for information about these saving accounts, they can also help you manage the money when you turn 18.

Other support available

• As a care leaver you will also have a single point of contact at the Job Centre, who can advise you about the benefits you are entitled to.
• We can support you with the cost of applying for official ID documents such as passport, birth certificate, driving license fees. We can also keep a copy of your ID documents at the office.
• Support with getting ready for work costs such as buying clothes for interviews and the first month's travel.
• Support with the cost of learning to drive a car or moped.
• Accessing sports and leisure activities.
• Purchasing religious items.
• Support to open a bank account.

What does it mean?

Child Trust Fund

Long-term tax-free savings account for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.

Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs)

Long-term, tax-free savings accounts for children.