5. Finance
Our aim is to help you feel secure and become financially independent. We will provide support with relevant budgeting, accessing relevant money management courses, opening a bank account, and accessing your Junior ISA, if entitled.
Remember – when most young people leave home to live independently, they can’t always afford everything straight away or to buy everything brand-new. Your savings are there for you to use in your transition to independence and into later adulthood. Spend them wisely!
Your Social Worker/PA will help you to gain appropriate identification documents, such as a passport and/or provisional driving licence. They will support you to get a National Insurance Number.
You must keep all your documents safe, as we will be unable to fund replacements.
Oldham After Care Financial Entitlements:
- Support to access advice and claim benefits up to four weeks before your 18th birthday, including if you are in education or on a low income. Bridging payments can be considered if needed. We have a dedicated team in Oldham with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) who will make sure your application is looked at quickly and given priority.
- A Maintenance Allowance of £67.20 per week for 16 and 17-year-olds, and relevant care leavers living independently or semi-independently.
- Provision of a clothing allowance for 16 and 17-year-olds living in semi-independent accommodation
- If you are in higher education or university, you will get financial support. This may include money towards your accommodation, your personal needs, and all the support you to encourage you in your studies (see Education, Employment and Training)
- Birthday/festival allowance for 16 and 17-year-olds living in semi-independent accommodation. All 18-year-olds will receive a birthday allowance. On your 21st birthday you will receive a £25 one-off payment.
- Financial support in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of a management decision
- If you have a baby, you apply for a Maternity Grant worth £500 for you to buy essential items for the baby. (You can apply up to 11 weeks before the baby is due, or up to three months after the baby is born). The After Care Service will provide you with a £15 top-up weekly payment for your first baby for the first 12 months up to your 21st Birthday.
- We will also provide you will additional money in your leaving care grant to purchase items like a cot, bedding, a pushchair etc. If possible, try to save some of the Maternity Grant for when the baby gets bigger and you need items like larger clothing, safety equipment and toys.
- Free Bus Travel for 18 – 21-year-olds across Greater Manchester
- Driving Lessons (and driving licence) – the service will pay 50% of costs if you are in education, training, or employment up to 10 lessons
- Warmer home scheme
- The cost of one birth certificate and passport, for a 16 – 25-year-old young person
- Council Tax Exemption – all care leavers living in Oldham will be given 100% exemption from Council Tax until you turn 25. This is a reciprocal arrangement should you live in another Greater Manchester Local Authority.
- Home contents insurance – your PA will encourage you to take out basic contents insurance, when you move into independent living and support you in budgeting to renew this insurance.
- Storage Costs – where possible, the After Care team will support you in storing furniture and also keep personal possessions such as photographs securely for a minimum time-limited period, usually three months. This would come from your Leaving Care Grant.
Useful websites