Leaving Care » What will happen when I turn 18?
What will happen when I turn 18?
Links within this page:
» Setting up home allowance
» Privately rented flats and bedsits
» Accommodation when in higher education (university)
» Education, training and work for care leavers
» Financial support with education
» Financial support and university
» Benefits
When you turn 18 you are no longer looked after by Lambeth council under the law. However, we will continue to support you until you are 21 and make sure you are coping and settled in to where you are living.
When you are 16, your Social Worker will have helped you to fill in a Housing application for Lambeth Council housing. Often there is a long wait to receive a house through the Council. This will usually be a one bedroom flat or studio flat. There is always a shortage of property in Lambeth council, but we will help you to make sure that you are offered a house when you turn 18. If you don’t want to move into the house you have been offered you can appeal this and move into temporary accommodation while you wait for a response. The rules with Lambeth Housing are that you only get one house option. If you don’t accept the offer they give you then you will lose the flat. Your only other option is private accommodation which is much more expensive.
When you are offered a property you will get financial help to furnish your place from your Social Worker. This is called a setting up home allowance.
SETTING UP HOME ALLOWANCE
When you have signed for your permanent accommodation, the Leaving Care Team will help you to furnish your property through a setting up home allowance. This will give you enough money to buy essential furniture and items such as a sofa, bed, wardrobe, kitchen utensils.
If you are receiving benefits, or will be in the coming months, you can to apply for a Community Care Grant for more help to furnish and decorate your property.
We require you to spend this allowance with an appropriate person e.g. Personal Adviser Key worker or Social Worker.
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PRIVATELY RENTED FLATS AND BEDSITS
Some young people will move into a privately rented flat or bed-sit. If you think this is the type of accommodation you will need, you can talk to your Social Worker about this, and the Leaving Care service will look at your circumstances and see if they can offer you a package of support.
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ACCOMMODATION WHEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION (UNIVERSITY)
If you are attending University in London, you will most likely be living in your Lambeth Council Accommodation.
If you are attending University outside of London we can look at supporting you to live in Halls of Residence. We would also offer you vacation accommodation in London, which would be in shared accommodation with other young people.
We will negotiate with the Housing Department to hold your offer of accommodation in Lambeth Council until you complete your course. Once you have completed your course we can help you to make sure you get your offer of accommodation in Lambeth Council if you choose this.
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EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORK FOR CARE LEAVERS
When you are leaving school, it’s time to think about what you want to do in the future! Do you want to go to University, do some particular training? Do you want to work in a certain field? We all have different ideas about what we want to do in the future – sometimes it can be hard to make this decision.
We currently have a Connexions worker based in the Leaving Care team. They will work with your Social Worker to make sure that you receive proper support from Connexions, your school or college, or a careers centre – depending what you need. It is their job to check if you are linked to any other Connexions worker, and will help you. All young people need some guidance to know their options for the future.
We want you to have all of the support and encouragement to do the best you can!! Reach high - reach for the stars!
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT WITH EDUCATION
We can help you with education and training costs, travel, clothing costs and other costs that will help you to do what you want to do for your future! This will depend on your individual circumstances and where you are living – we can’t pay for everything – but we will always listen to your request and help you as much as we can. If we cannot pay for everything we can help you to apply to charities for help with funds.
When you are studying it is very important for you to claim Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA). This gives you extra money to help you with your studies. Talk to your Social Worker about this if you want help applying for this.
Your workers will be able to advise you on the current arrangements that Transport in London have in place for students as you should be able to receive a student discount.
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND UNIVERSITY
If you are considering going to university we will support you to get your degree!
It is important you let the leaving care team know about this as soon as you can so that they can help you to understand the rules regarding grants and loans, because these will vary year on year.
If studying outside London we will support accommodation in Halls of Residence for at least your first year. We will also offer vacation accommodation in London.
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BENEFITS
When you are under 18, Lambeth Council will provide you with an allowance, as we are responsible for your care. When you turn 18 you may be eligible to apply for benefits depending on whether or not you are working, studying or training. If you're not sure please talk to your Personal Advisor or Social Worker and they can explore this with you.
If you are eligible to claim benefits this can sometimes be a confusing process. You can find out more at the website for the Department of Work and Pensions here at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/
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