Managing your money
We know that managing your money can be challenging, so we will help you to:
- access financial advice via Citizens Advice or the Money Advice Centre
- open a bank account
- get identification - provisional driving licence or a passport
- claim benefits
- get your national insurance number if you don’t have or know it
- deal with any emergencies - we are here to help if you get into difficulty
- if you are eligible, we will set up your home grant for purchasing items, such as furniture or decorating
- access grants, discounts and funding that you are eligible for
- manage health costs, such as dental care or glasses. If you are struggling, please speak to your leaving care worker as we can help you
- you are entitled to free prescriptions up to the age of 25, whether you live in Lincolnshire or elsewhere in the country. Visit this site for more details and to apply directly or speak to your leaving care worker who will support you applying and getting access to the scheme.
- access council tax relief, across Lincolnshire care leavers are exempt from paying council tax until the age of 25. As a 1 year pilot we are expanding this offer to all of our care leavers wherever you live in the country. Speak to your leaving care worker to access this offer, you will need proof of payment, and council tax payments can be backdated to April 25.
- access the free leisure offer from Lincolnshire district councils
Depending on your situation, you may be entitled to:
You will have a Child Trust Fund or Junior ISA bank account from when you were in care. It is money paid in by the Government and us.
You can access it when you turn 18 and either:
- leave it where it is
- take it out
- transfer it to another bank account
Your social worker or leaving care worker can tell you more about how to access your account. We promise to help you plan how you can best use this, and the other money in your life.
Universal credit and benefits
Lincolnshire has an agreement in place with the Department for Work and Pensions. We will jointly aim to support you to access the benefits you might need whilst you seek employment or training. We will also aim to make sure no care leavers face sanctions and the DWP will work with us to make sure this doesn't happen. There is a protocol in place, if you want to know more, speak to your leaving care worker.
Rent gap
If you are a young person who has left the care of Lincolnshire County Council and you are struggling to cover the gap between your income and the cost of supported living, speak to your leaving care worker as help is available. Your leaving care worker can help you by applying for a period of discretionary additional funding to cover the costs of living in supported housing. This can be in place for a period of time whilst you find your next home. Speak to your leaving care worker for more information about rent gap.
Acting as a guarantor
Your district council may be able to act as a guarantor, speak to your leaving care worker about this and we will explore it with you.
Supporting at college or other education programmes
We will help you receive the financial support you are entitled to at school or college. Depending on your age, type of course and other circumstances, we will help with:
- registration and exam fees
- textbooks and software specified as essential
- activities essential to meet course requirements
- public transport between home and place of learning
- transport to open days and interviews
- specific clothing, such as for interview or course equipment
If you are 18 or 19 and in full-time education, you may be entitled to the 16 to 19 bursary fund. Care leavers are a priority group for this funding.
If you are 20 or over, we can help you to explore other funding options available to you.
Supporting you at university
Your leaving care worker will help you to apply for and prepare to go to university. We will continue to support you throughout your course if you wish.
We will work with you to ensure you have accommodation, transport, equipment, and the right financial support. We can also help you to apply for extra care leaver grants or bursaries that may be available to you at your university.
National databank: free mobile data
The national databank is O2's program giving free mobile data, calls, and texts to people who can't afford them. It's a safety net for those struggling with phone bills or internet access.
Who can get it?
You need to be 18+ and from a low-income household, plus one of these:
- no internet at home (or it's rubbish)
- can't get online when you're out
- can't afford your current phone bill
What do you get?
- 25GB data per month
- unlimited UK calls and texts
- 50 international minutes to 42 countries
- data rollover - unused data carries over
All completely free for up to 12 months.
How to get it
- get referred through community organizations (find your nearest on the Good Things Foundation website - you can't just walk into O2)
- get your SIM card
- wait for a text with your 16-digit activation code
- activate:
- from O2 phone: call 4444
- from any phone: call 03456 062 277
- enter your code when prompted
- repeat monthly - you'll get a new code each month
Check your balance anytime by dialing *#10# and pressing call.
Key things to remember
- one SIM per person only
- O2 network only
- no cash alternative
- available while stocks last
Chat to your leaving care worker if you want to look into it further. They can help you figure out if you qualify and get you connected with the right people to apply.
Full terms and conditions
This could be a genuine lifeline if you're struggling financially - 25GB monthly is serious data, not just emergency access.
Household support fund
Until March 2026 the national funding from the DFE - the household support fund can provide resources if you are in crisis. We will be giving care experienced young people (aged between 18-21) £25 shopping vouchers four times a year to support with the cost of living.
Further help
Up to the age of 21, we will always buy you a gift for your birthday, and we will always buy you another gift for your main religious festival.
Young parents may be entitled to additional help with childcare costs, and extra financial support if you have a baby, so please do speak to your leaving care worker
The leaving care service and children in care teams want to support young people by helping pay for driving lessons. Learning to drive can help with education, training and employment. This support must be discussed and agreed upon between the young person and their leaving care worker, with the final agreement being signed off by a manager. The cost is shared to ensure that neither the local authority nor the young person bears the entire expense alone.
See our leaving care and looked after children finance handbook for more in depth details
Work and learning
We will work with you to access learning and workplace opportunities, such as:
- college or university
- work experience
- apprenticeships
- job opportunities
We will help you receive any extra help you require if you have special educational needs or disabilities.
Aspire 2 is a learning service where you can do training and development
Careers advice
When you start thinking about work, we will help you access careers advice through your leaving care education, employment and training (EET) worker, college, university or higher education setting.
This may include:
- helping you to develop your CV
- highlighting courses and training to build your skills
- helping you find a job
- advising about job interviews and employment processes
- providing a reference
Work experience
Work experience provides opportunities for learning about the skills, behaviours, careers, roles and structures within a workplace.
If you are interested in work experience, speak with your leaving care worker.
Success in six
The EET team offers a work experience programme for young people who have not achieved grade 4 maths and english
- young people will attend an identified workplace for a period of six weeks (negotiated with the host employer that increases over the six week period) with the intention of them being offered permanent employment at the end
- you will receive a daily amount during the six week trial. This would be paid on top of whatever other monies they normally receive
- pay would be in voucher form to a shop or service of your choice
- we have worked with DWP and you will not have any claims suspended or reduced during your time with us on success in six, this is unless you are being paid by the employer during the six week period
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a job combined with a skills development and training programme. We will support you to access and apply for an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships vary in length and entry requirements depending upon the area. You must have grade 4 maths and english GCSE to start an apprenticeship
They are an excellent opportunity to develop your skills whilst earning some money. For current apprenticeship details see the gov.uk website.
Care Leavers' Apprenticeship Scheme
The care leavers' apprenticeship scheme (CLAS) is tailor-made to employ looked after children and care leavers aged 16 to 21.
You may work in the local authority, or work in sectors ranging from forestry to joinery, motor vehicle mechanics, animal care, elderly care, plumbing, ICT, hairdressing, hospitality and other vocational areas.
If you want to do business administration, you will usually work with us. Speak to your leaving care worker for more information.
All include studying one day a week, plus extra maths and english if you don't have at least a grade 4 at GCSE.
Entry requirements
- to qualify, you need to be our legal responsibility, either as an eligible, relevant or former relevant young person
- you must do the work preparation programme. It is a two-day course followed by up to 13 weeks of work experience. All work experience and CLAS placements are tailor-made to meet your needs
- the apprenticeship through CLAS is dependent upon successful completion of work experience, including at least 95 per cent attendance.
If you are a qualifying young person, although you are not able to join the scheme, leaving care services can help you with work preparation support.
Are you thinking of going to college?
If you would like to go to college, your leaving care worker will support you in choosing the right course.
Many local colleges provide extra support to care leavers.
To find out more, visit our webpage about local colleges.
If you would like any support accessing and attending open days, interviews or help with your applications, speak with your leaving care worker
Are you thinking of going to university?
If you would like to apply to go to university, we help you to:
- find a course that is right for you
- secure suitable accommodation, including during holiday periods
- get you and your belongings to and from university
- access financial support, loans and bursaries
- buy equipment that you may need (such as books and a laptop)
Many universities provide additional support to care leavers. It's worth searching their websites or contacting the student support service of the ones you are interested in to find out what they offer.
Planning to go to university?
Firstly, congratulations! This is an amazing achievement, and we can’t wait to support you along your journey at university.
What are you entitled to?
If you are aged between 18-21 years old, you can apply for:
- £3000 per year towards tuition fees, maximum £9,000 over the whole of the course
- £2000 bursary (maximum) – this is given as £500 one month before the start of the course. This will enable you to pay for accommodation fees or deposits and any other pre-course expenses as required
- then £500 at the end of each year upon successful completion, for 3 years (evidence must be provided). If the course is longer than 3 years then the £2000 must be divided over the total length of the course
- £25.00 per week – living allowance (not in student halls) during term time only
Student finance
Guide for applying for student finance
Guide about student finances
You can still apply for funding up to nine months after the first day of the academic year for your course, however this will mean you will not have any income in this period.
When applying for your student finance, once you have had confirmation that we will contribute £3,000 towards your tuition fees for that year, you will need to apply for your student finance subtracting £3000.
For example, if your fees are £9250, you would apply for £6250 to allow for us to pay the university the £3000. This is very important as if this is not completed this could affect the payment going to your account.
Support from leaving care
Your leaving care worker will still come and visit you every eight weeks (or 12 weeks if you make that agreement together).
You will still complete your pathway plan review with your leaving care worker every six months (or 12 months depending on your age).
Summer accommodation
We will help you apply for any available accommodation funds. During holiday periods, we can provide housing through the staying put service or cover the full cost of suitable accommodation, as required by the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000.
Support for accommodation is only offered from the first holiday period following the start of term in year one and cannot be provided after the final term of your course.
Suitable accommodation means a safe place that meets your needs. The first choice should be staying in your current university accommodation. If that's not possible, other options should be explored with your leaving care worker and agreed upon in your pathway plan. If the chosen accommodation is significantly more expensive than other options, you may need to contribute to the cost.
Before making any plans for summer accommodation, you must discuss them with your leaving care worker. They will then seek approval from the corporate parent to fund it. Do not secure summer accommodation without this approval unless you plan to self-fund.
Important:
- if accommodation is not approved in advance, it won't be funded
- there is a limit on costs; for example, you cannot book a villa in spain for the summer
If you return to a supported lodgings provider during any holiday period, they will receive payment of £100 per week to cover your care in that time.
Working when at university
You can work, and it does not affect your student finances, so you can earn some money and create yourself a savings pot.
We encourage you to work over the summer period to cover your living costs over this time. A contribution may be made towards your accommodation over the summer period, however you would be expected to pay for your day-to-day living.
Additional support
You could be entitled to some additional support, such as a bursary from the university as you are care experienced.
You could also get some additional support from the university, such as talking therapy or a worker who you can contact if you need support.
You may be able to access your new homes grant for household items.
Propel offer advice longer-term 1-2-1 support, workshops, and information to support care leavers thinking about further and higher education.
UCAS information for care leavers
Complete university guide for care leavers
Finding term time accommodation
You’ll be responsible for paying your own rent during term time using available loans, usually from Student Finance UK.
You usually won't be eligible for benefits as a higher education student unless you’re a lone parent or have a disability.
If there’s any doubt about eligibility, your leaving care worker can help you to check with DWP.
At your university they will have provided you with lots of information about their accommodation and also off-site accommodation. There will also be private student letting agencies in the area.
Remember to ensure you are happy with your choice as if you did decide to leave midway through your year you will still be liable to pay for this.