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Financial support for Young People with SEND approaching Adulthood

Find information about benefits and financial help when preparing for adult life on the Contact website

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There are a range of benefits available when preparing for adulthood.

Benefits

There are a range of services that can help you find out about benefits and what you are entitled to.

An independent benefits calculator can help you find out:

  • What benefits you could get.

  • How to claim.

  • How your benefits will be affected if you start work.

These are free to use and no one will know that it is you using it. To see what you are entitled to, use the Entitled To benefits calculator [External Link].

Universal Credit

Some young people with SEND can claim Universal Credit in their own right once they turn 16. However you could be left worse off after claiming so it is worth getting advice before doing so. Contact can help you with this. For more information, visit the Contact directory page.

Council Tax and Care Leavers.

If you have left care, you are exempt from paying council tax until you are 25 years old. This is when the Council's role as a Corporate Parent ends. You can find out more about Council Tax for Care Leavers on the LBS Website [External Link].

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP is a benefit that has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults aged 16-64. DLA continues to be a benefit for children under the age of 16. PIP is not means tested and you can receive it both in and out of work. Whether you qualify depends on how difficult it is for you to carry out essential tasks to live independently. This includes any problems in getting around outdoors. You may be asked to attend a face-to-face meeting as part of your assessment.

Employment Support Allowance

This is for young people who have a disability who cannot work, or need to support to enable them to work. You have to have a work capability assessment to see if you are eligible. This will also help to see what additional support you need. To find out more, Visit the Government website for more on Employment Support Allowance [External Link].

Budgeting

Read the Making Money Easier guides provided by United Response [External Link]. These guides include advice about choosing and using a bank account. It has a glossary on common banking terms, tips on budgeting and a guide to help people live independently.

MyBnk helps young people across the UK understand and manage their money. Their experts have created a range of tools to enable you to do that. Find free tips from MyBnk to help you manage your money [External link].

Child Trust Funds

These are long-term savings accounts set up for every child born between 2 January 2011 and 1 September 2022. These are now known as Junior ISAs. The government provided a deposit of £250 and can be paid into by your parents. You can access this money once you turn 18.

Visit the Child Trust Fund website to find out more information [External Link].