Financial offer and support for qualifying care leavers
If you are a qualifying care leaver, you can request advice and assistance from Lambeth Council up to your 21st birthday.
If you need support with education or training (including vocational training), you can request support up to your 25th birthday.
If you have questions about what support you can get, contact the Lambeth 16+ Independence Service on 020 7926 6315.
Assessment of your needs
As a qualifying child, you have the right to request an assessment of your needs by the local authority.
The assessment may consider your needs in relation to:
- accommodation and housing
- education, training, and employment
- physical and emotional wellbeing
- finances and independent living skills
- family and other relationships and support networks
- future goals
Following the assessment, we will explain any support that can be provided and seek to agree next steps with you. A needs assessment is not static and may be undertaken when there is a significant change in your circumstances and you specifically request it.
Personal advisers and pathway plans
As a qualifying child, you are not automatically entitled to a personal adviser or a statutory pathway plan.
Where a needs assessment identifies ongoing support needs, Lambeth Council may provide a dedicated worker and develop a written support plan in the format of a pathway plan.
The provision of a personal adviser for qualifying children is discretionary. If the local authority decides to allocate a personal adviser to a qualifying child, it will be for a maximum period of 12 weeks. In such circumstances, the personal adviser will meet with you every 8 weeks, or more frequently if deemed necessary.
What support you can and cannot get
The tables below set out the specific support available to qualifying care leavers, alongside items that are not funded by Lambeth Council.
Housing and living costs
| Support type | Available from Lambeth Council? | Additional details or alternative support |
|---|---|---|
| Housing advice | Yes | Advice to help access accommodation and sustain a tenancy. (Does not include nomination for priority social housing). |
| University accommodation during breaks | Yes | Costs paid at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for up to 16 weeks per academic year (proof required). |
| Ongoing accommodation / rent | No | If you are not living with a parent, you can apply for benefits (such as Universal Credit) to cover rent. |
| Setting up home allowance | No | Not provided for qualifying care leavers. |
| Council tax exemption | No | Not provided for qualifying care leavers. |
Education, employment, and training
| Support type | Available from Lambeth Council? | Additional details or alternative support |
|---|---|---|
| Travel to your first job | Yes | One-off support for travel costs for up to 4 weeks (up to £15 per day). |
| Graduation ceremony costs | Yes | Up to £100 towards university graduation before age 25 (proof required). |
| Travel to college (16+ hours per week) | No | Apply directly to your college for a 16 to 19 bursary grant to cover travel costs based on attendance. |
| Travel to college (under 16 hours per week) | No | Not provided for qualifying care leavers. |
| Further education fees (age 20+) | No | Not provided for qualifying care leavers. |
| University grant or equipment | No | Not provided. Check with your university for hardship funds or student finance. |
Personal identity, maintenance, and specific situations
| Support type | Available from Lambeth Council? | Additional details or alternative support |
|---|---|---|
| First passport and birth certificate | Yes | Covered for your first passport and birth certificate (if born in the UK). |
| Birthday or religious festival payment | Yes | £20 can be claimed. |
| Emergency clothing | Yes | Payment may be given for emergency purposes only. |
| Weekly maintenance allowance | No | Benefits (such as Universal Credit) can be claimed if you are not living with a parent. |
| Regular clothing or work/interview clothing | No | Not provided for qualifying care leavers. |
| Savings scheme | No | Not provided for qualifying care leavers. |
| Support in custody or prison | No | Not provided by Lambeth care leaver services. |
| Pregnancy support | No | Talk to your midwife, health visitor, or local jobcentre for maternity support options. |