Care leavers – allowances and payments
When you leave care, there are a number of allowances and one-off payments you can access.
Speak to your PA if you think you are eligible for any of these allowances or payments, or contact the leaving care team.
Setting Up Home Allowance
You will receive a Setting Up Home Allowance to help you to purchase the essential items you need to set up and furnish your home. If you turned 18 before April 2023 you will receive £2,000 allowance but if you turned 18 after April 2023 you are entitled to £3,000. The allowance will remain available to you until you turn 25 years.
Travel passes and driving lessons
If you are a care leaver who lives in Liverpool or outside of the city, we will give you a free Liverpool City Region travel pass until you are aged 21.
Depending on your circumstances, we may also be able to offer you:
- Travel assistance after the age of 21 and up to your 25th birthday.
- Help with applying for a provisional driving licence up to your 25th birthday.
- Driving lessons up to your 25th birthday if it supports your career choice.
- TV licence we will pay for your first TV licence
- No Council Tax payments until you are 25 years old if you live outside Liverpool, you will not have to pay Council Tax until you are 21 years old
- £25 when you turn 19 and 20 years old
- £100 when you turn 21 years old
- £40 Christmas or festival allowance until 21 you can choose when to claim the festival allowance
- £200 a year for clothing if you are 16 or 17 years old and live in semi-independence or supported lodgings. Plus another £80 each year if you are in college.
- £75 bereavement grant to buy a floral tribute and clothing if you experience a bereavement.
- £10 each week if you are in prison, up to the age of 20