Care-experienced young people and the benefits system

About this course

Many young people who have been ‘looked after’ by the local authority are affected by special social security rules. Some are excluded from universal credit and instead the local authority is responsible for supporting them. Some are entitled to a ‘care-experienced bursary’. This course looks at the special benefit rules for this group of young people and provides the opportunity to consider other support available.

The course covers:

• The special benefit rules affecting 16 and 17-year-olds leaving care and in continuing care, including young people who have been living with kinship carers
• Local authorities’ powers and responsibilities towards care-experienced young people
• Universal credit and care-experienced young people
• The care-experienced bursary and its interaction with the social security system
• Other help available to care-experienced young people

This course will be delivered online via Zoom from 10am to 1pm with a half hour break from 11.15 – 11.45. 

It is a practical course, delivered using a combination of trainer presentation, exercises and group discussion. Participants will need a Wi-Fi connection and a suitable device to access the internet. It is not recommended to join via a mobile phone.