Care-experienced young people and the benefits system (Scotland), 3 November 2022 ONLINE

Many young people who have been ‘looked after’ by the local authority are affected by special social security rules. Some are excluded from income-related benefits like 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
• The impact of universal credit on 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 half-day introductory level 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. Participants will receive an email a few days before the start of the course, with a link to the event hosted on our AskCPAG elearning platform.