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Young care leavers to benefit from increase in council tax support

Council Tax
11:30, Thursday, 8th November 2018

Young care leavers are set to receive up to 100 per cent financial support to pay their council tax bill – an increase from the current 77 per cent support.

The recent campaign by the Children’s Society reported that nationally over half (57 per cent) of young people leaving care have difficulty managing their money and avoiding debt when leaving care.

Nationally young adults are staying at home longer and therefore have more support within their own families to become financially independent. Care leavers are also increasingly continuing to live with their carers or in supported accommodation.

Those over the age of 18, however, who live in their own accommodation are required to pay council tax.

Subject to approval, the move will provide a balanced approach to providing extra help to young people as they progress to live in their own accommodation through additional financial support, with the expectation that as they progress into adulthood, they begin to take responsibility for their finances, managing their income and expenditure.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“This additional support will help young people in the transition to adulthood and enable them to become established within their own homes without the additional financial pressure of council tax up to the age of 22.

“It will also enable them to budget their money responsibly with the support still in place as care leavers up to the age of 25.”