Welfare benefits for care leavers

Your 16+ worker will make sure someone helps you to claim any benefits that you are entitled to. They might do this with you themselves or your foster carer or someone else that you choose might help you.

If you want to look for yourself to see what benefits you are entitled to then you can use this online tool to help you find out.

Council Tax discount for care leavers

From age18-25 you may be eligible for a full discount on your Council Tax bill, if you were in care in the county on your 16th birthday and have been in the care of Herefordshire Council for at least 13 weeks from the age of 14. Visit Care leavers discount for the full details. You can discuss with your personal advisor how this applies to you and if you need support with making the application.

Your work coach

Every care leaver who is claiming benefits will have a work coach. It’s important that you let the Job Centre know that you are a care leaver as they will be able to give you extra support such as:

  • A skills check and help with writing a CV
  • Voluntary work experience placement
  • Apprenticeship advice
  • Traineeships
  • Advice and support with self-employment
  • Advice and support with how to get and keep a job
  • Job and work clubs
  • Employability training
  • IT training
  • Support with numeracy and literacy
  • All care leavers will have a dedicated work coach

Sharing information

Your 16+ worker will ask you if we can share information about you with the Department of Work and Pensions. This is so that we can work together to make sure you’re getting all of the support that you need. For example, if you are at risk of having a benefit sanction then your work coach will let your 16+ worker know so that they can help you sort things out before you get a sanction if possible.

Support from a welfare benefits advisor

If you or your worker think that you are not receiving the benefits that you should be entitled to or there is a problem with your benefits that you haven’t been able to sort out then you can contact a welfare benefits advisor on telephone 01432 383444 or by filling in this online form to request a referral for benefits advice.