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Help for young people with experience of care

Benefits and money for young people with experience of care

Last updated
27 Oct 2025

You can use a benefits calculator to find out what benefits you could get.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with living costs like rent, food and other essential things.

Check if you can get Universal Credit on GOV.UK.

If you're 16 or 17 and were 'looked after' when you turned 16, you cannot usually get Universal Credit.

This is because your local council should make sure you have enough money and somewhere to live as part of aftercare support they offer you.

Your local council’s duty to provide financial assistance ends when you’re 18 and you can apply for Universal Credit.

You can get more information on the benefit rules for young people with experience of care from the Child Poverty Action Group.

Housing

You might be able to get help with your rent, bills and other essential items.

Students

If you’re studying full time at college or university you may be able to get money to help with your living costs.

Work, training or structured volunteering

If you’re starting work, training or structured volunteering you may be able to get money to help with the costs.

Childcare

If you’re a parent and you or your child has experience of care, you might be able to get funded Early Learning and Childcare for your child from 2 years old. This means they could go to a nursery or childminder for free.

Grants

Grants are one-off payments to help you with living costs or if you have an emergency or crisis:

Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund

Some young people have savings accounts set up for them by the government or local council.

If you were born between 3 January 1994 and 31 August 2002, you may have a Junior Individual Savings Account (ISA).

If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, you may have a Child Trust Fund (CTF). This is a type of savings account.

If you were born after 2 January 2011, you may have a Junior Individual Savings Account (ISA).

If you were ‘looked after’ for more than 12 months after 2 January 2011 and do not have a CTF, then you may have a Junior ISA.

You can control your account from 16, but you’ll only be able to take out the money after you’re 18.

More information is available from The Share Foundation.

If you think you have money in a savings account, you should contact your local council.

Free calls, texts and data

If you're on a low income and struggle with internet access, the National Databank may offer you free calls, texts, and mobile data.

Financial education

There are organisations who can help you learn how to budget and manage your money:

If you’re between 15 and 17 years old you can learn about finances by taking part in the Stepladder Plus programme.

Get help from your local council

The Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum (STAF) lists local council ‘care leaver offers’. These pages:

  • give information about support you might be able to get from your local council
  • have contact details for people who can help you get support

If you're unsure which council area you're in, you can search by postcode on GOV.UK.

If you need more help

If you need advice or support you can phone or email Who Cares? Scotland.

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