When you live in foster care or a residential home this is what you are entitled to:

• Pocket money
  The weekly pocket money allowance is:
  • Age 6-10 years – £5.30
  • Age 11-14 years – £10.20
  • Age 15+ – £12.45
• Savings
  The weekly saving that will be put in a bank account for you until you turn 18 are:
  • Age 10 and under – £5
  • Age 11 and over £10
• A Bank Account
  Your foster carer, support worker or social worker will help you open a bank account for your savings.
• Budgeting Skills
  When you are age 16+ we will offer you a two-day Money Management course called ‘Money Works’. We will help you to develop your budgeting and independence skills throughout your time in care with us.
• Benefits
  Your foster carer, social worker or keyworker will help you apply for benefits when you are old enough. Benefits are payments made by the government to help people who need it. Click here for current government information about benefits.

When you live in semi-independent accommodation this is what you are entitled to:

• Subsistence allowance
  A weekly payment of £51.90 and you will need to use this for all your living costs but not for rent or bills.
• Savings
  If you were in foster care or a residential home before moving to semi-independent accommodation then you will already have some savings. While you are living in semi-independent accommodation £10 a week will be saved for you and given to you after your 18^th birthday.
• A bank account
  Your keyworker or social worker will help you open a bank account for your savings if you do not already have one.
• Budgeting Skills
  When you are age 16+ we will offer you a two-day Money Management course called ‘Money Works’. We will help you to develop your budgeting and independence skills throughout your time in care with us. When you are old enough to apply for independent accommodation (your own flat) you must be able to show that you can manage your money.
• Benefits
  Your social worker or keyworker will help you apply for benefits when you are old enough. Benefits are payments made by the government to help people who need it. Click here for current government information about benefits.

Speak to your social worker if you need to apply for any of the following:

Birth Certificate
If you do not have a birth certificate we can apply for one on your behalf.
https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Passport
We will help you apply for a passport if you do not already have one.

You will need to apply and pay for a replacement passport when yours expires or if it is lost or stolen. Your passport is your main source of ID so it must be kept very safe.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport

National Insurance (N.I) number
At age 15 years and 9 months we will apply for your National Insurance number. Remind your social worker or keyworker if you do not receive it. You will need to have this to be able to work, claim benefits, apply for a student loan at university and to vote in elections. You must have the right to work or study in the UK to get a National Insurance number.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

Driving Licence
We will pay 50% of the cost of your provisional driving licence, a maximum of 20 driving lessons, your theory and practical tests. However, you will need to show that you need to drive for educational, employment or training purposes. This will need to be agreed and written into your Pathway Plan when you turn 18.
https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/driving-licences

British Citizenship
If you are entitled to apply to become a British Citizen before the age of 18, we will support you to do this.
https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/citizenship

REMEMBER – Once you have these documents it is important that you keep them safe otherwise you will need to pay to replace them.

Accessing your personal information held by Hounslow Council
Hounslow Council holds information about any person who receives social care services from them. After your 16^th birthday you have the right to ask to see the personal information we hold about you. Please talk to your social worker about this. They will talk to you about this decision and make sure that you are prepared to see the information as some of it may be distressing to read.