Setting up home allowance

We also offer a Setting Up Home Allowance, sometimes called the ‘Leaving Care Grant’, which you can access up to the age of 25 if needed. Sometimes called the ‘leaving care grant’. If you turned 18 on or before March 31st, 2023, you are entitled to £2000. If you turned 18 on or after April 1st, 2023, you are entitled to £3000.

You will only be eligible for this if you are a ‘former relevant child’ care leaver. You are not eligible for this as a ‘qualifying’ care leaver.  

You can use this to pay for things like a:

  • TV licence, TV, TV stand, aerial or extension  
  • Washing machine, fridge or fridge freezer, Pyrex dishes, chopping boards  
  • Bin, sieve, cooker (gas or electric), installation from a certified fitter, kitchen utensils  
  • Microwave, kettle, dining table and chairs, toaster  
  • Pots and pans, plates, cups, glasses  
  • Cutlery, tea towels, washing up bowl, dish drainer  
  • Settee, coffee table, lamp, carpet  
  • Mirror, clock, curtains, curtain rails  
  • Bed frame and mattress, bedding, bedside table, iron and ironing board, wardrobe  
  • Chest of drawers, pillow, duvet, bath towels  
  • Shower curtain, bathmat, soap holder  
  • Flooring, carpets, rugs 
  • Contents insurance  

This list isn’t exhaustive!

You can’t use the setting up home allowance to pay rent, a deposit, a bill, energy bill, or clothes. If you do not spend your setting up home allowance by the age of 25, you cannot ‘cash it out’ and have the money transferred into your account. You cannot spend this money after the age of 25.

In our experience, young people will move home sometimes and the place they live in at 18 often isn’t their home when they are 25.

We always encourage young people to spend their setting up home allowance on things they can take with them, so will discourage you from spending a lot of money on carpets or flooring.  

Every request to use the setting up home allowance is taken on a case-by-case basis and must be agreed by the care leavers team manager. Depending on your circumstances, we may order the item for you or go out and buy it with you. Sometimes, we will send you the money and ask you to provide us a receipt. If a receipt isn’t provided, this may impact how you can access the allowance in future.