If you are working and / or are eligible for benefits, four weeks before your 18th birthday you will be supported by your Personal Advisor, Social Worker or another person in your support network to make your initial claim, often with an appointment at Job centre Plus. We will also support you to claim Housing Benefit as part of Universal Credit
claim if this is needed. The Housing Benefit element of your Universal Credit can be paid straight to your landlord if you agree to this, which means you won’t have to worry about paying your rent from your benefit money. We will encourage you to do this to ensure you always have a roof over your head. You can choose to consent for the 6 Care Experience Team to support your claim by talking to the Job Centre in your
journal; this has been helpful for many young people in the past as it can prevent delays and speed up payments.

Don’t worry – we can provide you with a ‘personal allowance’ for up to six weeks while your benefits claim is processed, as long as you continue to attend any Job centre Plus appointments you need to and give them the information they ask for. If you need any help to attend, your Personal Advisor will help to make arrangements to support you.

When you move from benefits to employment, Universal Credit means there should be no gap in receiving money. Talk to your Personal Advisor and/or Work Coach if you have any questions or concerns about benefits.

Remember: You will need to make a claim for Housing Benefit / the rent element of Universal Credit when you make a claim for benefits, so that you do not fall into rent arrears.