By Richard Crellin and Iryna Pona
On your own now:the risks of unsuitable
accommodation for older teenagers
September 2015
2
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
AppendixAppendix A
Accommodation Typical Provision
Crashpad
■ Temporary emergency accommodation for young people facing homelessness because they have been asked to leave home
■ Usually limited to around 21 days ■ Intensive family mediation and other support offered to repair
family relationships and move the young person back into the family home.
■ Often attached to a foyer or other supported accommodation
Floating Tenancy Support
■ Living independently in the community, often with a tenancy from a housing association
■ Support worker visits regularly to ensure tenancy is stable and helps to signpost to agencies for other needs
Foyer ■ Part of the Foyer Federation ■ Own room and shared facilities ■ Tenancy dependent on engaging in education, employment or
training ■ On-site support
Nightstop ■ Temporary emergency accommodation for young people facing homelessness
■ Live in a spare room with a host family for up to two weeks
Supported Accommodation ■ Own room and shared facilities ■ On-site support
Supported Lodgings ■ Own room in a family home ■ Host supports young person to learn independent living skills ■ Similar to staying out scheme for foster carers
Training Flats ■ Designed for care leavers to experience independent living for a short period before they decided to leave care
■ Regular support to gain independent living skills
3
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
Looked after under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 Accommodated under the Housing Act and/or section 17 of the Children Act 1989
Looked after children will have their pathway plan developed by children’s services, allowing them to think ahead
✔Young people who are not looked after will only get minimal support. There is no requirement for a pathway plan to be put in place
✘
The young people’s accommodation is paid for by children’s services up to the age of 18
✔Young people are responsible for claiming benefits and paying for their accommodation and all other expenses
✘Depending on local policy they may receive pocket money or special allowances for birthdays and other occasions
✔No special allowances for birthdays or other occasions ✘
Pathway plans include education and career planning ✔
There is a duty on young people to participate in education or training but no specific support
✘All looked after children have named health professionals and have improved access to health services, including mental health services
✔Young people do not have any additional entitlements for health support and are not seen as a priority by mental health services
✘
All looked after children are entitled to advocacy support if they want to make a complaint or representation about the services they receive
✔They are not entitled to advocacy support ✘
They are entitled to have an independent visitor ✔
No entitlement to an independent visitor ✘
If a crisis occurs at the accommodation, e.g. as a result of behaviour deteriorating, children’s services continue to support them and will find them a new placement
✔If there is a crisis situation in their accommodation which results in eviction the young person can be seen as intentionally homeless and denied further support
✘
On turning 18 as a care leaver, young people remain a priority for housing support and get increased housing benefit entitlements
✔On turning 18 a young person will no longer be seen as a priority group for housing purposes and can only access lowest level of housing benefit support
✘
They are also entitled to support from children’s services up to the age of 21, or even 25 in some cases.
✔On turning 18 they are not eligible for any further support from children’s services.
✘
Appendix B
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Thank you for agreeing to take our survey - we really appreciate your time. The survey should
take no longer than 15 minutes. The survey is aimed at the managers of supported
accommodation for young people and looks to find out about young people's experiences and
how organisations work together to support them.
Here are some points to keep in mind:
- Unless explicitly stated otherwise, every question in this survey concerns the 16- and 17-year-
olds in your accommodation. You may house other age groups but your answers should only be
made in reference to how 16- and 17-year olds are cared for and NOT what might be your
standard practice for older age groups.
- Please answer on behalf of the units of supported accommodation you directly manage. Your
organisation may provide a number of units across your region or the country but we would like
you to answer only on behalf of the units of accommodation for which you are directly in charge.
- This survey will be analysed and presented anonymously. We are asking some identifying
questions at the beginning in order to verify who you are and quality assure the survey. You can
refuse to answer these questions if you wish. If you do provide details we may contact you to
discuss your answers but we will not identify you in our research and will keep the records of
the survey securely.
- Answer as many questions as you can. You may not be able to answer all the questions - if so
just leave the ones you cannot complete blank. At the bottom of each question there is a free text
box for any additional comments, questions or clarifications you would like to make.
- We will use the data you provide to write a report on supported accommodation for 16- and 17-
year-olds with the aim of lobbying central governments and local councils to improve the care
and attention these vulnerable young people receive from statutory bodies. The purpose of the
research is to gather evidence about the extent to which statutory bodies and other government
organisations are properly considering and working with supported accommodation providers
when carrying out their duties.
- If you have any questions, at any time, do get in touch with us by contacting: Richard Crellin,
Policy Officer, [email protected] / 0207 841 4581
Many thanks once again for taking part,
The Children's Society
This first set of questions are to obtain information about your identity. They are purely for
verification purposes. They will not be used for anything else. If you do not wish to answer them
please read and tick the confirmation statement made in question 5.
Appendix C
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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1. What is the name of the accommodation provider you are answering on behalf of?
2. What is your name?
3. What is your job title?
4. Could you please provide an email address or telephone number we could reach you on, should we
need to?
5. I would rather not answer these questions about my identity but can confirm that I am the
manager/supervisor of a supported accommodation unit that provides placements for young people
aged 16 and 17.
Confirmed
This set of questions is about the kind of accommodation you provide - the size, its
characteristics and how it is funded.
6. Do you provide accommodation for young people aged 16 or 17?
Yes
No
7. What local authority/council area is your accommodation based in? (please tick the Local Authority in
which your accommodation is based only.)
Barnsley Council
Bath and North East Somerset
Council
Liverpool City Council
London Borough of Barking and
Dagenham
Oxfordshire County Council
Peterborough City Council
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Bedford Borough Council
Birmingham City Council
Blackburn with Darwen Borough
Council
Blackpool Council
Bolton Council
Bournemouth Borough Council
Bracknell Forest Borough Council
Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Brighton and Hove City Council
Bristol City Council
Buckinghamshire County Council
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough
Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Central Bedfordshire Council
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cornwall Council
Coventry City Council
Cumbria County Council
Darlington Borough Council
Derby City Council
Derbyshire County Council
Devon County Council
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough
Council
Dorset County Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Durham County Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Sussex County Council
Essex County Council
Gateshead Council
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Bexley
London Borough of Brent
London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Enfield
London Borough of Greenwich
London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Hammersmith and
Fulham
London Borough of Haringey
London Borough of Harrow
London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea
London Borough of Kingston upon
Thames
London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Newham
London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Richmond upon
Thames
London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Sutton
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Waltham Forest
London Borough of Wandsworth
London Borough of Westminster
Plymouth City Council
Poole Borough Council
Portsmouth City Council
Reading Borough Council
Redcar and Cleveland Borough
Council
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough
Council
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough
Council
Rutland County Council
Salford City Council
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough
Council
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Sheffield City Council
Shropshire Council
Slough Borough Council
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Somerset County Council
South Gloucestershire Council
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough
Council
Southampton City Council
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
St Helens Metropolitan Borough
Council
Staffordshire County Council
Stockport Metropolitan Borough
Council
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Suffolk County Council
Sunderland City Council
Surrey County Council
Swindon Borough Council
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Other (please specify)
Gloucestershire County Council
Halton Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
Hartlepool Borough Council
Herefordshire Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Hull City Council
Isle of Wight Council
Kent County Council
Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough
Council
Lancashire County Council
Leeds City Council
Leicester City Council
Leicestershire County Council
Lincolnshire County Council
Luton Borough Council
Manchester City Council
Medway Council
Middlesbrough Borough Council
Milton Keynes Council
Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council
Norfolk County Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
North Lincolnshire Council
North Somerset Council
North Tyneside Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Northamptonshire County Council
Northumberland County Council
Nottingham City Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
Oldham Council
Tameside Metropolitan Borough
Council
Telford and Wrekin Borough Council
Thurrock Council
Torbay Council
Trafford Metropolitan Borough
Council
Wakefield Metropolitan District
Council
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Warrington Borough Council
Warwickshire County Council
West Berkshire Council
West Sussex County Council
Wigan Council
Wiltshire Council
Windsor and Maidenhead Borough
Council
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Wokingham Borough Council
Wolverhampton City Council
Worcestershire County Council
York City Council
8. What are the age ranges of the people staying in your accommodation? (Please choose the option
that fits your accommodation most closely)
Ages 16 and 17 only
Ages 16-21
Ages 16-25
Ages 16-26+
9. How many people can you accommodate at any one time?
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10. what is the maximum number of 16- and 17-year-olds you can accommodate at any one time?
11. How many 16- and 17-year-olds did you accommodate in 2014? (This does not need to be the exact
number but if you are providing an estimate please clearly indicate that it is an estimate)
Other (please specify)
12. What kind of accommodation does your unit provide for 16- and 17-year-olds?
(tick as many as apply)
Emergency (up to 5 nights)
Short Term (up to one month)
Long Term
Moving on accommodation (time limited to prepare young people for independence)
Floating accommodation support (through key workers)
Other (please specify)
13. What style of accommodation does your unit provide for 16- and 17-year-olds?
(tick as many as apply)
Hostel
Foyer
Training flats
Supported Accommodation
Semi-Supported Accommodation
Floating support in private or registered provider accommodation
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Other (please specify)
14. What kind of organisation is your accommodation unit part of?
(Please give one answer that most closely matches)
Charity
Social Enterprise
Housing Association
Private Company
None About one-quarter About half
About three-
quarters All
Charitable offer made
by your organisation
Commissioned by
housing services
Commissioned by
children's social care
services
Commissioned by the
local authority in a joint
manner (for example by
both children's and
housing services)
Other (please specify)
15. Your accommodation might be funded through multiple grants and streams.
Please give an estimated percentage of the different sources of your funding for your 16 and 17 year
olds.
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Other (please specify)
16. How are 16- and 17-year-olds referred into your accommodation?
(Please tick all that apply)
By children's social care services
By housing services
By local schools or colleges
By the local Youth Offending Team
Self-referral
From other parts of your organisation
Don't know
This third set of questions are about the 16- and 17-year olds that you accommodate and care
for. Its about their needs and other agencies that support them.
All More than half About half Less than half None
A named social worker
provided by their local
authority?
A named support
worker provided by their
local authority?
Other (please specify)
17. What proportion of the 16- and 17-year olds in your care have:
Other (please specify)
18. Do you ever accommodate 16- and 17-year-olds from other Local Authorities? (ie. from Local
Authorities other than the Local Authority in whose geographical boundary your unit resides)
The majority of our 16- and 17-year-olds are from other Local Authorities
We occasionally take 16- and 17-year-olds from other Local Authorities
We do not take 16- and 17-year-olds from other Local Authorities
The next three questions are about the level of support the 16- and 17-year-olds you
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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accommodate require in terms of contact time with a support worker or similar. The first
question looks at what you believe their support needs actually are, whilst the following
questions looks at how much actual support they receive.
24 hours a day
Up to 8 hours a
day One hour a day
Four hours a
week
two hours a
fortnight
Half a day every
month
Those with the most
intensive support needs
Those with considerable
support needs
Those with moderate
support needs
Those with low level
support needs
Other (please specify)
19. Thinking about the 16- and 17-year-olds you support could you use the below grid to outline what
kind of support needs, in terms of contact time with a support worker, they require? (Choose the options
that most closely fit)
24 hours a
day
Up to 8 hours
a day
One hour a
day
Four hours a
week
two hours a
fortnight
Half a day
every month None
Those with the most
intensive support needs
Those with considerable
support needs
Those with moderate
support needs
Those with low level
support needs
Other (please specify)
20. Thinking about the 16- and 17-year-olds you support could you use the below grid to outline what
kind of support needs, in terms of contact time with a support worker, they receive. (Choose the options
that most closely fit)
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Other (please specify)
21. What kind of support workers does your organisation provide for the 16- and 17-year-olds you
accommodate?
Dedicated, paid support-worker for every young person
On-duty, paid support-worker at all times
Paid support-worker available at certain times
Volunteer support-worker for every young person
Volunteer support-workers at all times
Volunteer support-workers available at certain times
None
Don't know None
About one-
quarter About half
About three-
quarters All/nearly all
Are in debt
Are in receipt of state
benefits
Are in rent arrears to
your organisation
Are in poverty (less than
£139 a week after
housing costs)
Other (please specify)
22. From a financial perspective how many of the 16- and 17-year olds accommodated with you:
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You Local Authority
Government
agency Local charity
No help typically
recieved
Opening a bank
account
Signing up for state
benefits
Learning to cook
Help with household
budgeting
Help paying and
understanding bills
Learning how to do
basic household tasks
Writing a CV and help
finding work
Help to pay off debts
Registering with a GP
or dentist
Support to get a sexual
health check
Relationship advice
Drug and alcohol
support
Help accessing
education or training
Other (please specify)
23. Please tick which of the following kinds of support you, or others, provide for your 16- and 17-year-
olds:
Other (please specify)
24. Do the 16- and 17-year-olds you accommodate have to leave your accommodation when they turn
18 years of age?
Yes
No
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Other (please specify)
25. How do you think the support homeless young people receive changes upon turning 18?
It increases significantly
It increases a little bit
It stays about the same
It decreases a little bit
It decreases significantly
Other (please specify)
26. Does the way a young person's placement is paid for change when they turn 18?
No
Occasionally
Normally
Other (please specify)
27. Does the young person's weekly income (including benefits, wages, stipends etc) change upon
turning 18 years of age?
Significant improvement
Slight improvement
No change
Slight deterioration
Significant deterioration
28. As a 17-year-old approaches their 18th birthday are there any typical concerns you have about how
their situation might change as they become an adult or trends that often occur?
This set of questions all focus on how 16- and 17-year-olds in accommodation are safeguarded
by risk and harm.
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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No risk Small risk Medium risk Significant risk Very high risk
Illegal drugs
Legal highs
alcohol
sexual exploitation
involvement in crime
involvement in gangs
bullying
poor mental health
Other (please specify)
29. Considering each of the following issues, please indicate the level of risk they pose to the 16- and
17-year-olds you accommodate?
Almost always More than half the time Occasionally Almost never/Never
Other people living in
your accommodation
Friends outside your
accommodation
Family
Strangers outside your
accommodation
Strangers met online
Other (please specify)
30. Thinking about the risks identified in the question above, in general where do these risk factors
come from?
31. In 2014 how many violent incidents were there in your accommodation?
(1. You may or may not have called the police)
(2. Please clearly indicate if the number is an estimate)
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Yes No Don't know
a safeguarding lead in
your accommodation
unit
a written safeguarding
procedure statement
a safety plan exploring
the local risks in your
area
Other (please specify)
32. Do you have
Other (please specify)
33. Do you make safeguarding referrals to your local children's services or MASH (Multi-agency
safeguarding hub)?
Yes
No
Don't know
Other (please specify)
34. If you make a safeguarding referral to your local authority how do you normally follow it up?
(Tick as many as apply)
Phone call to safeguarding team
Email to safeguarding team
Written letter to safeguarding team
In person with the safeguarding team
Directly with the named social worker
Don't follow up
Don't know
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Other (please specify)
35. For a routine referral how responsive is your local safeguarding team or multi-agency safeguarding
hub?
Response within less than 8 hours
Response within 24 hours
Response within 2-3 working days
Response within 5 working days
Rarely responds
Don't know
Other (please specify)
36. Are you regularly invited to Common Assessment Framework (CAF, or similar) meetings to
contribute your knowledge and experience of an individual you are working with?
Always
Mostly
Occasionally
Never
Other (please specify)
37. Please indiciate what level of involvement your accommodation has had with your local
safeguarding children board (LSCB) (Please tick all that apply):
A member of staff sits on the board or a sub-group of the board
We have been asked to contribute to the boards long term planning/strategy
We have offered information about a specific case that has been under review
We receive updates and information from our LSCB
No involvement with our LSCB
This page asks a couple of questions about what your organisation does to care for 16- and 17-
year-olds who go missing or runaway from your accommodation.
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Yes No Don't know
you have a written
procedure detailing the
steps your staff will take
is a young person goes
missing?
the police treat a 16- or
17-year-old from your
accommodation who
goes missing as high
risk?
Other (please specify)
38. If a 16- or 17- year old goes missing or runs away from your accommodation do:
These questions are about other organisations you might work with.
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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On a regular basis Intermittent contact No previous contact Don't know
Your named
safeguarding contact at
your Local Authority
A safeguarding contact
at the Local Authority
Your named police
contact for your
accommodation
contact with the local
police
A contact from each of
the relevant Local
Safeguarding Children
Boards
A contact from each of
the relevant Youth
Offending Teams
A contact in local
Adolescent Mental
Health Services
A contact at the local
JobCentre Plus
A contact at local
schools and colleges
Other (please specify)
39. How often do you have contact with:
The following questions are all about what happens if you have to evict a 16- or 17-year old from
your accommodation.
40. In 2014 how many 16- and 17-year olds did you have to evict from your accommodation?
Other (please specify)
41. Under what circumstances have you evicted a young person aged 16 or 17 from your
accommodation?
Rent arrears
Serious damage to accommodation or facilities
Illegal drug use
Use of legal highs
Alcohol consumption
Violence
Loud or antisocial behaviour
Bullying
Failure to engage in education, employment or training
Spending too many nights away from the provided accommodation
Letting people from outside the accommodation into the building and/or their rooms
We never evict young people aged 16 or 17
Yes No Don't know
Do you clearly and
simply explain your
eviction procedure
when a young person is
first placed with you?
When you serve notice
of eviction to a 16- or
17-year-old do you
notify children's
services/their named
social worker?
Other (please specify)
42. Regarding evictions from your accommodation:
43. When a 16- or 17-year-old is evicted from your accommodation where are they most likely to be
placed? (tick all that apply)
Residential Children's Home
In a hostel
With another supported accommodation provider
In a bed and breakfast that is solely used by the Local Authority for emergency accommodation
In a bed and breakfast open to the general public
In accommodation owned by the Local Authority
In accommodation owned by a housing association
Other (please specify)
This final set of questions considers the training needs of your staff
Other (please specify)
44. What is the minimum level of qualifications you require from those you employ as support workers?
(Tick all that apply)
Experience only
In job training
NVQ Level 1
NVQ Level 2
NVQ Level 3
Bachelor's Degree
Master's or Postgraduate degree
Other (please specify)
45. Is your safeguarding lead a fully trained social worker?
Yes
No
Don't know
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
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Other (please specify)
46. What safeguarding requirements do you have in place for your volunteers? (Tick all that apply)
Basic DBS check
Enhanced + DBS check
In-house safeguarding training
Accredited safeguarding training
Local authority provided safeguarding training
47. Can you briefly describe the safeguarding duties placed on you by your Local authority? (Include
reporting, training requirements, etc)
48. Have you ever received specific training from your local authority on: (please tick all that apply)
Child sexual exploitation
Local missing/runaway protocol and procedures
Safeguarding referrals
Safeguarding children from gang involvement
Safeguarding young people from drugs and alcohol misuse
Other (please specify)
Thank you for completing this survey. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch
with us:
Richard Crellin
Policy Officer
0207 841 4581
We will be analysing the results of this survey over the coming months and will publish our
findings over the summer on our website: www.childrenssociety.org.uk
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On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
Benefit/Payment Detail
Income Support (IS) ■ Means-tested benefit for those on low income ■ Cannot claim if in full-time employment (more
than 16 hours a week) ■ Administered and paid by the Department of
Work and Pensions ■ Eligible from 16 and whilst in relevant education
but only if you live apart from your parents ■ Personal allowance of £57.90for 16 and 17 year-
olds contributes to the applicable amount which also includes any premiums (for example, carer’s allowance) and housing costs.
Universal Credit (UC) ■ Means-tested benefit for people on a low income or who are out of work
■ Administered and paid by the Department of Work and Pensions
■ 16 and 17 year-olds may be able to apply if Universal Credit is available in their area and if they are estranged from their parents
■ Payment calculated from the maximum amount of UC an individual is eligible for and how much income you have over each month.
■ Standard allowance for someone under 25 is £249.28
Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) ■ Contribution or means-tested benefit for those seeking employment
■ Administered and paid by the Department of Work and Pensions
■ 16 and 17 year-olds likely to be on means-tested income-based JSA
■ Can qualify at 16, but not whilst in relevant education
■ If you qualify for IS and also meet the conditions for JSA you can choose between IS or JSA
■ Personal allowance of £57.90for 16 and 17 year-olds contributes to the applicable amount which also includes any premiums (for example, carer’s allowance) and housing costs.
Appendix D
24
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
Benefit/Payment Detail
Housing Benefit (HB) ■ Means-tested benefit paid to people on a low income who pay rent
■ Administered and paid by local authorities ■ Must be liable to pay rent. 16 and 17 year-olds
do apply if there is an intention to create legal relations over rent payments
■ Applicable amount (personal allowance and premiums) and maximum HB based on age, dependants and local area are used to calculate rate
■ Those under the age of 35 are only eligible for the shared accommodation rate unless they have dependants or other exemptions apply (for example being a care leaver under the age of 21)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
■ A benefit for people living with disabilities who need help getting around or with supervision or attention needs
■ Single payment made up of mobility and daily living components
■ Non-means-tested benefit ■ Administered and paid by the Department of
Work and Pensions ■ Those under 16 receive DLA for children and
upon turning 16 should be transferred to PIP (rollout in progress)
■ Children will continue to receive DLA for children until PIP claim is assessed and completed.
■ 16 and 17 year-olds can have the payment made to them directly
■ The mobility allowance is either £21.80 or £57.45
■ The care allowance is either £55.10 or £82.30
[continued] Appendix D
25
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
Benefit/Payment Detail
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) ■ Contribution or means-tested benefit for those with limited capability for work but who are not entitled to statutory sick pay
■ Entitlement assessed through work capability assessment
■ Administered and paid by the Department of Work and Pensions
■ Can claim if you are over 16 but not if you are in full-time education unless you receive DLA or IS
■ Amount determined by outcome of assessment after the applicable amount (personal allowance, premiums and housing costs) is taken from income.
■ Personal allowance of £57.90
Child Benefit ■ Child benefit is non-means-tested benefit for those responsible for a child (they do not need to be their parent)
■ Administered by HM Revenue and Customs ■ Applies to people looking after a child up to the
age of 16 and to some 16 or 17 year-olds if they are living at home and in education
■ For the first child a carer receives £20.70 a week and then £13.70 for subsequent children
Tax Credits ■ 16 and 17 year-olds can only apply for Working Tax Credits if they are disabled or responsible for a child whilst in full time employment
■ 16 and 17 year-olds are eligible for child tax credits if they have dependent children and their income is sufficiently low
■ Maximum child tax credit made up of four potential elements of which most people will receive the family allowance of £545 a year and the child allowance of £2,780 a year.
[continued] Appendix D
26
On your own nowThe risks of unsuitable accommodation for older teenagers
Benefit/Payment Detail
Council Tax ■ A 16 or 17 year-old is not eligible for Council Tax although if they are living in shared accommodation with people who are eligible the dwelling would be subject to some council tax.
Loans and Tenancies ■ 16 and 17 year-olds are not eligible for loans or tenancies unless they have a guarantor. Whilst it is extremely unlikely anyone would extend credit to a 16 or 17 year-old the law is flexible with regards to tenancies – anything that resembles a legal relationship over payments in respect of housing could be interpreted as a tenancy.
[continued] Appendix D
PCR052m/0915
The Children’s SocietyIt is a painful fact that many children and young people in Britain today are still suffering extreme hardship, abuse and neglect. Too often their problems are ignored and their voices unheard.
About our work with 16 and 17 year-oldsLast year The Children’s Society worked with over 34,000 children and young people across England. 1,600 of these young people were aged 16 and 17.
We worked with these young people in many different ways. Some were homeless and needed our help to rebuild their relationships with their families or to settle in a new home, living alone. Others were care leavers who we helped to navigate the difficult transition between a childhood in care and an independent adult life. Young people at risk of sexual exploitation, those who required an advocate to ensure their voice could be heard by those making decisions about their lives and many who had run away from home or care all received help from us. We also helped this age-group through projects providing counselling, or those providing help and support to young migrants who arrived in England alone.
We know these young people are vulnerable and need more help and support. Where they live is often of central importance to whether or not they will succeed. It is for this reason that we present their stories in this report and that we campaign publically for them, through our ‘Seriously Awkward’ to make sure their lives can continue to improve.
For more information on this report, please contact:Richard CrellinPolicy Officere. [email protected]. 0207 841 4581
© The Children’s Society June 2015.
Names used in this report have been changed to maintain anonymity. All photographs posed by models. Charity Registration No. 221124