Money and Finances | Hampshire CTSH

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to financial support through Universal Credit. Universal Credit is a government benefit that can help if you are looking for work, on a low income, unable to work, or need support with living costs.

Not everyone will need to claim Universal Credit. Your Personal Advisor can help you understand what financial support you may be entitled to based on your individual situation, including any benefits, grants, bursaries or other support available to you.

If you do need to claim Universal Credit, we can support you through the process and help you manage financially while waiting for your first payment.

Who can help you apply for Universal Credit?

Your:

Personal Advisor
Support Worker
Foster Carer

can help you make your initial claim.

As a care leaver you can apply up to three months before your 18th birthday. You can get benefits if you are still in education, unemployed or sometimes when you are working depending on how much your earn.

If you are aged 16-19 and in full time education you will continue to receive the education bursary directly from your college as well as any benefits.

More information about Universal Credit

Universal Credit – What You'll Get

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to financial support through Universal Credit. Universal Credit is a government benefit that can help if you are looking for work, on a low income, unable to work, or need support with living costs.

Not everyone will need to claim Universal Credit. Your Personal Advisor can help you understand what financial support you may be entitled to based on your individual situation, including any benefits, grants, bursaries or other support available to you.

If you do need to claim Universal Credit, we can support you through the process and help you manage financially while waiting for your first payment.

Who can help you apply for Universal Credit?

Your:

Personal Advisor
Support Worker
Foster Carer

can help you make your initial claim.

As a care leaver you can apply up to three months before your 18th birthday. You can get benefits if you are still in education, unemployed or sometimes when you are working depending on how much your earn.

If you are aged 16-19 and in full time education you will continue to receive the education bursary directly from your college as well as any benefits.

More information about Universal Credit

Universal Credit – What You'll Get

If you live in privately rented accommodation when you are aged 18, you may be required to pay council tax. Speak to the district or borough council that you live in to see what discounts you can get. Some local councils give a 100% discount to care leavers up until they are 25 years old.

You may also be entitled to some exemptions if you are in education for 21 hours or more a week or if you are unemployed.

If you live in privately rented accommodation when you are aged 18, you may be required to pay council tax. Speak to the district or borough council that you live in to see what discounts you can get. Some local councils give a 100% discount to care leavers up until they are 25 years old.

You may also be entitled to some exemptions if you are in education for 21 hours or more a week or if you are unemployed.

Knowing what you’re entitled to is important – but so is learning how to budget. This helps you avoid debt and feel more in control. Your carer, support worker, social worker, and personal advisor can all help you with this.

A good tip: write down what money you have coming in (like bursary, wages, allowance) and what you need to pay for each week. Once you see it clearly, you can plan your spending.

Our practical guide to managing money for young people

Knowing what you’re entitled to is important – but so is learning how to budget. This helps you avoid debt and feel more in control. Your carer, support worker, social worker, and personal advisor can all help you with this.

A good tip: write down what money you have coming in (like bursary, wages, allowance) and what you need to pay for each week. Once you see it clearly, you can plan your spending.

Our practical guide to managing money for young people

Under 18:

We’ll pay for your accommodation and support costs.

Over 18:

- You can usually claim benefits to help with rent.
- If you’re staying with your former carer, we can pay a “top-up” directly to them.
- We can help with deposits, rent in advance, and even act as your guarantor if needed.
- Check with the council you pay council tax to. Some will reduce how much council tax you pay up to when you are 25 years old.

Setting Up Home

We’ll help you get the essentials for your new home.
You can access this support from age 16 until your involvement with Children’s Services ends (usually between 21 and 25).
Funding is based on your needs and can be up to £2,000 (not as a lump sum).

Move advice on setting up home

Under 18:

We’ll pay for your accommodation and support costs.

Over 18:

- You can usually claim benefits to help with rent.
- If you’re staying with your former carer, we can pay a “top-up” directly to them.
- We can help with deposits, rent in advance, and even act as your guarantor if needed.
- Check with the council you pay council tax to. Some will reduce how much council tax you pay up to when you are 25 years old.

Setting Up Home

We’ll help you get the essentials for your new home.
You can access this support from age 16 until your involvement with Children’s Services ends (usually between 21 and 25).
Funding is based on your needs and can be up to £2,000 (not as a lump sum).

Move advice on setting up home

If you're facing financial difficulties or have an unexpected expense, you may be able to get help through Hampshire County Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund.

The fund can provide support with essential costs such as:

Food
Energy bills
Essential household items

You may also be able to access budgeting advice, debt support and help to maximise your income. Applications are assessed individually based on your circumstances.

If you're struggling to afford essentials or have had a sudden change in circumstances, speak to your Personal Adviser or contact Citizens Advice to find out whether you may be eligible.

Find out more about the Crisis and Resilience Fund on Hampshire County Council's website.

If you're facing financial difficulties or have an unexpected expense, you may be able to get help through Hampshire County Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund.

The fund can provide support with essential costs such as:

Food
Energy bills
Essential household items

You may also be able to access budgeting advice, debt support and help to maximise your income. Applications are assessed individually based on your circumstances.

If you're struggling to afford essentials or have had a sudden change in circumstances, speak to your Personal Adviser or contact Citizens Advice to find out whether you may be eligible.

Find out more about the Crisis and Resilience Fund on Hampshire County Council's website.

If you're struggling to afford food, toiletries, heating, or other essentials, help is available. Everyone faces challenges from time to time, and it's okay to ask for support when you need it.

The organisations listed below may be able to help with emergency food, household essentials, practical support and advice. If you're finding things difficult, contact your Personal Adviser as well. They can help you access the right support and discuss any financial assistance that may be available to you.

If you can't afford to buy enough food, you may be able to get some short-term help from your local food bank. You will need a voucher to use a food bank. To find out where you can get a voucher, contact your local food bank or phone the Citizens Advice national phone service on 0800 144 8848.

Find your local food banks

Community pantries provide groceries at a lower rate than shops and supermarkets. Access to the Community pantry is through membership. Members make a small weekly contribution and receive food with a higher value than the same items would cost elsewhere.

Find your local food bank or community pantry.

The Smart Living website has tips and ideas for making the most of the food you have and avoiding waste.
The BBC has a range of healthy recipes to help you Eat Well for Less as well as £1 Meals to help you prepare tasty, hot meals on a budget.
The Too Good To Go app allows you to ask for a surprise bag of food at a low price. The app makes use of unsold food from restaurants, grocery stores, cafes and shops that have not been sold in time.

For help with energy bills contact Citizens Advice

If you're struggling to afford food, toiletries, heating, or other essentials, help is available. Everyone faces challenges from time to time, and it's okay to ask for support when you need it.

The organisations listed below may be able to help with emergency food, household essentials, practical support and advice. If you're finding things difficult, contact your Personal Adviser as well. They can help you access the right support and discuss any financial assistance that may be available to you.

If you can't afford to buy enough food, you may be able to get some short-term help from your local food bank. You will need a voucher to use a food bank. To find out where you can get a voucher, contact your local food bank or phone the Citizens Advice national phone service on 0800 144 8848.

Find your local food banks

Community pantries provide groceries at a lower rate than shops and supermarkets. Access to the Community pantry is through membership. Members make a small weekly contribution and receive food with a higher value than the same items would cost elsewhere.

Find your local food bank or community pantry.

The Smart Living website has tips and ideas for making the most of the food you have and avoiding waste.
The BBC has a range of healthy recipes to help you Eat Well for Less as well as £1 Meals to help you prepare tasty, hot meals on a budget.
The Too Good To Go app allows you to ask for a surprise bag of food at a low price. The app makes use of unsold food from restaurants, grocery stores, cafes and shops that have not been sold in time.

For help with energy bills contact Citizens Advice

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that can help with the extra costs of living with a disability, long-term health condition or mental health condition. It is based on how your condition affects your daily life, not your diagnosis. You may be able to get PIP whether you are in education, training, work or not working.

PIP looks at:

How easy or difficult it is for you to do everyday tasks.
Whether you need support, supervision or reminders.
Whether you have difficulties getting around safely or independently.

You may be able to claim PIP if:

You are aged 16 or over.
You have a long-term physical health condition, disability or mental health condition.
Your condition makes everyday activities or getting around more difficult.

More information and how to claim

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit that can help with the extra costs of living with a disability, long-term health condition or mental health condition. It is based on how your condition affects your daily life, not your diagnosis. You may be able to get PIP whether you are in education, training, work or not working.

PIP looks at:

How easy or difficult it is for you to do everyday tasks.
Whether you need support, supervision or reminders.
Whether you have difficulties getting around safely or independently.

You may be able to claim PIP if:

You are aged 16 or over.
You have a long-term physical health condition, disability or mental health condition.
Your condition makes everyday activities or getting around more difficult.

More information and how to claim

If you are struggling with money, worried about paying bills, finding it difficult to afford food or heating, or dealing with debt, support is available.

The Worrying About Money? tool can help you find free advice and support based on your situation. Whether you have suddenly lost income, are waiting for a benefit decision, are struggling with rising living costs, or need help managing debt, the tool will guide you to organisations that may be able to help. It can also signpost you to support with benefits, emergency assistance, housing costs, energy bills and other financial concerns.

You do not have to wait until things become a crisis before asking for help. Getting advice early can help you understand your options and access support before money worries become more difficult to manage.

Worrying About Money? – Independent Network

If you are struggling with money, worried about paying bills, finding it difficult to afford food or heating, or dealing with debt, support is available.

The Worrying About Money? tool can help you find free advice and support based on your situation. Whether you have suddenly lost income, are waiting for a benefit decision, are struggling with rising living costs, or need help managing debt, the tool will guide you to organisations that may be able to help. It can also signpost you to support with benefits, emergency assistance, housing costs, energy bills and other financial concerns.

You do not have to wait until things become a crisis before asking for help. Getting advice early can help you understand your options and access support before money worries become more difficult to manage.

Worrying About Money? – Independent Network

MoneyHelper

Free government-backed money guidance, budgeting tools, debt advice and benefits information.

Visit MoneyHelper

Citizens Advice

Free and confidential advice about money, debt, housing, benefits and employment.

Visit Citizens Advice

StepChange Debt Charity

Free debt advice and support if you're struggling with repayments.

Visit StepChange

Turn2Us

Help finding benefits, grants and other financial support.