Leaving care and looked after children finance handbook

Young parents and pregnant women

16 to 17-year-olds:

Personal allowance: you’ll receive a weekly payment of £60 if you’re eligible or relevant. This is to help you to pay for your basic expenses like food, clothing and daily needs.

Benefits: after your baby is born, you might be able to claim additional benefits as a lone parent. This means you are living with and responsible for your baby, and not living with others.

There could be other benefits you are entitled to, and your leaving care worker can help you to access support. See the DWP to check what you are entitled to.

New homes grant: You get an extra £500 per child, if they are born before you turn 21 years old and can access this until you turn 25.

Your child must be one year old or more to access this, this is to help you to set up a home for your child. 

Your leaving care worker can also support you to access the sure start maternity grant and any other available support, to help you to be as prepared as possible for when your baby arrives.