An increased likelihood of poor mental health, a lack of support networks and the expectation that care leavers will be able to live independently from the age of 18 means that this group are already more “financially vulnerable” than their non care-experienced peers, campaigners have said.
A letter to key government officials, led by Catch22’s National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum, a network of more than 125 local authorities promoting the development of quality leaving care services, states: “We are extremely concerned about the impact that the cost of living rises will have on care experienced young people.
“The spring statement was disappointing in that it contained no specific measures to help this group. While the rises are impacting everyone and particularly those on low incomes or benefits, young people aged 18-25 who are leaving care will be particularly impacted.”
Signatories of the letter include David Graham, national director of the Care Leavers' Association, Katherine Sacks-Jones, chief executive of Become and Kevin Williams, chief executive of The Fostering Network.
It calls for care leavers to be eligible for the over-25 rate of Universal Credit from the age of 18 “in view of the fact that they are then deemed financially independent and often responsible for managing the costs of running a household”.
Campaigners are also urging the government to ringfence a proportion of the Household Support Fund, which is available to councils to support people worst hit by the cost-of-living crisis, to support care-experienced young people aged 18-25. Ringfenced funding should be managed by leaving care teams, the letter adds.
It comes as Catch 22 launches its Cost of Living Fund appeal, which aims to buy food, basic necessities, home equipment, children’s toys, white goods and digital equipment for those most impacted by the crisis.
