Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking in collaboration with other government departments to promote the financial stability of care leavers.

My Department continues to work with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to consider whether there is any benefit to care leavers from extending the exemption to the ‘shared accommodation’ rate to age 25. We have also invited the Children’s Society to share some real-life case studies to illustrate the impact of moving to the shared accommodation rate.

With regard to wider financial help, care leavers are entitled to a range of support including a Higher Education Bursary, DWP benefit support when returning to non-advanced education through the second chance learning scheme, and day one Universal Credit and hardship payments when sanctions have been applied.

‘Keep on Caring’ provides more detail on the support available and the areas where we are continuing to work with other Government departments. It is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/535899/Care-Leaver-Strategy.pdf