Advice if you might become homeless

If you are a care leaver, you may be entitled to support from both Nottinghamshire County Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council. What you receive depends on your age and your care history.

Housing help

Nottinghamshire County Council Children’s Services must provide accommodation and support until you turn 18.

If you are 18, 19 or 20, and spent at least one night in care at age 16 or 17, you are automatically in priority need for homelessness assistance.

Children’s Services must provide you with a Personal Adviser (PA) until age 21, and up to 25 if you are in education or training.

Housing help for 16- and 17-year-old care leavers

You can normally get help from Children’s Services if:

• you have left care
• you spent at least 13 weeks in care after age 14
• part of that time was while you were 16 or 17

Children’s Services must:

• provide or secure accommodation
• give financial support for rent, food, bills, education, travel, clothing and other essentials

Housing Help for 18- to 20-Year-Old Care Leavers

If you are aged 18 to 20 and spent at least one night in care at age 16 or 17:

• our housing options team must treat you as being in priority need for homelessness assistance.
• you can get help from both Nottinghamshire County Council Children’s Services, and Newark and Sherwood District Council Housing Options

Children’s Services also must:

• continue supporting you with housing, education, training or employment
• provide accommodation during holiday periods if you are in full-time further or higher education

Housing help for care leavers aged 21 and over

After age 21, you may still be in priority need if:

• you are vulnerable because of your care history
• you have had unstable housing since leaving care
• you have experienced rough sleeping

Children’s Services must continue to help with education and training up to age 25.

Benefits for care leavers

At 18, you can claim Universal Credit if you are not employed, or on a low income.

If you rent from a private landlord, the Shared Accommodation Rate does not apply until age 25 if you spent time in care.

Care leavers are exempt from paying council tax until the age of 25.

Other Support for Care Leavers (18–25)

Under the Nottinghamshire Local Offer, you are entitled to support with:

• education, training, skills and employment
• finances and budgeting help
• emotional and mental health support
• accommodation advice, including social housing priority
• accessing documents such as ID and bank accounts
• priority for social housing (Nottinghamshire Local Offer)

Care leavers in Nottinghamshire:

• receive priority banding for social housing up to age 25
• can apply in any district, regardless of local connection

Your Personal Adviser

Children’s Services must provide a Personal Adviser (PA) until age 21 or up to age 25 if in education/training.

Your PA can help with:

• housing applications
• benefits and budgeting
• education or training plans
• independence skills
• updating your pathway plan

If you don’t currently have a PA, you can request one through Nottinghamshire’s Leaving Care Team.

Who to contact

You can contact our housing options team using the details at the bottom of this page. Shelter and Nottinghamshire Council can also offer advice and support.

Shelter

Telephone: 0808 800 4444
shelter.org.uk

Nottinghamshire Leaving Care Service

Telephone: 0115 804 4401