Published

Young people who are care leavers in the Falkirk area are to receive extra support after an agreement between Falkirk Council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was signed recently.

The agreement means that they will get additional help if making claims for different benefits to support them as they make the transition into work, training or further education.

Around 57 young people will benefit from the new arrangements as Leaving Care Team manager Jenny Kane explained: “This will really help young people who are part of the leaving care network as it will offer better support that is really directed at them.

“It is part of our responsibility as a corporate parent to help young people in care as far as we can and to ensure their circumstances do not deny them opportunities that other young people have.”

Benefits to young people now include:

•             Earlier access to work programmes

•             Advance claims on benefits

•             Entitlement to ‘second chance learning’ through Universal Credit

•             Alternative payment arrangement that suits their own circumstances