Care leavers should not have to pay council tax, local government leaders say

Care leavers should be exempt from paying for council tax, prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and optician costs, to help prevent them from falling into financial hardship when they leave care and support their transition to independence, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.

More than 11,000 young people become care leavers each year, and councils as “corporate parents” are responsible for ensuring those in care and care leavers have the best possible start in life, and to prepare and support them as they take the first steps into independence.

The LGA says a nationally-government funded council tax exemption for those leaving care up to the age of 25 is one of the most direct and effective ways of helping care leavers avoid facing financial difficulty when they are starting out.

Care leavers are more financially vulnerable than their peers, with 83% of care experienced young people struggling to afford essentials, according to a survey by the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum.

Many councils already have council tax exemptions or reductions in place, but a nationally-government funded exemption would ensure there is a consistent offer across the country, and lessen the “postcode lottery” for care leavers, including for care leavers who live outside their “home” council area.

To provide further support to care leavers, the LGA, which represents councils, is also calling for a national exemption for prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and optician costs. This will ensure no care leaver goes without access to services they need to stay healthy due to financial difficulty.

While some care leavers may be entitled to free prescriptions due to receiving benefits, in practice it can be difficult for them to know they are eligible and apply.

Councils are doing everything they can to support care leavers, however there is a need for changes on a wider, national level that councils alone cannot deliver.

Councils continue to face rising costs in children’s social care, which impacts their ability to provide vital support to children and young people and address rising need.

“Avoiding financial hardship is vital for care leavers to make the successful transition from care to independence,” Chair of the LGA, Cllr Louise Gittins, said.

“As part of National Care Leavers Week, we have set out a programme of change which we urge the government to consider, to guarantee a more consistent offer for care leavers across the country and continue promoting the best possible outcomes for our children leaving care.

“Providing a nationally-government funded exemption for council tax, prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and optician costs will ensure no care leaver goes without access to services they rely on to stay healthy and well.”