Decision Maker: Service Director Partnership, Early Intervention and Localities

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: April 4, 2025

Purpose: Children’s Social Care recommendation is to increase the allowance to £73.00 per week. The rationale for this is to support young people who access money from a bank so they can get the full monies. Having random amounts of pence when living on so little is a real barrier and needs to be part of our recognition of the barriers that exist for our care experienced young people. This is really important given the cost of the impact of the cost of living crisis. The total estimated annual cost of the allowance increases is £5,006 which will be funded from price inflation budget allocated to Children, Young People & Families for Looked After Children Allowances £215,000 which was included in the Revenue Budget 2025/26 – 2027/28 report (page 41) agreed by Full Council on the 27th February 2025.

Content: To increase the weekly living allowance which is paid to our young people from £72.00 a week to £73.00 a week in line with Government recommendation.