William Eichler 04 November 2024

LGA: Care leavers should get council tax exemption

LGA: Care leavers should get council tax exemption image
Image: ShaunWilkinson / Shutterstock.com.

Care leavers should be exempt from paying council tax to help give them financial stability when they leave care, local authority leaders have said.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said a council tax exemption for those leaving care is ‘one of the most direct and effective ways’ of helping care leavers avoid financial difficulty.

An estimated 83% of young people leaving care struggle to afford essentials, according to a survey by the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum cited by the LGA.

Many local authorities have council tax exemptions or reductions in place for care leavers, but the decision is taken by individual authorities rather than central government.

As part of the National Care Leavers Week, the LGA has called for a Government-funded exemption covering all local authority areas which it argues would stop the ‘postcode lottery’.

Chair of the LGA, Cllr Louise Gittins, urged the Government to consider a ‘more consistent offer for care leavers across the country’.

‘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.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner