The Local Government Association has called for council tax and health costs exemptions for care leavers. They said this is because they are more “more financially vulnerable than their peers”
Some councils already have council tax exemptions or reductions in place but the LGA wants to see a central government backed exemption England-wide to “ensure there is a consistent offer across the country”. Exemptions on NHS prescriptions, dental treatment and optician costs would “ensure no care leaver goes without access to services they need to stay healthy due to financial difficulty”, says the LGA.
The LGA’s exemptions call coincided with National Care Leavers Week, which is run by the charity Become and took place earlier this month to highlight the challenges facing young people leaving care.
See also: The Pan London Care Leavers Compact provides a framework for developing consistency, breadth and quality in the support offered to London’s Care Leavers.