Post-18 financial support SGO

[SGOcaring]

Hi,

I have read the following regarding the continuation of receiving financial support post-18, and would like clarity:

the child attains the age of 18 unless he continues in full-time education or training, when it may continue until the end of the course or training he is then undertaking.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1109

Does this imply that if a child under SGO goes to college for 3 years the carers would still receive the same SGO benefits?

What if the child takes on an apprentiship?

What are some other ways SGO support can continue post-18 and for how long?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear SGOcaring

Welcome to the kinship carers forum and thank you for your post.

My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group and I will respond to your post.

I note from your post that you have already looked at the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005. You have posted a link to regulation 9 related to the cessation of financial support. As you are aware, special guardianship allowance payments end when a child reaches 18.

I believe any continued payments post-18 would be until the course study is completed as stated in the regulations.

In your post you also specifically asked an apprenticeship, I think this would be covered by regulation 9 (d) which states the payment should continue until the end of course or training. The young person would have a strong case for continued support from children’s services post 18 if in training or full-time education after 18.

You have not indicated in your post if the young person in your care was a previously looked after child prior to the special guardianship order being made. I have included an advice sheet from our website practical and financial support for special guardians and your will see from page 13 information relevant to your circumstances with a young person post-18. There is also additional information in this advice sheet about other ways to access support for a young person which I think you will find useful.

Should you wish to speak with an adviser, you can telephone our free confidential advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday. You can also contact us via our website web enquiry form or webchat

Hope this is helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie

[SGOcaring]

Hi Suzie,

Thank you for your thorough response.

How about University after college? Would SGO payments still continue another 3 years if the child were to go on to a full-time course at university?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear SGOcaring

Thank you for your post and your additional question regarding payments continuing for a further 3 years if a university course is taken.

As you will have seen from the special guardianship regulations, it states that payments are made for full time education or training. In your previous post you mentioned an apprenticeship which suggests that this would be done instead of pursuing a university degree.

I cannot add more to the information already given and it may be that you and the young person concerned should ask the local authority what would be available. Included again is a link to our advice sheet related to practical and financial support and your will see at page 17 onwards information related to post 18 support which I hope will help you and the young person understand what is available in respect of financial support

You may also find this link from the government website related to bursary for post 18 education helpful.

Hope this is useful to you.

Best wishes

Suzie