Skip to content

4) Finance and Benefits: Banking, Wills and Trusts and Child Benefit - Transition Guide

Banking

It is a good idea to open a bank account for your benefits and other money when you get to 18. Having a bank account will make it easier to show what your income and savings are. This can be important if you claim certain benefits or get support from adult social care. Your own bank account also means you would still be able access your money if your parent/carer were to pass away.

Your bank should talk to you about different options. For example, it may be possible to:

  • open a joint account that you and your parent/carer both have access to
  • open a basic bank account which has some limits on what it can do.

If you don't have mental capacity to manage a bank account, your parent/carer may be able to open an appointee account.

More information about banking

Check out the DOSH website.  It gives information about banking for people with a learning disability.  Click on the logo below.

Light blue square with text in white that says dosh financial advocacy. The O in dosh looks like a coin with a £ sign in the middle

Wills and Trusts

If someone leaves you a lump-sum inheritance, you could lose your means-tested benefits.  You may have to pay for some or all of the support you get from adult social care. You can avoid this by having a discretionary trust set up.  A parent/carer can help you with this.

For more information, click on the logo below.

Text says mencap. The m and e are in a speech bubble

Child Benefit

Child benefit is paid to your parent/carer until you are 20 years old.  This is if you are in:

  • fulltime learning (college, sixth form)
  • approved work-based learning that doesn’t pay a wage (study programme)

Child benefit is not paid if you are in:

  • a job/apprenticeship
  • Higher Education (University)

Child Benefit Extension

Child Benefit will stop when you leave education. If you are 16 or 17 your parent/carer can keep Child Benefit for up to 20 weeks longer. This is called the Child Benefit Extension Period. To get the Child Benefit Extension Period your parent/carer must not be working more than 23 hours a week.

Find out more by clicking on the logo below.

Black rectangle with a white crown on the left followed by white text that says GOV.UK

You can also speak to someone by calling 0300 200 3100.

Cartoon person in a wheelchair. Picture of a piggy bank and calculator

 

Last updated:
Previous 3) Finance and Benefits: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund - Transition Guide Next Further help and support - Transition guide

In this section

  1. Introduction to the Transition Guide
  2. Preparing for Adulthood
  3. Sheffield's Local Offer
  4. What happens and when - Early Years (age 0-4)
  5. What happens and when - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (age 5-7)
  6. What happens and when - Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 (age 7-11)
  7. What happens and when - Year 7 and Year 8 (age 11-13)
  8. What happens and when - Year 9 (age 13-14)
  9. What happens and when - Year 10 (age 14-15)
  10. What happens and when - Year 11 (Age 15-16)
  11. What happens and when - Year 12 (age 16-17)
  12. What happens and when - Years 13 and 14 (Age 17-19)
  13. What happens and when - Age 19-25
  14. Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans - Transition Guide
  15. Education, Employment and Training - GCSEs and Help in Exams - Transition Guide
  16. Post 16 Education - Transition Guide
  17. A Guide to Qualifications at 16+ - Transition Guide
  18. Apprenticeships and Supported Internships - Transition Guide
  19. Things to do when not in college - Transition Guide
  20. University and Higher Education - Transition Guide
  21. Careers Advice - Transition Guide
  22. 1) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  23. 2) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  24. 3) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  25. Leisure - Transition Guide
  26. SEN Transport - Transition Guide
  27. Independent Travel Training
  28. Other Travel Support and useful Apps - Transition Guide
  29. Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  30. Moving from Children’s to Adult Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  31. Paying for adult social care - Transition Guide
  32. Getting a carer’s assessment for your parent/carer - Transition Guide
  33. Short Break Services - Transition Guide
  34. Direct payments for social care services - Transition Guide
  35. Housing - Transition Guide
  36. Decision making and mental capacity - Transition Guide
  37. Transitioning from Children’s Health to Adult Health Services - Transition Guide
  38. Annual Health Checks for people with a learning disability - Transition Guide
  39. Important Local NHS Health Services - Transition Guide
  40. Mental Health Services - Transition Guide
  41. 1) Finance and Benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Direct Payments and Appointeeship - Transition Guide
  42. 2) Finance and Benefits: Universal Credit - Transition Guide
  43. 3) Finance and Benefits: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund - Transition Guide
  44. 4) Finance and Benefits: Banking, Wills and Trusts and Child Benefit - Transition Guide
  45. Further help and support - Transition guide