ity will take account of these allowances. Claiming these benefits is a pre-requisite for a number of other benefits and services. (2) Maximising income and life chance opportunities for care leavers Means tested and welfare benefits – former relevant children 8.35. Local authorities, whilst not wanting to encourage young care leavers to become dependent on means tested benefits, should assist young people to maximise their income from benefits, education and training allowances and employment. 8.36. The development of a guide to welfare benefits is good practice and a helpful addition to local authority finance policy on support for care leavers; these should be made available to young people. 8.37. Local authorities should work with local Department for Work and Pensions offices, Job Centre Plus and Benefit Delivery Centre offices and Housing Benefits offices to 82 develop joint approaches to assisting young people to maximise their entitlement and ensure the claim process recognises the particular needs of care leavers and provides a smooth process. 8.38. Examples of local and regional initiatives that have improved joint working include the development of standard care leaver benefit claim letters, disclosure of information processes, arrangements for registering claims in advance of a young person’s 18th birthday and general claim protocols. In order to improve joint approaches, local authorities and partner agencies may find it beneficial to develop joint training to assist each agency to understand their respective legislative frameworks and responsibilities. All Jobcentre Plus regions have teams at both regional and district level with responsibilities for partnership and external relations management and many areas also have regional housing benefit forums whic