cial advice regarding the use of their award and how, for example, by establishing a Discretionary Trust Fund, they may retain entitlement to means tested benefits. Means tested welfare legislation sets out that a CICA payment is disregarded in terms of calculating benefit entitlement for the first 52 weeks after receipt of the award. 78 Setting up home allowances 8.17. Making the transition to adulthood can be an extremely stressful process for a looked after child but one that can also be very rewarding and help young people to assert their identity, make life choices about how they furnish their own homes and thus improve their self-esteem and confidence. As such, local authority allocation of setting up home allowances will be crucial in helping young people establish their identity and independence and should be used to ensure that they have appropriate equipment and household items to set up safe, secure and stable accommodation. 8.18. Like other young people setting up their first home young people making the transition from care to independence are likely to need a substantial amount of support to ensure they maximise the allowances they get to set up a home. 8.19. We expect local authorities to consult with their Children in Care Council or appropriate consultative advisory group to set the level of the setting up home allowance and endorse a minimum standard for furnishings and equipment depending on the type of accommodation. DfE guidance recommend that local authorities should pay a minimum of £3,000. All local authorities are, therefore, encouraged to aim for payments at this level as a minimum and to review their payments annually. Local authorities should also ensure this entitlement is publicised so that their young people are fully aware of it. Access t