Care Leaver Payment: Consultation on policy proposals

Closed 26 Jan 2024

Opened 3 Nov 2023

Feedback updated 25 Apr 2024

We asked

We asked for your views on the policy proposals for the Care Leaver Payment. This included questions on the intention of the payment, the proposed eligibility criteria of the payment, the application process and what support is required when applying for and after receiving the payment.

You said

The consultation closed on 26 January 2024 and 80 responses were received, including 32 individual responses and 28 organisational responses. These have been published on the consultation hub.

We did

An independent analysis has been commissioned by the Scottish Government and is currently underway. The analysis report will be published in Spring 2024.

The responses, along with reports from engagement events during the consultation period, will inform the policy development of the proposed payment.

Results updated 19 Jun 2024

Links:

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

The Scottish Government is committed to Keeping The Promise to all children and young people. This includes ensuring that all children and young people with care experience are provided with person-centred support to assist positive transitions from care to adulthood and more independent living.  

Many young people with care experience do not have the same informal support network that other young people have during transition points in their lives. It is proposed that the Care Leaver Payment will provide a one-off payment of £2000 to young people moving on from care, with the intention of helping to reduce some of the financial barriers they face whilst moving on from care and into adulthood and more independent living. 

The proposed Care Leaver Payment will form part of a broader package of support which includes, but is not limited to, access to Continuing Care and Aftercare support for care leavers, the Care Experience Bursary and Council Tax Exemption for care leavers. 

The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the proposed Care Leaver Payment. The consultation contains questions on a range of issues including the purpose of the payment, the eligibility criteria of the payment, and the support required to apply for and manage the payment.  

You can save and return to your responses while the consultation is still open. However, please ensure that consultation responses are submitted before the closing date above. You do not need to respond to every question. 

If you are unable to respond using our consultation hub, please complete the Respondent Information Form and send your responses to consultation questions to careleaverpayment@gov.scot

Read the consultation paper 

Interests

  • Children and Families
  • Main hub