Back to previous
Chapter 10: Young people leaving care
Many 16/17 year olds who have been ‘looked after and accommodated’ by the local authority (sometimes called ‘looked after away from home’) cannot get universal credit (UC) or housing benefit (HB). Instead, the local authority is responsible for providing support under section 29 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. Local authorities often refer to this help as ‘after care’, ‘after-care services’ or ‘leaving care services’. Young people in this situation are often referred to as ‘care-experienced’ or ‘care leavers’. There are no special rules about benefits for care leavers when they turn 18, although they may still be eligible for support from the local authority that looked after them.
Some 16 and 17 year olds are still ‘looked after and accommodated’ by the local authority. See here for when they may be able to get UC.
Note: benefits other than UC, income support, income-based jobseekers’ allowance and HB are not affected.
Continuing care
Some young people who are looked after by the local authority can ask to remain in their placement after they stop being officially ‘looked after’.1s26A C(S)A 1995 This is called ‘continuing care’. Continuing care means the same accommodation and other assistance as was being provided for the young person before they stopped being looked after by the local authority; it can last up to the young person’s 21st birthday.2s26A(4) C(S)A 1995; Art 3 Continuing Care (Scotland) Order 2015 No.158
 
1     s26A C(S)A 1995 »
2     s26A(4) C(S)A 1995; Art 3 Continuing Care (Scotland) Order 2015 No.158 »