Publication - Advice and guidance
Care Leaver Payment – Guidance for Recipients
The Scottish Government introduced the Care Leaver Payment on 1 April 2026 to help young people overcome financial barriers as they leave care and move into independent living. This guidance document is designed for young people who will get the payment.
14. Sign-posting
If you would like further specific help and advice beyond that provided by your local authority, for example advice on budgeting, there are other organisations that you can contact:
- Money Ready is a financial education charity dedicated to creating a financially fluent population.
- Citizens Advice Scotland specialise in: access to justice, debt and money, digital access, energy, housing and social security.
- Young Scot have a page dedicated to outlining care leavers’ entitlements.
- Social Security Scotland is the executive agency responsible for the delivery of social security payments (benefits) in Scotland.
- Guide for young people with experience of care includes information on benefits, housing, education, training and jobs, health and wellbeing and rights as a young person with experience of care.
- Intandem is a mentoring programme for children and young people experiencing the care system, or at risk of care.
Contact
Email: careleaverpayment@gov.scot