Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026: equality impact assessment
Equality impact assessment (EQIA) for the Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 which will provide for a new scheme called the Care Leaver Payment. This will provide a one-off £2000 payment to young people moving from care, with the intention of helping to reduce some of the financial barriers they face whilst moving into adulthood.
Stage 2: Data and evidence gathering, involvement and consultation
Include here the results of your evidence gathering (including framing exercise), including qualitative and quantitative data and the source of that information, whether national statistics, surveys or consultations with relevant equality groups.
| Characteristic[1] |
Evidence gathered and Strength/quality of evidence |
Source | Data gaps identified and action taken to address the data gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age |
The Care Leaver Payment regulations will be used to provide financial support to care leavers from when they transition out of the care system and become a ‘care leaver’. This will be from the age of sixteen up to twenty-one. The Independent Care Review highlighted and recognised the links between those with care experience and the increased risk of poor mental health, addiction, homelessness and exploitation. |
N/A | |
|
Disability |
It is understood that representation of disability within the care experienced cohort is slightly above that of the overall population. As such the assistance is anticipated to have a positive impact on young people who are both care experienced and have a disability. In 2024, 8% of looked after children were reported to have a disability and 26% not yet assessed. |
Looked after children - Children’s Social Work Statistics: Looked After Children 2023/24 - gov.scot | A gap in data exists as 26% of looked after young people are not assessed to determine whether they have a disability. This is hopefully something that will be rectified in future. |
|
Sex |
There is a larger proportion of male (53%) young people who were looked after than female (47%). The assistance will have no adverse impact on young people, regardless of their sex, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the specified eligibility criteria of the scheme(s) set out by way of regulations. |
Looked after children - Children’s Social Work Statistics: Looked After Children 2023/24 - gov.scot | N/A |
| Pregnancy and maternity |
The payment will have no adverse impact on care leavers, with regards to pregnancy and maternity, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme, which will be set out by way of regulations. |
N/A | N/A |
| Gender reassignment |
The payment will have no adverse impact on care leavers who undergo gender reassignment, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme, which will be set out by way of regulations. |
N/A | N/A |
| Sexual orientation |
The payment will have no adverse impact on care leavers regardless of their sexual orientation, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme, which will be set out by way of regulations. |
N/A | N/A |
| Race |
It is understood that the largest ethnicity recorded as being looked after in Scotland is white (91%) with 5% of young people belonging to other ethnic groups. Approximately 4% of looked after children have an unknown ethnicity. The payment will have no adverse impact on care leavers regardless of their race, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme, which will be set out by way of regulations. |
Looked after children - Children’s Social Work Statistics: Looked After Children 2023/24 - gov.scot | N/A |
| Religion or belief |
The payment will have no adverse impact on care leavers regardless of their religion, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme, which will be set out by way of regulations. |
N/A | N/A |
|
Marriage and civil partnership (the Scottish Government does not require assessment against this protected characteristic unless the policy or practice relates to work, for example HR policies and practices - refer to Definitions of Protected Characteristics document for details) |
The payment will have no adverse impact on care leavers, with regards to marriage and civil partnership, as they will be able to benefit from the assistance if they meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme, which will be set out by way of regulations. |
N/A | N/A |
Contact
Email: careleaverpayment@gov.scot