Who is a care leaver

The amount of support you can get when you leave care depends on your age and circumstances.

Find out more about:

Eligible care leaver

You're an eligible care leaver if you:

  • are aged 16 and 17
  • have been in care for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14
  • were still in care on your 16th birthday and at least 24 hours after.

Find out more about the support you can get as an eligible care leaver.

Relevant care leaver

You're a relevant care leaver if you:

  • are 16 or 17 years old
  • have been in care for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14
  • left care after your 16th birthday.

Find out more about the support you can get as a relevant care leaver.

Former care leaver

You're a former relevant care leaver if you:

  • are 18 to 21 years old
  • are 21 to 25 and in education or training, or have support needs and require further involvement from a personal adviser
  • were eligible or relevant before and would like to continue getting support.

Find out more about the support you can get as a former care leaver.

Qualifying care leaver

You're a qualifying care leaver if you:

  • are under 21, or 25 if in education or training
  • have been looked after or accommodated in other settings such as custody, and have returned home and stayed there for 6 months or more after your 16th birthday
  • were under a special guardianship order.

Find out what support you can get as a qualifying care leaver.

Care leavers claiming asylum

You're entitled to the same level of care and support as any other care leaver if you:

  • are a former unaccompanied child who qualifies as a care leaver
  • and has been granted leave to remain
  • or who has an outstanding asylum or other human rights claim or appeal.

Find out what support you can get as a care leaver claiming asylum.