The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026: Referral of draft regulations from the Scottish Government

Ed Pybus
Chair Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS)
Area 1C South
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ
By email to: info@socialsecuritycommission.scot

04/09/2025

The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026

Dear Ed,

I enclose a draft copy of The Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026, made under section 93A(1) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, along with a draft explanatory policy note. I am pleased to provide SCoSS with the formal request for scrutiny of these draft regulations and request that the Commission prepare and submit a report to the Scottish Ministers in accordance with their function under section 22(1)(a) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

The Scottish Government remains committed to keeping The Promise and ensuring that young people are provided with the person-centred support to enable positive transitions from care to more independent living.

In the Programmes for Government in 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2025/2026, the Scottish Government has committed to developing a payment to provide young people moving on from care with additional financial security. To fulfil this commitment, the Scottish Government proposed the establishment of the Care Leaver Payment. This payment has been referred to as the ‘Care Experience Grant’ in previous Programme for Government commitments.

It is proposed that the Care Leaver Payment will provide a £2000 payment to young people moving on from care, with the intention of helping to reduce some of the financial barriers they face whilst moving into adulthood and more independent living.

Following engagement with a range of stakeholders, my officials have prepared draft versions of the relevant impact assessments, which are also attached. Please note that these impact assessments are live documents and will continue to be updated as we gather more data ahead of laying the draft Regulations in Parliament. We also intend to undertake a
legislative data protection impact assessment following our consultation with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

In line with standing arrangements, we understand this will be a 12-week scrutiny period and I would request your scrutiny report be provided by 28 November 2025.

I have sent a letter to the convenors of the Education, Children and Young People Committee and the Social Justice and Social Security Committee to notify them that our proposals have been submitted to the Commission.

Finally, I want to extend my thanks to the Commission for considering these regulations and I look forward to receiving your report in due course.

Yours sincerely,
Natalie Don-Innes MSP
Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise