Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 76
76
Improve financial and housing support for care leavers, including Universal Credit and bursaries.
Conclusion
The Department for Education should work with other relevant departments, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions, to review the financial and housing support available to care leavers and improve it where needed to ensure that care leavers are not left to struggle financially after turning 18. This should be published by the end of 2025 and include: increasing the levels of Universal Credit for care leavers aged under 25; increasing education bursaries; council tax exemptions; and introducing rent guarantor schemes. There should be no cliff-edge on turning 18. (Recommendation, Paragraph 195)
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 17 October 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗