Who is a Care Experienced Young Person?

All Local Authorities have a duty to provide support to many adults who have been Looked After, that is they have spent time in foster or residential care or in other arrangements outside their immediate or extended family before the age of 18. Support is provided for Experienced Young People up to the age of 25.

The amount of support you can get when you leave care depends on your age and circumstances. There are four types of Care Experienced Young Person: 

  1. An eligible child means you are aged 16 or 17 and you are still in care.
  2. A relevant child means you are aged 16 or 17, but you left care on or after your 16th birthday.
  3. A former relevant child means that you are aged 18 to 25 years old and you were in care on or after your 16th birthday for a period of at least 13 weeks.
  4. If you are a qualifying care leaver, you are aged 16 to 21 (up to age 25 if in education) and were in care for a short time on or after your 16th birthday.

The Local Offer for Care Leavers sets out what Merton’s offer is to Relevant and Former Relevant Children. The support offered to all individual care experienced young people will be outlined in your pathway plan, including those receiving support as a qualifying care leaver.

You can check your status and rights here: My rights when I am leaving care - Coram Voice.

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Page last reviewed: 23/02/2022

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