Turning eighteen should be a moment of celebration. For many care leavers, it is the point where costs stay the same but financial support drops. This campaign calls for Universal Credit parity so that every young person has a fair start.
Our short film, 18 Isn’t Cheaper, brings together lived experience, academic research and policy insight to show why the Universal Credit system leaves care leavers aged 18 to 24 at a significant disadvantage. Hear directly from young people, their hosts and the professionals supporting them.
“This is a simple and achievable change that could make a lasting difference. Giving care leavers the same Universal Credit rate as those over 25, an increase of more than £80 a month, would provide stability, reduce crisis interventions, and help young people focus on education, work, and building their futures.”
Each year, thousands of young people leave care or Supported Lodgings and move into independence. For many, the moment they turn eighteen is described as a cliff edge. Support drops away, costs rise and the safety nets their peers rely on simply do not exist.
Care leavers under 25 receive a lower rate of Universal Credit despite having the same living costs as older adults. Rent, food, bills, transport and basic essentials do not become cheaper at eighteen. This inequality forces many young people into impossible choices that can push them closer to homelessness.
At Step by Step, we see the impact every day. Young people moving on from Supported Lodgings or our Foyers have worked hard to build stability, yet they step into adulthood with less financial support than their peers. It is a system that does not reflect the reality of their lives.
In 2024, Step by Step partnered with the University of Southampton to co-produce Moving Towards Independence, a study built with young people who have lived experience of leaving care.
Young people identified four clear recommendations for improving the move to independence:
Universal Credit should be provided at the full adult rate for care leavers under 25. Living costs do not change with age.
Care leavers should have higher priority on housing lists and clear guidance on applying.
Young people should not have to repeat their stories to multiple workers. Reliable and ongoing support is essential.
Young people need at least six months’ notice about move on expectations, processes and entitlements.
These recommendations are rooted in lived experience. They are supported by academic evidence and the daily insights of practitioners delivering front line support. Together, they form a powerful case for reform.
Stevie’s experience brings the research to life. When she tried to secure accommodation as a care leaver, she was asked for six months’ rent in advance. As a student, this was impossible. Even everyday decisions became difficult. A bus journey to visit friends could mean going without something else.
Five week months often pushed her into debt, and every penny had to be accounted for. None of this was the result of reckless spending. It was the cost of basic essentials.
Supported Lodgings offered the stability she needed. Her host provided a safe home, trust, encouragement and a place to grow. With support in place, Stevie began to thrive. She went on to secure a university place and plans to build a career in writing.
Young people like Stevie have resilience, ambition and determination. What they lack is a fair financial foundation.
We are calling for Universal Credit parity for care leavers aged 18 to 24.
This simple change would make the full adult Universal Credit amount available to young people leaving care or Supported Lodgings. It would reduce crisis budgeting, improve housing stability and give young people the same chance to plan for education, work and long term independence as their peers.
A Private Member’s Bill seeking to introduce Universal Credit parity for care leavers has passed through the House of Lords. It is now waiting to be scheduled for debate in the House of Commons. This is a crucial moment. National attention and public support can help ensure the issue receives the consideration it deserves.
Follow updates from the young people, hosts and partners shaping this campaign. This live feed brings together posts from Step by Step and the organisations supporting Universal Credit parity.
Parity would give care leavers aged 18 to 24 the full adult rate of Universal Credit. Many organisations, including Step by Step, believe this is a fair and necessary change.
Many young people leaving care are still in full time education, including school, sixth form or college. Others are completing essential training, resitting exams or catching up after disrupted schooling. At eighteen, most are not in a position to work full time, and many have no family support to fall back on while they finish their studies. Universal Credit parity acknowledges that care leavers deserve the same opportunity to complete their education and build a secure future as their peers
Parity is a modest adjustment compared to the cost of crisis interventions, homelessness and instability. It is a preventative measure built on fairness and long term outcomes.
It increases the risk of debt, housing insecurity and isolation. It also reduces the ability to pursue work, education or training.
The University of Southampton worked with young people from Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings Speak Out group, using the internationally recognised Lundy model to ensure youth voice shaped the recommendations.
Research undertaken with the University of Southampton to help care leavers move towards independence
Calling for Universal Credit Parity for Care Leavers which has passed through the House of Lords and is waiting to be listed at the House of Commons
Young People, Step by Step and the University of Southampton take the research to Westminster
