Following engagement with a number of experts, stakeholders and care leavers, the Welsh Government has outlined plans to extend support for care leavers through a Basic Income pilot in Wales.

The pilot will enhance the support available to young people as they leave care and assess the impact that has on them. It will provide a test for the stated benefits of basic income, such as addressing poverty and unemployment and improving health and financial wellbeing.

All young people leaving care who turn 18 during a 12 month period, across all local authority areas, will be offered the opportunity to take part in this pilot. The pilot will begin during the next financial year and we anticipate over 500 young people will be eligible to join the scheme.

The pilot will run for a minimum of three years with each member of the cohort receiving a basic income payment of £1600 per month for a duration of 24 months from the month after their 18th birthday.

The Welsh Government involved care leavers directly in the development of the pilot as well as working with professionals in Local Authorities and have also established a Technical Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, bringing together experts in basic income and support for care leavers to inform the development and evaluation of the pilot.

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