Care leavers in Scotland to be exempt from council tax

The landmark decision was announced by first minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish National Party's annual conference this week.

She said the move is part of a commitment to "level the playing field for care leavers" and joins other measures, including full higher education grants and guaranteed places at university for those with good grades.

"We want to make life a little bit easier for those leaving care," said Sturgeon.

"So I can announce today a further step. We will change the law so that all young care leavers are exempt from paying council tax."

Campaign group The Scottish Children's Services Coalition says the exemption is needed as many care leavers struggle to manage household bills and their personal finances without the support of family or financial education.

"Care leavers are particularly vulnerable when it comes to financial hardship," said a coalition spokesman.

"Council tax debt can be a particularly frightening experience for this group of vulnerable young people. What can start out for many care leavers as falling slightly behind can very quickly escalate to a court summons and enforcement action being taken.

"To exempt their care leavers from council tax payments is a very positive step in addressing the very real issues of poverty and debt which blight the lives of far too many of our care leavers."

Matthew Reed, chief executive at The Children's Society, said:
"We've been campaigning for all care leavers to be exempt from council tax so we are delighted to hear that this exemption will be introduced in Scotland.

"Many of these young people have had a really difficult start in life, sometimes involving abuse, neglect, or family breakdown."

"Adjusting to living independently without the family support many of their peers enjoy can be really tough, and managing their finances and juggling bills for the first time is just one of a number of new challenges they face."

"Many either cut back on essentials like food and heating or end up in debt with all the worry and stress that causes."

"Exempting care leavers from council tax doesn't cost a huge amount but it can make an enormous difference to care leavers, giving them one less bill to worry about as they find their feet and begin to budget for themselves."

Council tax exemption for care leavers is not a legal requirement for English councils but 36 are now offering this voluntarily as part of an ongoing campaign by The Children's Society.

Among those to offer the exemption is Islington Council, which in April scrapped the charge for all young people living in the borough who have left care from any local authority.

Tower Hamlets Council's care leavers are exempt from charges until they are 25, whether they live in or outside the borough.

Under a provision in April's Children and Social Work Act, the government is preparing to create a "care-leavers covenant" setting out support for care leavers in England.

In addition, the act requires English councils to produce from next year a "local offer" to care leavers specifying their entitlements. Details for what this will include have yet to emerge.